Participate in Social Justice Task Work

The Social Justice Council coordinates the activities of the CRIMINAL JUSTICE, GREEN SANCTUARY, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, and RACIAL JUSTICE task forces, and the GLOBAL STUDIES GROUP. See a need for more? With Council approval, you can create a new task force if your petition includes three interested people, including a willing chair. The Chair of the Social Justice Council is elected by the congregation. For more details, contact Sandra Rigsbee.

All are welcome to participate at any level – attend events, offer suggestions on projects, have input in meetings, lead an action – whatever your comfort level. Your help is needed to make our church, our community, our state, our nation and our world a better place.

We also take on a number of short term projects and ministries, which are typically listed in the church events calendar or in the weekly e-mailing.

Ongoing 2024-2025

Join the Social Justice Council’s Strive and Thrive Team

Captains are needed for First U’s Care Cabinet (outside collection box for toiletries) and for our Emergency Clothing Cabinet. Responsibilities include taking charge of organizing supplies and maintaining stock through creative advertising (eblast and order of service announcements, posters, special drives, etc.). Time investment will be as needed and is expected to be minimal compared to the appreciation you will generate! Contact: Sandra Rigsbee at ssrigsbee@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, please consider bringing personal toiletry items to share with those in need. We can use: soap (body wash, face wash); feminine hygiene products (any); toothpaste; toothbrushes; dental floss; mouthwash; shampoo; conditioner; lotion/moisturizer; chapstick/lip balm; tissues; small bottles of water; socks; face/body wipes; band-aids; hair ties.

Social Justice Council Annual Report: 2023-2024

The Social Justice Council (SJC) has been undergoing transition over this past year. As we strive to rework the Council into a more flexible group, responsive to the needs and interests of the congregation, we have continued to provide ongoing programs and educational opportunities. A few are summarized below.

SUCCESSES

  1. In January 2024, the SJC held a retreat to revisit the Council’s areas of focus. The retreat was open to the congregation and 18 people participated. The areas of focus were the following five topics: amplify visibility, anti-racism, climate change, welfare, and women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
  2. In November 2023 the council sponsored and coordinated our winter “Keep Me Warm” clothing drive. This marked a genuine community effort to bring clothing to our neighbors in need of winter warmth and caring. In addition to the generous donations, over thirty member of the First U family made the drive a success.
  3. With Bobbi Campbell’s initiative, The SJC arranged for First U to join a neighborhood initiative to provide holiday gifts for migrant children.
  4. SJC/Criminal Justice Task Force sponsored several First Forums, including:
  • First Forum on Solitary Confinement. Alan Mills, Executive Director, Uptown People’s Law Center
    discussed his work with people who have suffered the trauma of solitary confinement. His
    presentation was buttressed by extensive photos of solitary cells in the IL Department of
    Corrections. Nicholas Malaki Crayton, incarcerated for 24 years, shared his journey through his
    years of imprisonment and his remarkable transition into a social justice activist.
  • First Forum with Ben Austen, author of “Correction: Parole, Prison and the Possibility of Change”
    in conversation with Johnnie Veal, one of the main figures in the book. This was one of the largest
    attended Forums over the past year.
  • Rev. Allision Farnum, Director of the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI) , presented “Talk Back and Forum” during which she discussed the ministry’s efforts in prison-solidarity advocacy, prison pen pals and accompanying those released and in reentry. As an outgrowth of this forum, First U is now in the process of forming a prison pen pal group.

Global Studies has continued to meet monthly for extensive discussion of a book selected by the group. In addition, plan and work the group sponsored a 4-week in-depth study group examining the current Palestine-Israel conflict through the framework of the 7 Principles of Unitarian Universalism.

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES IN THE UPCOMING YEAR

  • Implementing the results of the retreat will require volunteers to plan and work collectively across the areas of focus.
  • Expanding congregational participation in social justice programs and developing new Council
    leadership,