UUSC is all geared up to host a dedicated group of UU College of Social Justice Haiti program alumni in Washington, D.C., for an upcoming lobby day! April 6–8 is going to be an exciting three days full of training, conversation, and legislative advocacy.

As UUSC's associate for grassroots mobilization, I'm thrilled to report that 25 service-learning trip alumni and community members from nine states and the District of Columbia will be convening on Capitol Hill to speak up for a just recovery in Haiti. They will team up with two representatives from the Papaye Peasant Movement (MPP): Mulaire Michel, an agronomist, and Philefrant St. Nare, a leader of popular education.

Plus they'll be joined by UUSC Haiti Program Manager Wendy Flick, who will have just returned from MPP's 40th anniversary celebration; Evan Seitz, UUCSJ's senior associate for service-learning programs; and Shelley Moskowitz, UUSC's manager of public policy and mobilization. And I'll be there, too!

Together, we will advocate on behalf of the men, women, and children who are slowly rebuilding their lives after the most devastating natural disaster in Haitian history. We will urge our policy makers to be accountable and transparent about the progress that is or is not being made in the reconstruction process.

The goals for the weekend include the following:

• Share firsthand experience of Haiti with our legislators
• Support the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, which asks for accountability and transparency about how relief funding is being spent in Haiti
• Highlight the eco-village as a new model for recovery that empowers the people of Haiti
• Ensure the inclusion of Haitian civil society in the recovery efforts as well as special protections for vulnerable populations
• Keep the recovery in Haiti on the radar of our policy makers

The alumni's experience, dedication, and commitment are valuable resources. They have witnessed the resilience and innovation of the Haiti people firsthand and have been part of creating a sustainable recovery by working on the ground to build the first eco-village with MPP. And they will be translating that experience into further effective action as we meet with members of Congress.

Stay tuned for an update and more on how you too can help spread this message!

The following post was written by Elyse Bartlett, a student at Emerson College and UUSC's summer election-engagement intern.

We live in a time when religious faith informs many of the most divisive issues that face our country. Homosexuality, abortion, assistance for low-income people, respect for the environment — these are all political issues that much of the electorate considers through the lens of their various faiths. As Unitarian Universalists, our diverse, colorful religious beliefs are closely intertwined with our moral and ethical commitments; the Seven Principles provide the framework for how we are to live as compassionate, loving members of a just and accepting society. It is vital that we remember this in the midst of the election season.

Political participation as well as supporting and encouraging others to engage can be a forceful way to shape society for the better. We can put our values into action as we cast our votes — and as we register and support other voters to engage in the election process.

When most people think of "religious voters," they think of the conservative right - those whose religious beliefs inform their voting in the way of "traditional family values" and "the sanctity of marriage." Some interpret their religion to condemn homosexuality and abortion, resulting in legislation that voids the LGBT community's basic civil liberties and a woman's right to make decisions regarding her own health and body. Some encourage the dismantling of foreign aid, or the detention of immigrants, or the profiling of racial and religious minorities. Such legislation is contrary to our own religious beliefs, an affront to our affirmation of the "the inherent worth and dignity of every person," "justice, equity, and compassion in human relations," and "acceptance of one another."

UUs are also faithful voters, standing up for and with those who are marginalized in our society and abroad. When the time comes to vote, we will vote for not only our religious beliefs but also what we believe to be morally and ethically right for our human community.

A large part of our country has stated its religious beliefs loud and clear, both in words and in the voting booths. It is time for us to answer with our own beliefs, words, and votes. Our Seven Principles are not just there to be affirmed within our congregations; we must live them as functioning members of our communities and our society at large. As UUs, our declaration of faith is action — what better way to serve your faith than to stand up for those facing injustice in this country?

As Election Day approaches, keep your values in the front of your mind and let them guide you through important decisions. Together, we can send a message to our lawmakers and our fellow citizens that we are a moral, faithful group, and we will never stop fighting for a compassionate and just society.

The following post was written by Elyse Bartlett, a student at Emerson College and UUSC's summer election-engagement intern.

The democratic process: it's essential to a just society that can adapt and mold to what its members need most at any given time. Respect for this process is core to Unitarian Universalist principles. We understand that everyone — not just the largest interest groups or those with the most money to contribute — must be given a voice in order for democracy to truly work. Every member of every community, no matter how silenced or marginalized, deserves a say in the shaping of our society. To deny this would be unfair to the individuals and to the democratic process itself.

When you're part of a faith-based nonprofit organization (like a UU church), you're an important force for achieving social justice and change. You care about the most marginalized groups in your community, and you do all you can to help them. The connection you have to these groups makes you an important asset to the democratic process. You have the power to engage a large amount of people who wouldn't otherwise consider voting. There are a lot of voices out there still going unheard — but we can make them heard.

