Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ
A UU voice for justice, equity and compassion in NJ
The statewide UU social justice annual meeting, hosted this year by The Unitarian Society in E. Brunswick. Come learn about the 6 main issue areas we cover, help us recognize those congregations making an extra effort to stand with immigrants for fair and compassionate treatment in the Garden State, get the most up-to-the-minute updates on social justice work in the state and pending legislation in Trenton, and enjoy lunch and networking with other UUs and our friends from across the state.
Registration is now OPEN for the Oct. 14 Fall Issues Conference–only 3 weeks away!
The Legislative Ministry’s Fall Issues Conference takes place on Saturday Oct. 14 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Hosted this year by our member congregation, the UU Congregation of Monmouth County in Lincroft www.uucmc.org, the conference features a keynote speaker, issues-related break out groups and a working lunch. The Lincroft congregation is active in antiracism and immigration justice work and we are very pleased to partner together in support of a more just and hopeful New Jersey.
For those new to UULMNJ, the Fall Issues Conference is the premier opportunity for UUs from across the Garden State to learn, discuss, and become involved in the most pressing social justice concerns facing our state. It is the time each year when our six volunteer Task Forces (listed below) decide on their advocacy, education and legislative priorities for the coming year. We work on a collaborative model, so make sure to come help shape the UULMNJ agenda and the outcome of long-term policy and culture change in our home state.
We are very pleased to welcome our 2017 keynote speaker, Johanna Calle. Johanna is Program Director of our partner organization, the NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice, one of the most effective and vocal immigrant rights groups active in the state today www.njimmigrantjustice.org.
Ms. Calle will be joined by Rita Dentino, Executive Director of the Monmouth County immigrant rights organization, Casa Freehold www.casafreehold.org and a partner with the UU Congregation of Monmouth County. Johanna and Rita will bring us up to date on the increasingly punitive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions and deportations and what we can do to mitigate harm and call out for justice on the public stage. Johanna and Rita expect to be joined by a NJ undocumented resident or family member willing to speak out about current conditions in our state.
Ted Fetter, long time Immigration Reform Task Force chair, will give an update on our State Sanctuary Challenge initiative–our 6 month-long effort to involve all 21 UULMNJ member congregations in advocating for sensible and human immigration reform locally, and against the mass criminalization of undocumented people.
Additional speakers during the break-out groups include Lena Smith from Food and Water Watch, Dr. Dione Johnson, CEO of JARC: Juvenile and Adult Re-Entry Connections, and Andrea Long, long-time reproductive rights activist and clinic escort.
As if that were not enough, there will be six break out groups during the working lunch to cover the issues we advocate for in Trenton and our member congregations: Environmental, Criminal, Reproductive, Economic and Immigrant Justice and Gun Violence Prevention.
Come also for the official launch of the NEW NAME, mission and vision statements, and special presentation of the logo and website design. Thanks to a generous donation, we are retooling to better serve justice-making, congregational liveliness, and “soul growth” in 2018 and beyond.
Finally, we sure to add your name and concerns/hopes/dreams to an interactive art installation, “Wall of Anger/Wall of Hope” over the course of the conference.
Questions/concerns? Please email the UULMNJ office at admin@uulmnj.org. We will make every effort to accommodate accessibility/special needs but it is very, very helpful to know in advance, so please do reach out.
Be sure to join us, 12 to 6 p.m. for a day devoted to justice-making and spirit-reviving. See you there!
We will make every effort to accommodate accessibility/special needs but it is very, very helpful to know in advance, so please do reach out.
Be sure to join us, 12 to 6 p.m. for a day devoted to justice-making and spirit-reviving. See you there!
