The Social Action Council
Mission Statement: The purpose of our Social Action Council (SAC) is to help the congregation realize its overall mission to transform lives and care for the world with a special emphasis on its related vision to promote justice by working for the fair and compassionate treatment of all people and the interdependent web of creation. Thus, the Council’s mission is to guide the UUCV congregation and its resources towards the betterment of our community and, as an extension, the world by seeking both social and environmental justice
It is easy to become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the social and environmental issues we encounter daily at local, state, national and international levels. This has prompted our congregants and SAC members to discuss which of many projects that we might work on have the potential to be sustainable, and lead to lasting improvements in social and environmental justice. We attempt to select projects that meet the criterion for sustainable development that was formulated in 1987 by The World Commission on Environment and Development. Sustainable Development enables people to meet their own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This entails economic, environmental and social sustainability. For example, giving food to the working poor who depend on Project S.H.A.R.E., our local food bank, is a humane thing to do, but it is not sustainable. Contributions to S.H.A.R.E. do not help us solve a fundamental problem—many low wage workers are not earning enough feed their families in our area. Although support for Project S.H.A.R.E. is needed at this time, it must be coupled with political action to raise wages if the elimination of hunger is to become sustainable.
Although Council members organize and participate in many planned and spontaneous activities each year, currently we have focused on three “sustainable” initiatives with the intention of adding additional initiatives as time and energy permit. Our special initiatives and a number of other activities that have been undertaken by Council members are summarized below.
- The Mozambique Bursary Project
- The Correctional Justice Initiative
- The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Justice Initiative
- Other Activities: Change for the World
- Discussions, Movies and Lectures
- SAM: The Social Action Matters Newsletter
- Political Activities
- Project S.H.A.R.E.
- Fair Trade Sales
The Mozambique Bursary Project
Almost one out of every three sexually active adults in Mozambique is HIV positive, as are many children of HIV infected parents. Girls who stay in school are more likely to delay marriage and motherhood. This reduces the spread of AIDS and slows the rate of population growth. In addition, girls who finish upper primary school (6th and 7th grades) are also more likely to become community leaders, acquire the capability to earn extra money for their families, and see that their children attend school. Thus, helping girls stay in school has sustainable benefits.
For the past 5 years the Social Action Council (SAC) has partnered with two missionaries from the United Church of Canada to provide bursaries (scholarships) that enable girls from rural villages in the Mozambique province of Zambézia to attend school beyond the 5th grade level. These missionaries, Karen and Bill Butt, work with the Christian Council of Mozambique. Karen’s major focus in the past 5-years has involved developing a network of local AIDS prevention clubs and encouraging girls to stay in school.
Karen and Bill contacted Priscilla Laws in December 2004 about the possibility of UUCV raising “bursary” funds to support girls who want to attend upper primary school, high school and vocational schools. The program started in 2005 with 24 girls. It was expanded to 48 girls in 2006, and 54 girls in 2007.
In January 2007 the Unitarian Universalist Global AIDS Coalition (UU-GAC) named UUCV as a Red Ribbon Congregation in recognition of the fact that SAC’s Bursary Project has helped in the international efforts to curb the spread of AIDS in Africa. Since becoming a Red Ribbon Congregation, the UUCV Mozambique Bursary Project has expanded even more.
By early 2008 SAC raised over $22,000 to provide schooling for almost 100 girls. About half of these students lived in Namarroi town where they attended 7th through 10th grades at regional schools there. Another 40 girls commuted to 6th and 7th grade classes in villages near their family homes. In addition 12 girls finished a three year program at the Nicodala Teachers College. These graduates are now serving as elementary school teachers in smaller villages in the province of Zambézia.
Early in 2009 SAC provided a fifth year of support for the project and was able to support 147 girls. Almost 50 of the younger girls in the program are attending schools near their homes in the villages of Regone and Maqueringa. An additional 61 girls live in a residence in the isolated village of Molumbo, and are enrolled in grades 6 to 10. Another 35 girls are in grades 8 to 10 at a larger district school in Namarroi where they live in a residence run by the Ministry of Education. Another 6 girls are now enrolled grades 11 and 12 at the pre-university high school in the city of Quelimane (pop. 190,000).
Anyone interested in contributing to the Social Action Council’s Bursary fund should contact Priscilla Laws. Those who are interested in knowing more about financial aspects of the Project and SAC’s oversight procedures can download SAC’s 2009 financial report. An additional document detailing Bursary Project overhead expenditures is also available. A news story by Karen Butt about the 2009 bursary girls can be found on page 6 of the April 2009 UUCV Newsletter.
