UU advocacy networks develop
major campaigns in six states

As spring invites us to spiritual and physical renewal so too do Unitarian Universalist advocacy networks invite us into action for social justice -- each in their own way! Are you interested in organizing a network in your state? Contact UUSC at 800.388.3920.

Here's what UU networks are doing in Florida, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and California.

Rev. Lindi Ramsden and the board of the UU Legislative Ministry of California have selected three big issues for this year.

1. The network's "leadership issue" for this year is marriage equity. California continues to struggle with this issue as do many other jurisdictions around the country.

2. The "collaboration issue" selected by UULMCA for this year is healthcare, another top issue felt by many families across the country as well as in California.

3. And the "incubator issue" for this year is water. The human right to water, the focus of one of UUSC's three main program themes, is an issue everywhere. People want access to water and corporations want to control access by owning or managing water supplies. It's the emerging issue in the United States and around the world.

In New Hampshire, Pam Kelly reports New Hampshire Faithful Democracy's main issues this year are:

1. Preservation of Social Security. In collaboration with a broad array of organizations including unions, the emphasis is on advocacy to federal lawmakers.

2. Raising the New Hampshire minimum wage from $5.15/hour to $6.50/hour.

3. Reducing power plant emission contributions to global warming and climate change. This forms a nexus with the current UU study action issue on global warming, led in New Hampshire by the 7th Principle Project.

Betsy Allis, Jo Haberman and the network's steering committee for the Metro UU Social Justice Alliance in Minneapolis, Minn., are working on three significant and ambitious main issues for this year.

1. Expanding its base of UUs and UU ministers engaged in MUUSJA work.

2. Strengthening UU leadership development for social change by carefully selecting and implementing powerful campaigns and encouraging UUs to connect their values to their social justice work.

3. Strengthening the MUUSJA organization by raising sufficient funds for 1.5 staff positions and initiating a strategic planning process.

In Michigan, Randy Block and his co-chair George Lentz and reaching out to UU activists and advocates around the state and will be working to create a statewide network of Unitarian Universalists. The network's major activities include:

1. An action alert regarding the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan was distributed to congregations and social justice advocates. The action alert asked people to write letters to President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting that the United States and the United Nations take certain specific actions to stop the genocide in Darfur and bring humanitarian relief and protection to the civilian population.

2. The network will present an environmental action for the whole family on Saturday, May 4th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Birmingham Unitarian Church: "Saving the Environment in Your Own Back Yard."

3. The network plans additional social justice campaigns as determined by its steering committee.

In Wisconsin, Wendy Cooper and Angela Merket, the district executive for the Central Midwest District, worked together to organize a "Day for Darfur," providing opportunities for advocates to act for the protection of people in Darfur and an end to the genocide there. Wendy also traveled from Madison to the Unitarian Church North in Mequon, Wis. to talk with people about social justice issues and to explore prospects for working together in a statewide network. The UU network in Wisconsin intends to continue its very effective voter registration and get-out-the-vote work this year centered on local elections.

In Florida, Rev. Dee Graham organizes around the Tampa cluster of congregations and hopes to work to increase the number of registered voters in the state. Florida remains one of those states where convicted felons are not allowed to vote unless they petition the governor and the governor re-instates their right to vote. Throughout the 2004 election cycle UU electoral activists discovered through their door-to-door- canvassing a very large number of convicted felons not able to exercise their civil right to vote. The network intends to work in coalition with other Florida organizations to end what many view as discriminatory disenfranchisement.

UUSC can help support a statewide UU advocacy network in your state. For further information, please contact Jackie Ladd at 800.388.3920.

For more information about UUSC's work with the state networks, visit Statewide networks continue work of Defending Democracy.

Posted March 24, 2005