Our social action work is informed by our church’s mission statement: “Together we nourish souls, transform lives and do justice to build the beloved community.”   

  • We further our UU Principles and protect human rights for all. 
  • Our efforts are organized into six pillars.  Within each pillar, a leader and core team set the agenda and determine actions for that area.  

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The six pillars, their current focus and contacts are:

Reproductive Justice

Engage interested members of the church in community organizing and action to achieve reproductive justice for Texans.  We will build partnerships with community groups committed to fight for the human right to reproductive freedom.  We will also work to support reproductive and abortion access.  

Elizabeth Gray – reprojustice@austinuu.org

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Racial Justice

Increase our knowledge and awareness of our own white privilege and systemic white supremacy. Our goal is to have an impact on racism.  Activities will include a book study and participation in related events. 

Ginny Fredricks – racial.justice@austinuu.org

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Environmental Justice

Explore and create ways to raise the consciousness of our Congregants, our community about  Climate Justice, identify and implement ways to help our sacred Earth survive and thrive. How can we not do everything we can for the poorest, those most disproportionately affected and most vulnerable to climate?

Richard and Beki Halpin – green@austinuu.org

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LGBTQ+ Rights

Engage others in the fight against unjust and inhumane legislation geared to erase Trans people and drag performers from the public landscape.  We will partner with allied organizations, including PFLAG Austin, the Texas Freedom Network, and TXUUJM. 

Leo Collas – LGBTQ.justice@austinuu.org

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Democracy

We live out the fifth principle of exercising the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in society at large. Specifically, we advocate for good and just policy at the state and local level by contacting elected representatives and promoting voting.

Vanessa McDougal – democracy@austinuu.org

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Immigration Rights

We partner with local immigrant right groups like The Foundation for the Austin Sanctuary Network that works to stop deportations by opening houses of worship to immigrants needing to take sanctuary or accompanying immigrants to San Antonio for ICE appointments and court hearings to see firsthand how our laws oppress humans; Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera to broaden awareness of runaway global capitalism caused by Free Trade vs Fair Trade, and other immigrant rights groups in the Austin area.

Peggy Morton – insideamigos@austinuu.org

**If you want to volunteer to drive residents of Casa Marianella – a home for recent immigrants and refugees – to local appointments around Austin, please email socialaction@austinuu.org or rebsfs1@gmail.com.

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Additional UU Social Action Partners:

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC): The UU worldwide social justice organization.

Contact:

Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office: The voice of the UUA at the United Nations.

Contact:

UUA Commission on Social Witness

Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (UUADP)

UU World Magazine

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) — the national association to which our congregation belongs.