Justice

Changing the World

• Social Justice Task Forces

  Social justice permeates all that we do together at the UU Church of Bloomington, and is integral to our worship services and Lifespan Religious Education programs. Our Social Justice Task Forces are formed when a number of people wish to work together around a specific social justice area.

  • Green Sanctuary Task Force

    The Green Sanctuary Task Force on Global Climate Change helps promote mindful, Earth-centered living, working to educate and motivate individuals and institutions to take positive steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • Habitat Task Force

    The Habitat Task Force educates the congregation about local housing needs, including the purpose and accomplishments of Habitat for Humanity and other housing-related groups.

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  • Hope for Prisoners Task Force

    The Hope for Prisoners Task Force advocates for and becomes actively involved with persons who are currently or recently incarcerated and their families, and seeks to be a voice for humane treatment and positive changes in the criminal justice system.

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  • Hunger/Homelessness Task Force

    The Hunger Task Force raises awareness and tackles the growing problem of hunger in our community. We partner with other Bloomington organizations that also work to alleviate this problem.

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  • International Outreach Task Force

    The International Outreach Task Force (IOTF) provides direct financial, material, and humanitarian support to Spurgeons Academy, a school for AIDS orphans in Kibera, a sprawling slum in Nairobi.

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  • Just Peace Task Force

    The Just Peace (Peace and Economic Justice) Task Force works for diplomatic, not military, solutions to conflicts. We advocate nuclear arms control and disarmament and reduced military spending.

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  • Racial Justice Task Force

    The Racial Justice Task Force works to dismantle racism in ourselves and our institutions through education and action and supports and engages in activities led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) groups.

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  • Rainbow Rights Task Force

    The Rainbow Rights Task Force seeks to revive, document, and advance the knowledge, concerns, and rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, communities, and causes, advocating for spiritual wholeness in relation to gender and sexuality.

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  • Refugee/Immigration Support and Education Task Force

    The RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Support and Education) Task Force sponsors a family who arrived here in Bloomington from Afghanistan in December, 2021, to help them and other refugees until they can get on their feet and feel safe and welcomed.

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  • Reproductive Justice Task Force

    The Reproductive Justice Task Force supports the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.

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  • Information for Social Justice Leaders
    General SJ

    • SJ Task Force Applications 2022
    • Five Main Approaches to Taking Action from UUA Social Justice Empowerment Program Manual
    • Volunteers for Your Task Force - Rev. Wadkins

    SJ Business

    • November 2023 Selected T-Account Balances monthly update
    • Task-Force-Application-2022-23
    • Social Justice Months and new to uu 2022-23
      A Social Justice month consists of having a Social Justice Moment during both services usually the first Sunday of the month, using the bulletin board at the Social Justice table in the commons, using month for more extensive information about task force
    • Football Parking Task Force Dates 2022
    • Football Fundraiser Parking Instructions 2022
    • 3rd Sunday SJ Film Series Handbook
    • SJFC Fall Grant Application 2017

    UUCB Policies and Procedures

    • Social Justice Moments and Announcements 2022
    • Lay Leaders Basics 2018
    • Publications and Other Kinds of Publicity
    • 2023 Petition to Fundraise
    • Tabling Policy for non-Church Organizations
    • UUCB Fiscal Manual - money handling procedure
      • Cash-In Form
      • Check Request Form for Reimbursement
    • Emergency and Safety Procedures
    • Alcohol Use Policy
    • Social Media Policy

    SJ Historical Info

    • SJ Annual Report 2022-23
    • SJ Annual Report 2021-22
    • SJ Annual Report 2020-21
    • SJ Annual Report 2019-20
    • SJ Annual Report 2018-19
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• Social Justice Grants

  

  Each year our Social Justice Funds Committee awards funds from our Social Justice endowment to support start up projects in Monroe County. The Committee accepts requests in the fall.

  Fall 2023

  This year's Social Justice Grant recipient is:

  The UU RISE Task Force (Refugee and Immigration Support and Education), in partnership with the Bloomington Refugee Support Network

  $1000 was awarded for dental work and surgeries for refugee families in Monroe County.

  Application Process

  Applications are accepted in October, and the guidelines and application form will be posted on this page. Once the applications are received, the committee meets to determine the recipients. Preference is given to the following but others will be considered:

  • Being a part of a Social Justice task force
  • The number of UU members involved
  • Consistent with the mission of the UU church
  • Does this empower the organization to empower others?
  • Is this seed money rather than for maintenance?
  • Will our contribution make a real difference in their budget?
  • Do they have finite goals?
  • Have they received UU social justice grants in the past?
  • The monies cannot be used to pay for professional services or salaries.

  Fall Grant recipients are announced in November and the recipients have one year to use their funds or they will be returned to our SPF account. Grant recipients are also asked to write a review for our newsletter of how funds were used.

  The Social Justice Funds Committee (SJFC) provides information regarding possible funding for social justice activities and administers two UUCB programs (Fall Grants and the Sunday Plate Fund).

  Committee members: Denise Ogren, Steve Mascari, Scott Sanders, Sarah Kopper, Sandy Davoren | Advisor: Jackie Hall

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• 25% Sunday Plate Fund

  Our congregation gives 25% of undesignated Sunday Plate donations to a local project or service agency. The Social Justice Funds Committee facilitates the selection of the recipient of this fund. In the spring the committee accepts nominees for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. The congregation will have chances to learn about the nominees through announcements in the church newsletter, displays in the building, and presentations during services. At our June congregational meeting, church members vote on the recipient of this fund.

  Learn more: Guidelines and Application (Deadline for nominations was April 15, 2023)

  Current recipient for 2023-24: All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center

  

  Past recipients

  • 2022-23: Bloomington Refugee Support Network
  • 2021-22: The Nest Early Childhood Education
  • 2020-21: Monroe County United Ministries COMPASS Early Learning Center
  • 2019-2020: Volunteers in Medicine
  • 2018-19: Spencer Pride
  • 2017-18: All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center
  • 2016-17: New Leaf – New Life

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  The Social Justice Funds Committee (SJFC) provides information regarding possible funding for social justice activities and administers two UUCB programs (Fall Grants and the Sunday Plate Fund).

  Committee members: Denise Ogren, Steve Mascari, Scott Sanders, Sarah Kopper, Sandy Davoren | Advisor: Jackie Hall

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• Social Justice Circle
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