Every year, the Social Justice Committee solicits recommendations from the congregation for our monthly Outreach Collections. The final selections and schedule for the collections during the 2011 - 2012 church year are listed here.  Everyone is invited to join us. Come and find out what we’re involved with this month. Your talent and ideas are always welcome!

The Social Justice Committee normally meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in Room 126 at the church. (Check the AUUC calendar on this website.)

Active committee members include: Claire Brown, Nancy Davis, Pete Fontneau, Dick Foster, Brian Hobbs, Ed Jaffee, Ed Kringer, Mary Kringer, Jessica Larsen, Kitty Reardon, Marsha White, Fred Surls and John Allen.

In early 2011, the committee focused on raising awareness of Immigration as a Moral Issue, with activities that included a sermon, a film showing, a 5-week adult education class, 3 recommended books, attendance at a UUSJ immigration forum, congregation-wide discussions, and adopting a Statement of Conscience.

Ongoing activities of the committee span a range of social justice issues including environmental causes, housing and homelessness, community outreach, peacemaking, and global partnerships. Read more…

Volunteers Needed

Several times during the year, the Social Justice Committee organizes volunteer efforts for the entire congregation. Every October we participate in National Make-a-Difference Day by working on several volunteer projects organized by Volunteer Fairfax. We organize Accotink participation in rallies downtown for efforts such as stopping genocide, supporting reproduction rights, or other issues of significant importance to the congregation. We occasionally hold volunteer days at the church or other locations, associated with special holidays. We participate in the Burke CROP Walk every year in November to help the neediest members of society locally and around the world.

So these are some of the projects where we've committed money. Now we need planners, organizers, and sleeve roller-uppers to commit time and energy. Money alone can't get these jobs done. And some of these projects need only our labor, such as our "Adopt a Highway" program that cleans up a neighboring roadway, gets us together for a fun outdoor activity, and gives us a highway sign to increase awareness of AUUC.

Please volunteer to help out on the committee or join us to contribute to any one of these worthwhile causes. Watch for newsletter announcements of monthly Social Justice Meetings and other planned activities. Our pledge campaign theme was "Stepping up and stepping out". The financial commitment shows we've stepped up. Now we need your help to step out into our community and the world. Contact any member of the committee for further information.