|
As Unitarian Universalists, we strive to affirm and promote the 7 Principles of our faith. Working for justice in our world is a fundamental way to express that faith.
The Social Justice Committee is open to any member or friend of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers who wishes to become involved in matters of social, economic, and environmental justice. We work in a variety of ways to:
- Raise individual, congregational and community awareness of local, regional, national and global issues.
- Advocate and work in support of specific causes and actions furthering social and economic justice.
- Provide opportunities for individual and congregation-wide involvement in matters of concern.
2010-2011 Projects:
The Grace Project
* creates media productions and campaigns for print, radio and television in English, Spanish, Mayan and Aztec Languages and in Haitian Kreyol.
* designs and delivers Capacity-building Workshops or Capacitaciones, for educators from pre-school through university levels using our book: Creatividad en el Salón de Clases: Métodos y Materiales Educativos .
* leads group painting projects on canvas and for wall murals in schools, agencies and communities.
* teaches Women's Leadership Development and Reproductive Health Workshops, in English and Spanish.
* directs Guatemalan Rural Adult and Children's Education, in Southwest Florida and in Guatemala.
* organizes and guides volunteer Work-Study trips to Guatemala several times a year.
The No Impact Project
The focus of this project will be to offer community workshops on what steps can be taken to have little or no impact on the earth. The workshops ll offfer education as well as an opportunity for individuals to challenge themselves and each other to go beyond the "Top Ten Ways to Green Your Life" rhetoric in a loving, supportive group which will share frustrations and strategies, as well as hold one another accountable.
Racial Justice Outreach Project
As a means of community outreach focusing directly on racial justice, we will establish relationships with organizations to through volunteering and joint education.
The Prison Project
There is an overwhelmingly high percentage of black men in jails serving long sentences for non-violent crimes. We will work in conjunction with the NAACP and ACLU Prison Projects in order to promote partnerships, legislation, and initiatives that positively impact racial disparities within the criminal justice stystem and adress the crisis of over-incarceration.
Florida LGBT Advocacy Project
We will work in conjuction with the ACLU, which is starting its 3 year campaign to end the ban on adoption by gay and lesbian people in Florida. We will attend training workshops and participate in actions spearheaded by the ACLU to fight for the rights of the LGBT community.
The Kiva Partnership
Kiva's mission is to connect people, by combining microfinance with the internet, in order to create a global community of people connected through lending, for the sake of alleviatng poverty. We will focus on educating individuals of the Kiva project and work to increase the numbe of members of our community contributing group.
Other Involvements:
Fair Trade Products
* helps independent farmers in developing countries raise their living standards.
* products are grown in a more environmentally friendly way.
Brightest Horizons Day Care Center
* collect school supplies
* donate Christmas gifts
* benefits working families and helps them work their way out of poverty
The Social Justice Committee works in a cooperative manner with other church programs and committees such as Religious Education, Adult Education, Welcoming Congregation Committee, and CUUPS. In addition we are committed to community outreach through various program including:
o The Peace and Environmental Education Center
o Planned Parenthood
o The League of Women Voters
o The Hemlock Society
o Lee County Recycling
o Lee County Migrant Workers Association
o Quality of Life Center
o South Fort Myers Food Pantry
o Lee County Human Services Council
o Lee County Interfaith Sponsoring Committee
o Coalition of Immokalee Workers
If you would like more information or to get on the social justice mailing list please email your request to a angela@eco-evolve.com.
|
