QUICK LINKS
Animal Ministry	Fair-Trade Products	Habitat for Humanity	Safe Harbor Dinners	UUPlan
Diversity Book Group	Food for the Hungry	Library Advocates	Share-the-Plate	UUSC
Embracing Diversity	Gleaning	LGBT Issues	Sustainable Living	WC Food Cupboard
DIRECTORY
All email addresses @ufwc.org unless otherwise indicated.

The Social Justice Committee operates as an umbrella structure, coordinating, supporting, and nurturing subcommittees, groups, and projects, and developing leadership skills.

A number of our activities have been collaborations with other groups and religious organizations. We believe in partnering with other groups and welcome these opportunities to embrace the diversity of people and ideas in the local community. Collaboration this year included the MLK Day of Service (with St. Paul’s Baptist Church)

Social Justice work is not confined to the Social Justice Committee. For instance, the Music Committee often sponsors benefit concerts. This year they sponsored a music concert about the modern civil rights movement that was co-sponsored by the Embracing Diversity Team. The youth group leads and participates in projects such as the Philly AIDS Walk and MLK Day of Service, and RE does projects of its own.

Those who would like to be involved with a social justice issue are encouraged to contact the Social Justice Committee or the appropriate subcommittee or project chair. We welcome you to join the committee and attend the monthly meeting, which is on the second Thursday at 7:15 p.m. at the Fellowship.

Click here to view the full Social Justice Committee 2010-2011 Annual Report.
 

UFWC Social Justice Activities

Embracing Diversity Team

Contact: Eileen Kelly-Meyer, e-mail: embracing-diversity

Mission: to remove the barriers to becoming a more multi-cultural, multiracial congregation.

Recent activities include:

• Hosted a screening of 9500 Liberty followed by a panel discussion about immigration justice

• Conducted a workshop and congregational assessment to understand the existing congregational activities and progress in working toward multicultural competency, racial justice, and inclusion

• Helped with a multicultural Seder

• Attended denominational meetings, conferences, and workshops.

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Food for the Hungry

West Chester Food Cupboard Support

Contact: Shelly Case, e-mail: food-cupboard

• First Sunday Food Collection. We encourage members to bring in canned and boxed food items the first Sunday of each month. The food is taken to the West Chester Food Cupboard. We are participants in the “circle of giving” program which means that we have agreed to ask for specific kinds of products/food which are different each month according to a schedule provided by the food cupboard.

• We actively raise funds for the West Chester Food Cupboard.  Cash donations can be made in the collection plate. Please write checks to UFWC and put “food cupboard” in the memo line

• Members also volunteer at the food cupboard.

For more information, go to the West Chester Food Cupboard website.
 

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Gleaning for the Chester County Food Bank

Contact: Tom Townsend, e-mail: gleaning

This year we planted a 40’ x40’ garden plot with sweet potatoes on the land provided by the Yeager family. Last year UFWC members helped grow and harvest about 1200 lbs. of sweet potatoes as part of the gleaning project. That’s enough to feed 2,000 people. We also pick vegetables on several different farms planted as part of the gleaning program.

For more information, go to the Chester County Food Bank website.

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Safe Harbor Shelter Monthly Dinners

Contact: Sharon Mayer Conroy, e-mail: safe-harbor

Our Fellowship provides dinner at Safe Harbor on a monthly basis. Safe Harbor is scheduled for the second Sunday of each month. One volunteer from our Fellowship organizes the menu and serves the food each month and two helpers assist in the food preparation. Click here for more information.

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Habitat for Humanity

Contact: Mike Stevens, e-mail: habitat

UFWC started a coalition of religious and educational groups to raise money to build a house in the borough of West Chester.  Groundbreaking occurred in the spring of 2008.  The house has since been completed, but work crews are still scheduled to work on other Habitat projects. Click here for more information.

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Share-the-Plate

Contact: Betty Grosse, e-mail: share-the-plate

Contact for Nominations: Ed Cohle, e-mail: share-the-plate-nominations

The Share-the-Plate program raises money to give to local agencies who are trying to improve life for Chester County residents.  Once a month, UFWC gives half of the collection plate to a congregation-nominated recipient.  Nominations are voted on by the Social Justice Committee. Funds are given to small organizations for which our gift is very meaningful in the continuance of their efforts. In addition, there are special collections taken throughout the year as needed by local and world circumstances (e.g., Japan relief fund).

