Social Action

THE SOCIAL ACTION MINISTRY

"The Social Action Ministry, acting on the principles of our UU faith, works to provide opportunities for society members and friends to educate, serve and advocate regarding the social concerns of our community, state, nation and world."

Social Action Chronicle

The Social Action Chronicle is an occasional publication of the Social Action Ministry of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Vermont.

Social Action Chronicle - February 2011 

 

JUMP, the Joint Urban Ministry Project

JUMP is an interfaith collaboration of over twenty Chittenden County congregations that operates a drop-in emergency assistance center. JUMP responds to the needs of people in financial crisis with spiritual care, direct assistance to meet basic needs and advocacy.

Our UU congregation defines our relationship to JUMP as core ministry; we commit volunteers to staff it, Board members to help run it and offer financial contributions to keep the help flowing to our neighbors in need. Each participating congregation contributes bags of food. In addition, UU gives baby formula (Isomil or Similac) and baby food.

Checks for JUMP may be made out to First UU Society with JUMP in the memo line.

To learn more about JUMP, visit the JUMP website www.jumpvt.org. For more information about how you can help, contact one of your JUMP Board members: Lynn Douglas or Ginger Hobbs.

Anti-Racism Action Committee

The goal of the Anti-Racism Action Committee is to provide leadership in our congregation and our community in recognizing and addressing racism. Activities over the past few years have included creating a school grant program to fund innovative anti-racism projects in schools; arranging speakers and forums to increase our understanding of racism in general, or in response to current events; supporting local refugee resettlement; organizing volunteer service trips to help rebuild New Orleans; organizing a congregational Kwanzaa celebration, and participating in interfaith or community group actions. We are always looking for new members, please watch the Society calendar for notices of meetings.

Vermont Interfaith Action (VIA)

Vermont Interfaith Action is a faith-based, grassroots coalition of congregations that transforms ordinary people into empowered and engaged citizens. Our mission is to create solutions to systemic issues that prevent our most vulnerable citizens from enjoying the quality of life God intends for us all. To effect change, we develop leaders who:

  • Reflect on how our faith values speak to problems in our communities
  • Identify common issues and concerns by building relationships in one-to-one conversations (1:1s) with members of our congregations, and community and public officials
  • Engage in thorough research to increase understanding and target a critical issue


Our goal is to create the hope, power, knowledge, and political will needed to make compassion and social justice a reality for all Vermonters.