The Correctional Justice Initiative
One goal of CJI is to educate congregation members and the larger community about issues of justice and law in the courts and the prisons. A second goal has been to help indigent inmates at the SCI Muncy Prison. Holiday collections were held during the last two years to provide $30 for 30 Women. Many women who received the UUCV gift responded with requests for ongoing interaction with UUCV and information about Unitarian Universalism. SAC has been sending monthly packets to about 50 Muncy women that include materials for one service: the Order of Service, a copy of the sermon, and associated readings and hymns. Several families are serving as pen pals to some of the prisoners. We feel that prisoners deserve to be treated as individuals who have inherent worth and dignity and that our efforts are sustainable if the prisoners whom we reach are more likely to become functional citizens if and when they are released.
Correctional Justice Matters Newletters : |
Correctional Forum Newsletters : |
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| 2008 Issue 1 | 2007 Winter Issue | |||
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Justice Initiative
In June 2005, SAC decided to mount an initiative to secure equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) citizens as one of its special initiatives. The GLBT Justice Initiative task force has mounted public lectures and participates in the Pridefest festival and parade held in Harrisburg each summer. Its latest project is to encourage the Carlisle Borough Council to adopt an ordinance that insures GLBT rights in housing and employment as part of an inclusivity resolution the Council has already passed. The passage and enforcement of such an ordinance can have a sustainable impact on enhancing social justice for local gay citizens. In addition, the GLBT Justice Initiative group is organizing a regional group to promote statewide legislation to allow civil unions and to oppose an amendment to the state constitution that would ban same sex marriages in Pennsylvania.
The Social Action Council manages a Change for the World project in which the coins collected every Sunday in a given month are given to a different cause—typically a local organization. Approximately $3000 is collected each year to support organizations such as the local chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Katrina Hurricane Relief, YWCA Young Wonders Day Camp, Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, Project S.H..AR.E., and the Carlisle C.A.R.E.S. Homeless Shelter Project.
CFW recipients are recommended by UUCV congregants or members of the Social Action Council following guidelines.
Discussions, Movies and Lectures
As interest arises, SAC organizes roundtable discussions on crucial issues such as U.S. involvement in the Iraq war. Discussions after thought-provoking lectures and films at local theaters, colleges, and universities are also popular. Sometimes a discussion group is organized around a topic of common concern. For example, recently a new foreign relations discussion group has formed with the help of SAC members.
SAM: The Social Action Matters Newsletter
Our Social Action Matters Newsletter is published several times each year to give UUCV congregants more detailed accounts of its current activities and important social justice issues. It is typically about 6 pages long and includes photographs. Back issues are available on our website.
| 2006 Issue 1 | 2008 Issue 1 | 2008 Issue 5 | ||
| 2007 Issue 1 | 2008 Issue 2 | 2009 Issue 1 | ||
| 2007 Issue 2 | 2008 Issue 3 | |||
| 2007 Issue 3 | 2008 Issue 4 |
During the 2004 presidential election, SAC members mounted a voter registration drive. More recently, SAC members helping with the GLBT Justice Initiative circulated a petition against the Marriage Amendment pending in the Pennsylvania Legislature. SAC members delivered the petition and discussed their concerns with State Senator Pat Vance. In addition, four UUCV members attended a Value Families Rally at the State Capital to oppose the amendment.
In the past few years SAC has organized trips to various protest rallies in Washington including anti-war and pro-choice marches. These included the Unitarian Universalist Call for Justice Weekend events in Washington DC to oppose US involvement in torture.
From time to time SAC helps with the collection of food and clothing for Project S.H.A.R.E., our local food bank that is supported by area churches. Members also encourage children in UUCV’s religious education program to get involved. In addition several UUCV members serve as regular S.H.A.R.E volunteers.
For the past few years SAC has conducted Fair Trade sales at Dickinson College, at the Carlisle Amani Festival and in the UUCV Social Hall after services during the winter holidays. These sales are conducted to help artisans and food suppliers from developing countries realize a fair return for their handmade crafts and food items. Most of the items are sold on consignment from two non-profit organizations -- Greater Gift (a SERRV International Program) and the Ten Thousand Villages store in Mechanicsburg. SAC’s modest return on its sales has been contributed to the Bursary Fund to help with schooling for girls from Mozambique.
Guidelines for Change for the World
Approved by the SAC on February 13, 2007
The Social Action Council of UUCV uses the following guidelines in choosing Change for the World recipients that are recommended by congregants or members of the Council:
- Normally grants will be made to organizations or groups providing a needed service or services in the South-central region of the Commonwealth, with special consideration given to local groups.
- In some cases grants will be given to support national or international projects that have ties with UUCV members.
- Consideration will be given to the level of need of the recipient (organization, group or individual), with special consideration given to beneficiaries for whom a grant of $225-$250 might be crucial.
- In cases where grants are made to individuals, preference will be given to UUCV members and families with special needs.
UUCV members who wish to recommend a recipient of a Change for the World grant are required to submit a nomination in writing or via email to the Social Action Council c/o cftw@uucv.net and provide information about the recipient and the service or services it provides.