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Exploring Diversity Book Discussion Group

Contact: Shelly Case and Ruth MacFadyen, e-mail: diversity-book-group

The group explores differences through literature and film so that we may better understand ourselves and others. The group is loosely organized with no set rules except to explore a variety of differences and to provide a relaxed and safe environment for everyone. Members are from the community as well as the congregation. There is no obligation to come to every meeting and no requirement for joining. Click here for more information.

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Sustainable Living Committee

Contact: Diane Maguire, e-mail: sustainable-living

Mission: Encourage sustainable energy choices, advocacy and action to mindfully consider our impact on the global environment and bring that knowledge to our community.

Our Discussion List

The UFWC has a Sustainable Living e-mail discussion list. If you are interested in subscribing to this list, send a request to ufwcemail@ufwc.org.

Meets physically or via Skype (to reduce the use of gas to drive to the meeting).

Recent activities include:

• Participated in local events as representatives of the UFWC

• Shared information of interest via the Fellowtarian, Connections, etc.

• Sent out legislative email alerts in a timely manner to allow members to take action.

• Led a letter writing campaign to the Governor and representatives about the Marcellus Shale issue.

Click Here for more information.

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Fair-Trade Products 

Contact: Shelly Case, e-mail: fair-trade

Fair-Trade beverages are always served at the Fellowship and are available for sale in the foyer.  These products provide a fair price to the producers of the product who are often paid very little for their efforts by large companies purchasing these raw materials. Click here for more information.

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Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

Contact: Linda Sander and Tom Townsend, e-mail: UUSC

UUSC is our charity. Because it receives no government or faith-based support, it is funded through individual memberships and acts independently. UUSC goes around the world to do social justice work where others fear to tread and does so by partnering with local organizations in those areas.  UFWC has the highest percentage of memberships in the UUSC of any congregation in the District. Click here for more information.

We encourage you to visit the UUSC website to learn more and find out what you can do.

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UUPLAN (UU Pennsylvania Advocacy Network)

Contact: Diane Maguire, e-mail: uuplan

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has helped six states over the past two years develop statewide legislative advocacy networks. If you know UUSC, you know it has been very effective on the national and global levels. UUPLAN will have a specific UU identity and will be organized to have a durable and visible presence among legislators in Harrisburg. The issues that will be addressed will be informed by the issues of advocacy and social justice as defined by UUA, UUSC and related organizations.  UUPLAN is not part of our religious organization but will address issues of concern to many Unitarian Universalists.

For more information go to the UUPlan website.

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Animal Ministry

Contact: John Gribbin, e-mail animal-ministry

Mission: Educating members of the Fellowship on a wide variety of issues relating to the alleviation of animal suffering by promoting compassionate alternatives and actively participating in activities that will lessen animal suffering.

This is a new group. They conducted a survey of the congregation concerning animal welfare issues. The results were published in the July 2011 issue of the Fellowtarian. They will use the results to plan future projects and events. The goals for this year are:

• Promote events such as the annual MeatOut to reduce meat consumption. (event held in April.)

• Support legislation aimed at reducing animal suffering.

• Hold a Reverence for All Life service at Fellowship. (Now in planning stages.)

For more information go to the UUA's Animal Ministry site.

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Library Advocates

Contact: Ralph Mero, e-mail: library-advocates

This group functions more as a loose group of concerned citizens. Most of the UFWC members who volunteered as advocates have participated in at least one training session provided by the Chester County library system. The information gained in these events has been useful in communicating with legislators, township supervisors, and through letters to the editor of the Daily Local News. Since the anticipated crisis in public library funding in PA hasn't materialized as expected, much of the urgency of this issue has cooled. The group will evaluate future directions.

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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Issues

Contact:  Jon McCormack, email: LGBT

The Fellowship supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons through a variety of programs.  We are a Welcoming Congregation which means that the congregation has participated in a lengthy, comprehensive educational program in LGBT issues.  We nurtured and now co-sponsor a PFLAG group.

In June, 2011, we participated (financially and volunteering) in a Transgender Health Conference in Philadelphia by sponsoring a table with ten other UU congregations to publicize our faith’s support of all people.

In January we publicized within the Fellowship the SPOT Benefit Show at Barley Sheaf Theater, and a group of people from the Fellowship attended. SPOT is an LGBTQA Youth Group geared toward teens in the area that provides a safe place to explore issues of sexual identity that we nurtured when they were starting up.
 

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UFWC Social Justice Directory
All email addresses @ufwc.org unless otherwise indicated.