Since UU churches are legally classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the IRS has set down restrictions you must adhere to when getting involved in elections as a church member or representative. But these restrictions don't mean that you can't get involved. In a nutshell, your activities must all remain nonpartisan, meaning you cannot do or say anything that supports or opposes a political party or candidate. You can educate your community on the current state of politics by providing information and guides, hosting events, and encouraging people to carefully consider what's at stake and make their own informed voting decisions.

Remember: the most important thing about democracy is not who everyone votes for but simply that everyone gets the chance to vote. The most profound way you can help is in reaching out to every part of your community and lifting up the unheard voices. All it takes is getting acquainted with the rules, and you'll be ready to put your UU values at work for a more conscious and just community.

Learn more about how your congregation can get involved in the election.  

The human right to water and sanitation is now officially law in Mexico! The president of Mexico published an amendment to article 12 of the country's constitution on February 8. The amendment provides that every person in Mexico is entitled to affordable, accessible, and safe water in sufficient amounts for domestic uses. 

This is the fruit of several years of hard work by civil-society organizations that include the Habitat International Coalition of Mexico (HIC-AL), a UUSC partner and member of the Coalition of Mexican Organizations for the Right to Water. Recently, local congresses in Mexico approved the amendment and sent it to the president to for publication, the final step for constitutional recognition.

HIC-AL responded to the publication of the amendment with excitement. Maria Silvia, the legal coordinator of HIC-AL, spoke with UUSC about the victory: "We are very happy about this reform. We consider this development as an achievement of the social movement and civil-society organizations for the right to water in Mexico and the rest of the world."

However, HIC-AL is mindful of the challenges that may lie ahead in terms of implementation. Silvia captured this when she added, "Today we celebrate, but we must not forget that this right, without participation and mobilization, may be useless or even worse if it becomes a tool of corporations and the interest of the powerful." She concluded with a call to action: "For this reason, we call on the diverse groups and organizations to work together and participate in the elaboration of a new water law to be passed within 360 days from the date of the publication."

Simon Sangale Ole Nasieku is the national chairman of UUSC program partner the Kenya National Alliance of Street Vendors and Informal Traders (KENASVIT). He wrote the following post about what the referendum and the new constitution mean to the many thousands of workers throughout Kenya.

The historic win for the "yes" camp in the national referendum was a clear and resounding statement that Kenyans have been yearning for a new constitution. We in KENASVIT pay tribute to the thousands of informal traders who participated in the vote.

The referendum process was carried out in a calm and peaceful environment, and this is a plus for all Kenyans. After the post-election violence in late 2007 and early 2008, KENASVIT started a campaign of peace building, conflict resolution and reconciliation among our members countrywide. The campaign was geared toward bringing communities together and resolving not to fight again. Street vendors and hawkers had suffered loss of wares, injury, deaths, and displacement.

The government and other stakeholders undertook national peace campaigns through media public forums and road shows that created opportunities for discussions of contentious issues, thereby allaying many fears.

The campaigns targeted individuals who were encouraged to read, decide, and vote yes or no. KENASVIT played a big role in distributing over 10,000 copies of the proposed Kenyan constitution to Bodboda (bicycle transporters), hawkers, disabled persons, women, and youths.

The issues that made the Yes campaign more appealing to street traders and hawkers, resulting in its resounding victory, were the following:

• An expanded Bill of Rights, including economic, social and cultural rights alongside civil and political rights (the rights to health, food, shelter, and other basic needs are now protected by the constitution)

• Reduced powers of the president

• Better checks and balances of power (cabinet secretaries drawn from outside Parliament will now replace the ministers)

• Better representation of the people, including women

• Opportunities for marginalized and special-interest groups, youths, persons with disabilities, and other members of society

• Devolution of power to counties (counties will use resources to bring services closer to the people)

• Management of public land, crucial to street traders and hawkers, will be now administered by the National Lands Commission; urban and peri-urban (suburban) land will be accessible to street traders and hawkers

KENASVIT officials played a significant role in civic education, and during the referendum day street vendors were involved in voting, observing the polling, and serving as polling clerks. The declaration of a public holiday on the referendum day enabled most to vote, and the massive security presence helped a lot.

Street vendors, hawkers, and most of the informal traders in Kenya overwhelmingly supported the proposed constitution, and we are eagerly awaiting the president to put it into action in order for us to monitor its implementation.

Evalyne Wanyana is the national coordinator of the Kenya National Alliance of Street Vendors and Informal Traders (KENASVIT), a UUSC economic-justice partner. She wrote the following post about the days leading up to and immediately following the approval of a new constitution that promises a brighter future for the vast majority of Kenyans.

