One of the goals of the Social Justice Steering Team is to give everyone associated with UUFCO the opportunity to take part in social justice work. We estimate that close to half of our congregation already does something for our social justice program over the course of a year. These range from helping serve dinners at Bethlehem Inn, to creating Fireflies holiday Jars of Joy, to tutoring students needing extra support, or many other small, and large, ways of advancing our social justice program. For those who have not yet jumped in, it’s important that you know how you can contribute if you are currently able.

The first step is to know what the principal components of the social justice program at UUFCO are, who to contact for information about each group, and how to get involved. If you are unable to get involved now, we still encourage you to read about the various programs and give it some thought for a time in your life that you feel you may be able to do so.

Social Justice Programs

Click on any program name to learn more and get involved! We’d be lucky to have you on our team!

What is the Social Justice Hub?

Social justice work at UUFCO is coordinated by the Social Justice Steering Team. This team is comprised of a designated representative of each of the identified social justice projects plus the minister plus several (3-4) additional members who do not have central leadership roles in one of the identified teams but have interest in social justice issues. These additional members make up a subcommittee within the Social Justice Steering Team called the Social Justice Hub (SJ HUB). This subcommittee is designed to support the health, effectiveness, and balance of the overall social justice program and the Steering Team and communicate between the Steering Team and the congregation.

SJ HUB participate fully in discussions within the Steering Team and has special roles:

• Making recommendations to the Steering Team after guiding potential new or expanded projects

• Monitoring and supporting the overall social justice program by:

  • Providing information to the congregation about the social justice program

  • Soliciting input from the congregation about ongoing or potential new SJ work

  • Making recommendations to the Steering Team about modifications or the termination of an SJ project.

In each of these areas SJ Hub receives comments from the Social Justice Team to take under advisement, but final decisions are the responsibility of the SJ Hub

SJ HUB also prepares agendas, calls, and presides over the quarterly meetings of the Steering Team. In April SJ HUB also requests individual team budgets and submits the overall budget to the Board.

For a detailed description about the work of each these groups and how you can become involved, click on the individual social justice group’s link.

If you see a need with another direction and want to get that project started at UUFCO, don’t hesitate to make a proposal. Start by reviewing the Procedure to Form a New Social Justice Program.  Then email our Social Justice Hub at sjhub@uufco.org.

All Social Justice programs receive funding through the UUFCO budget and through the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative. For detailed instructions on how to easily turn your empty bottles and cans into dollars and cents for social justice initiatives, please review our recycling guide.