10 LYONS PLAINS ROAD, WESTPORT CT 06880 PHONE: (203)227-7205 |
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SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEEClick here to download the Social Justice Council PowerPoint Presentation Contact: David Vita The Social Justice Council (SJC), working with the Social Justice Director,
initiates, coordinates andsupports the congregation's efforts to advo-cate, educate, organize, serve and witness for social justice. The goal of the
SJC is to establish The Unitarian Church in Westport as a beacon of social
justice in our community. In addition to providing assistance to the church's
social action programs listed below, the SJC makes special effort to provide
support and resources to programs in Bridgeport, CT, particularly those
aimed at improving the well-being of children and families. 1. Beardsley School - In the year 2000, our congregation voted to adopt this struggling inner-city school in Bridgeport, CT. Since then, church members have supported the staff and students of Beardsley Elementary School through volunteer work and financial donations for special projects and urgent needs. Most importantly, our volunteers become mentors, tutors and readers for grades K-6. Over the past 9 years, our congregation has provided bi-annual Read Aloud Days, opera and theater, job coaching, financial seminars, art, book clubs, myriad school and teacher supplies, winter coats, backpacks, clothing, many new and used books, scholarships, swimming lessons, musical instruments, anti-violence training, Principal for a Day, speakers, participation in work days, an annual Pot Luck Supper and a Teacher Appreciation Lunch. You are invited to join the Beardsley family by contacting Mary Beth Mollica - 2. Green Sanctuary - click here for details 3. Cell Phone Recylcing Program - The Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church in Westport wants your old or unused cell phones.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR PHONE? UU Westport will send your phone to CollectiveGood, a company that focuses on funding charities through its recycling program. Most of the phones will be reprogrammed and sold in Latin America as prepaid phones. Phones that cannot be reprogrammed will be scrapped and used for parts, all in accordance with EPA standards. In either case ALL phones will either be reused or recycled in an environmentally responsible way. Your donation will help UU Westport’s Social Justice Committee …it will help the environment…and it will help people in the developing world, too. So please tell your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and school mates and help us collect as many phones as possible. Q: Is there a risk that I may get phone bills from the next person who uses my old phone? No, as long as your phone has been deactivated from service, there is no such risk. Also, before the phone can be reused, the software is changed out by CollectiveGood, erasing any trace of your ownership of the phone, and also erasing the phone book, so there are no security or privacy issues, and no chance of getting a bill from the next owner. For more information, you can also visit CollectiveGood. Questions may also be directed to Joann Coviello - Thank you for your participation in this exciting and rewarding program. 4. Eliminating Racism - The Eliminating Racism Committee is expanding its horizons and thinking about multi-culturism in our congregation. It expects to hold at least one anti-racism event each year, consistent with the recommendations of the UU General Assembly. It intends to become familiar with the UUA’s “Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Multicultural Institution” and adopt it as its guidepost for this work within our church. The committee’s long-term goal is to achieve “Stage Six”, becoming a “Fully Inclusive Institution.” It intends to coordinate its efforts against racism with other groups working toward an inclusive attitude in our congregation. 5. Habitat For Humanity - Our congregation is committed to helping build low income housing with Habitat for Humanity. It works with eight other congregations to build homes in Bridgeport in partnership with individual families. Our commitment is one Saturday a month plus any mid-week days people can work. Signup at the Social Action table in the foyer or contact the church office.
Major initiatives include: Travel/Pilgrimages, the Scholarship Program, and building friendships through collaboration on mutually beneficial projects. 8. Rainbow Task Force - Our Dedicated congregants formed the Rainbow Task Force in 1990 as an offshoot of becoming a "Welcoming Congregation," in order to help our church become a more actively welcoming place for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered people. We have become one of the leading voices for fairness towards all people and against discrimination based on gender orientation in Fairfield County. In addition to these strides, our aim is to provide outreach and support to those communities through our activities and events. It is something we are proud of, and that our membership takes seriously. In the past year we have hosted a number of events, including a well-attended concert in March with French Canadian singer/songwriter Lucie Blue Trembley. In June we, as a Welcoming Congregation, hosted the Second Annual Fairfield County Gay Pride Day for a healthy and growing crowd of grateful participants. The group was entertained and educated by hilarious skits with choreography, performers, entertainers of all kinds and some excellent and committed political speakers throughout the day. We met with our ministers and members of the congregation to plan events that would bring awareness to important political issues coming before the legislature, such as gay marriage and civil rights for gays and lesbians. We were very grateful to have all our ministers commit to the cause of educating our church members as to the importance of gay marriage to same sex couples, including Frank Hall who gave a powerful sermon on the issue. The task force is working with many organizations on an on-going basis to insure civil rights for same sex couples through their work with Love Makes a Family and PFLAG and other Fairfield County groups. 9. RESOURCES FOR PEACE - The following websites have helpful information for responding to the war with Iraq:
11. Unitarian
Universalist - United Nations Office Committee
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Westport has discovered a creative way to raise funds for our Social Justice
Committee without asking for a monetary contribution. Instead, we are asking
that you donate your old cell phones (including accessories such as chargers).
If you have a cell phone that’s been sitting in a drawer or on a shelf
in the closet, bring it to the designated Collection Box at the Social Justice
table. All donations are appreciated, but the newer the phone, the better.
You may take a tax deduction for the donation, and the appropriate form will
also be available the Social Justice table.
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