For close to two decades, Kenyans have worked toward enacting a new constitution, the closest attempt being the 2005 referendum. At that time, Kenyans rejected the proposed constitution because it failed to represent the wishes of the majority.

As the bumpy road toward achieving a new and better constitution for Kenya continued to unwind, life for common citizens got worse by the day. Government malpractice, such as corruption, abuse of power, discrimination based on ethnicity, and denial of justice for marginalized communities, thrived against the backdrop of a weak constitution and inadequate governing institutions. Kenya was quickly acquiring a second name called "impunity."

Kenyans were rife with frustration and disappointment with the state of affairs in the country, and the disastrous consequences of the 2007 national elections crushed our hopes of bringing about the desired change through a democratic process. The post-election violence that followed the presidential election of December 2007 made us realize as a nation that the stability of our country and our future rested in having a new constitution, and thus we had to do all that it takes to put it in place.

The Committee of Experts on the constitution, with support from the citizens, civil-society groups, and faith-based organizations, worked around the clock to give Kenyans the proposed new constitution. When the final copy was released to the country on May 6, 2010, I obtained several copies for me, my friends, and my neighbors so that we could read it and be able to make informed decisions come August 4, the day of the referendum.

Although I have a very tight work schedule, I squeezed in time to read the proposed constitution. On many occasions I engaged in debates with my friends and neighbors, particularly on contentious clauses, such as abortion, the Kadhi courts, devolution, and land ownership.

This helped me learn more about my fellow Kenyans' views on these issues, and sometimes I ended up convincing some of my friends and neighbors who would have opposed the draft to support it during the referendum. I encouraged anyone who was in doubt due to distortions made by the opponents of the proposed constitution to get a copy and read it for themselves. The Yes campaign's civic-education program through the electronic media, print media, and public forums enlightened many Kenyans on the proposed constitution.

A few days before the national referendum, I took leave from work to travel to my home district where I am a registered voter. The day before voting, I went to confirm my polling station. On the morning of August 4, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. and set off to the polling station. On my arrival there, I found a short queue. At 6:35 a.m., I cast my vote and left the station, feeling happy with myself that I have done my duty as a citizen in this very important event that might change our country forever.

I went home and waited until the afternoon when results from the polling stations by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission began to be televised from  the Jomo Kenyatta International Conference Center. I retired to bed at 10:30 p.m. with poll results indicating that the Yes side was leading. By mid-morning the next day, it was clear Yes had won with 67 percent of the votes and that Kenya finally had a new constitution. I was happy that Kenyans came out with courage and in large numbers to give themselves and their country a new constitution — and that I was one of them.

Although I may not live to enjoy the full benefits of this constitution, I know that my children and grandchildren and the children of my fellow Kenyans will live in a better Kenya. The new constitution is a step in the right direction and its implementation calls for total commitment from our leaders and citizens, and I have decided that I will play my part in shaping the Kenya I want for me and the future generations.

God bless us all.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Morrison

This election season sure has been an interesting one. Between having the first African American presidential candidate, our nation being at war, and the current crisis in the money markets, it would be hard for anyone not to realize the importance of November 4, 2008.

Although I know there is the will and the desire for people to get involved in the election and make our voices be heard, this can be a scary proposition for anyone who is employed by, or works with, a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, like UUSC.

There are many laws that control how these organizations and their staff conduct themselves during an election cycle. But I would argue that it is a moral imperative that we get involved in all the ways that can this election season.

Although 501(c)(3) staff CAN NOT tell people who to vote for, we can talk about the issues that we care about. Working for a nonprofit organization and knowing many people on a personal basis means we have a good idea of what community members care about and what is affecting them on a day-to-day basis.

There are national issues such as the war in Iraq, the inadequate attention paid to Gulf Coast recovery, and the genocide in Darfur.

These are issues that can galvanize people to make their voices heard.

In addition, there are many local ballot initiatives that 501(c)(3) staff can lobby the public on. For instance, I live in Massachusetts, born and bred, and we are in the midst of a fight of a lifetime on Ballot Question 1. This is a move to repeal the state income tax, which provides 40 percent of the Massachusetts state budget.

When I think of all the people I have worked with in the social service sector and how many organizations would be crippled by the passage of Ballot Question 1, I am frightened about what might happen.

Similarly, many states have ballot initiatives promoting “the protection of marriage,” a movement to limit the rights of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual citizens.

Make no mistake, people are being galvanized on both sides of these issues.0 (They call them “wedge issues” for a reason!)

As employees and volunteers in the nonprofit sector who have dedicated our time and passion to the issues and people we care about, we have a responsibility to help our constituents make their voices heard.

DON’T name a candidate of your liking.

DO make sure your elderly neighbor can get to the polls.

