Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee initiates and coordinates outreach activities of First Unitarian Universalist Church in the larger community. These activities are largely determined by the interests of our members. These initiatives can range from one time a year events to ongoing organizational activities.

Some of the activities and events that our church members are involved with in the larger community include:

FIRST CHURCH SOCIAL ACTION CATALOG:

Metro Alliance

A broad-based community organization dedicated to organizing local citizens and working on a range of issues of concern to our families. First UU has been a member of Metro Alliance since its inception in 1989, and its predecessor since its founding in 1982. Metro Alliance and its sister organization, Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), are part of the Industrial Areas Foundation(IAF) network. We are a coalition, representing nearly 75,000 Bexar county families through our member institutions, working collectively. We are not a service organization; we are a community-organizing group. We are non-partisan and we don't support candidates. Our agenda is our candidate. We teach citizenship and develop leadership. Nearly 12% of UU congregations nationwide are members of similar organizations (www.uua.org/programs/justice/cbco.html ). To join our email list send a message to MetroAlliance-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Contact: Mike Phillips or  Contact: Chris Boyle

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

Through a potent combination of advocacy, education and partnerships with grassroots organizations, UUSC supports programs and policies that empower women, defend the rights of children and support the struggles of indigenous people and oppressed racial and ethnic groups. We also provide financial and technical support when disasters strike impoverished areas.
Contact: Carol Collins

Under The Bridge

As a part of our social action work, we are supporting the Temple Beth Am's project to feed the homeless on the first Sunday of each month. We do this as a part of Ellen Ott's Under the Bridge lunch that functions every Sunday. First UU and Beth Am handle the cooking and serving on alternate 1st Sundays of each month. The program generally feeds about 70 to 100 people at 11:30 AM, and servers need to arrive by 11:15 sharp. The cooking is handled on Saturday afternoons & evenings as well as Sunday mornings. All cooks gather on Saturday at the church or at the home of the team leader for that month. All of the prep work is done then, and each cook goes home with 2 or three items to cook either that same evening or early on Sunday AM. Generally, all the Saturday prep work is completed in about an hour. We are seeking volunteers to work as cooks and as servers. Naturally, we also need money to keep this direct aid to hungry people going. I can think of no project with better results for each dollar spent!
Contact: Bill or Pam Holler

UU Housing

UU Housing Assistance Corporation of San Antonio (UUHAC) - a community housing development organization that helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families acquire or repair affordable housing. The organization is governed by a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors from the two San Antonio UU (First UU and Community UU) churches as well as the Alta Vista and Beacon Hill neighborhood associations and Broadway National Bank. Since 1994, the organization has worked with low-income home owners in the Alta Vista and Beacon Hill areas to repair homes. UUHAC also has funds to build new homes for first-time, low-income home buyers and to purchase, repair, and sell homes to low- and moderate-income families.
Contact: Rowena Rodgers

The Peace Movement

Through marches in honor of MLK, Cesar Chavez, the Season for Non-Violence and other events, we strive to show that we stand squarely on the side of peace, justice and equality.
Contact: Marilyn Stavinoha or  Contact: Dana Clark or Jane Tuck (828-4627)

UUDPR

For the past 12 months, Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform (UUDPR) has been working in tandem with our "sister organization," the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative (IDPI) -- which mobilizes people of all faiths to lobby for the alternatives to the war on drugs advocated by the UU Association (UUA) 2002 Statement of Conscience. Since election day, the media have been reporting on the importance of religious organizing in our nation's public affairs. That's why UUDPR and IDPI are so necessary. We are ahead of the curve in providing this "missing ingredient" to the movement for reasonable and compassionate drug policies.
Contact: Cheryl Lardy

FUUCSA Multi-Cultural Survey

The results of the Congregational Survey indicated that many members believe we are not diverse when it comes to members who are people of color. Through forums and other events, we hope to find ways to encourage those of various cultural backgrounds to feel welcome in our congregation.  Join our online group at Fuucsa-multi-cultural@yahoogroups.com
Contact: Cheryl Lardy

Welcoming Congregation and Interweave

The Welcoming Congregation Program is a completely volunteer program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. It consists of a series of workshops developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. The mission statement for Interweave reads as follows: "Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexual persons, transgender persons, and heterosexual allies. It celebrates the culture and lives of its members."
Contact: Carol Collins

Share the Plate

On the second Sunday of each month begining in July, 2007, offering donations that are not marked for the operation budget or other designations (such as pledges) are donated to a non-profit organization that connects to our UU principles.
Contact: Diane Duesterhoeft

Basura Bash/River Cleanup

First UU has adopted a section of the San Antonio River. We clean this section--south of the Theo Avenue bridge, across from Concepción Park--at least twice a year: during the annual Basura Bash (a Saturday in March) and usually one Saturday in November.
Contact: Mike Phillips

Forums

Occasional presentations and/or discussion group on various topics of current interest to our church community and to the community at large. Forum topics are scheduled by the Social Action Committee. If you have a topic you would like to present please see the Contact person
Contact: Diane Duesterhoeft

"ideas without actions are just dreams"

Questions or information: Contact: Diane Duesterhoeft

Last updated May 28, 2007