DO take voter registration forms to your local homeless shelter.

DO organize members of your congregation to register voters.

A lot is at stake on November 4, no matter what your political affiliation. Voting is one of our rights. For those of us committed to human rights, it is our responsibility to help make voting possible for all the people we work for.

For more information about the Dos and Don’ts of 501(c)(3) organizations, in particular churches, read the UUA’s The Real Rules: Congregations and the IRS Guidelines On Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections.

Yesterday, participants gained skills for taking effective action against the Iraq war at Countdown 2008: An Activist Training to Responsibly End the War, an activist training jointly held by UUSC and the UUA. Although participants came from different parts of the country and their experience with activism ranged widely, they were unified in their motivation to end the war.

A highlight of the training was a role-play with Tom Andrews, former congressman from Maine and director of the Win Without War Coalition. Andrews pretended to be a candidate at a candidates' forum, while participants crafted questions for him, framing their opposition to the war. The participants asked really great questions, giving details of the cost of the war and the impact on local communities. I hope their confidence in asking the questions will carry through to real-life scenarios in the coming months. Andrews got the crowd laughing as he responded with typical "politico" messaging. Then he would take off his candidate's hat and explain how the question could have been framed to be more effective.

One of the goals of the training was to end the day with participants feeling equipped to take on specific actions and committing themselves to doing them.

Here are some of the things participants committed to:

"I'm going to go to candidates' forums and ask tough questions about their position on the war."

"I commit to talking to my minister and social justice committee about doing voter work."

"I commit to registering people to vote at my congregation."

"I plan on working with the a local community organization to help their efforts to outreach to marginalized communities."

The wide range of commitments was impressive for a group with many first-time activists!

"Where are you from?" has always been a tough question for me.

I was born and raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. However, due to citizenship laws that prevail in most Persian Gulf countries, I inherited the citizenship of my parents. They are Tanzanians of Indian descent. Thus, I was considered a Tanzanian citizen although I never lived there. My language and culture is dominantly that of my ancestors from Gujarat, India. I moved to Minnesota when I was 17 and strongly began to identify myself as a Minnesotan and to this day am very proud of the state's culture and progressive politics. As a Muslim, the tragedy of 9/11 and President Bush's policies that followed inevitably affected me and that is how I began my life in American politics. To top that, since I am a Shia Muslim, the war in Iraq has had a profound effect on me and my community as we see our beliefs and history displayed on all the major media outlets around the world.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, on Friday, after living in the United States for eight and a half years, I was sworn in as a citizen of this country. It was one of the most important days of my life. Many of my family members and friends wonder why I would want to be an American citizen when the United States has violated the civil liberties of law-abiding Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans, has engaged in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and has supported policies, including torture, that adversely affect Arabs and Muslims around the world.

My answer to them is that despite the destructive policies of the Bush administration, I have faith in the rights that are guaranteed to me by the Constitution. I strongly believe in the rights that have been enshrined in the Bill of Rights, especially those guaranteed by the First Amendment. These are the very rights that I exercise every day when I practice my religion freely as a Muslim American and express disagreement with the government on issues such as torture and the war in Iraq. The fact that I can write this blog entry is a testament to those rights. It is why I have chosen to work with the Civil Liberties Program at UUSC. Our program's goals are to restore and protect civil liberties that have been eroded under this administration for people like me.

As I was being sworn in as a citizen during my naturalization ceremony, I was humbled to be amongst 1,100 people from 85 countries who had chosen to take this step. I feel very strongly American and don't want anyone to ever question my patriotism or question my "American-ness" because of the way I look or the religion I follow or my political inclinations. For me, I finally feel I have found a place I can belong to and call home. It is here that all my identities merge and make it possible to be part of the American fabric that has been enriched by immigrants since the founding of this country. As Barack Obama has aptly said, "...for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible."

The following post was written by Carolyn Purcell, UUSC board member and participant in our recent Election Monitoring JustJourney in Guatemala.

November 6, 2007

Polling for the national presidential elections in the rural town of Rabinal was marked by calm and a sense of hope. It was also run very efficiently. Poll workers arrived at the schools and city hall to set up their tables by 5 a.m. and began to receive voters at 7 a.m. They would be at their tables until 6 p.m. and work on the vote count until 8 p.m.

Many poll workers were public school teachers. We asked them why they volunteered for this post. They told us that it is their duty as teachers to prepare children to be full citizens and participate in the decisions of their country; facilitating voting is the necessary continuation of this duty and a statement of hope for Guatemalan democracy.

During our week in Guatemala, we were told that the changes underway in Guatemala are "creating space for democracy in Guatemala." We were moved by the courageous election observers, human right leaders, and activists who daily confront injustice and build democracy in Guatemala.