Social Justice

What are Social Justice Associates?

Social Justice Associates encourage and support social justice endeavors within and beyond our church walls. They provide organizational support, education, and activism on social justice issues through a nonhierarchical group process. 

The SJA’ serve as the hub for other social justice-related groups within the church, such as the Immigrant Support Fund, Seacoast Family Promise, South Church Pride, and Community Action Team (CAT).

We focus on overarching themes that connect our events, programs, and actions throughout the church year. Inspired by a Sunday service last year in which congregants were asked to share what social justice issue most concerned them and what skill or gift they could offer in addressing it, we gathered the congregation's statements. We divided them into three pillars of social justice:

  1. Individual Justice

  2. Community Justice

  3. Earth Justice

We organize the Shared Plate and our themes according to these pillars. Past themes have included homelessness, hunger, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental concerns, voter rights, gun violence prevention, racism, and indigenous rights.

Immigrant Rights 

The current theme is Immigrant Rights. South Church has a long history of supporting immigrants. This fall, the SJAs and Immigrant Support Fund came together to offer a series of events aimed at deepening our understanding of and commitment to immigrant rights and support of local immigrants.  These included a Sunday service devoted to the topic, two discussions over lunch, and an expert panel presentation. We learned how we can help immigrants at the state and local level. At the end of the series, several church members decided to form a Neighborhood Support Team (NST).

There are many ways to help out, one time, occasionally, or taking the lead on an effort.  The NST can use help in these ways:

  • Helping immigrants get established

    • Transportation to work, doctor’s appointments, job interviews

    • English for Speakers of Other Languages Tutoring

    • Socializing & Friendship

    • Translation

  • Participation in a Neighbor Support Team

  • Housing for people – spare bedrooms, in-law apartments

  • Assisting in filing government documents

    • SNAP  benefits

    • Medicaid for children with disabilities

    • State assistance for families with children

  • Fundraising

  • Job Search Help – finding opportunities, completing applications

Email the SJAs at socialjustice@southchurch-uu.org if you would like to volunteer or learn more.

Shared Plate

The monthly Shared Plate program, including the congregational nomination and voting process by which recipient organizations are selected, is organized and carried out by the SJA’s. Nominations take place in January with voting in February for the next church year.

Seacoast Family Promise

Seacoast Family Promise is part of a national organization that works with congregations to house temporarily homeless families.

Volunteers provide meals, donate household items, and other support. During the remainder of the year, there are many ways to help out. Members can donate household items for families transitioning into permanent housing, help with SFP’s annual auction, volunteer in the SFP day center and more.

If you’d like more information about SFP and how to plug in, please contact our SFP Coordinating Team at sfpcoordinator@gmail.com.

The Seacoast Family Food Pantry provides food for our Seacoast neighbors of all ages. South Church has engaged in a number of initiatives over the years, including several Bring Your Weight in Food Drives and a Summer Meals for Kids program. 

If you'd like to get future hosting weeks on your calendar, South Church will also be preparing meals for Seacoast Family Promise during the weeks of June 29th - July 5th and October 26th - November 1st. That means we get Valentine's Day, the Fourth of July, and Halloween this year -- all fun holidays to prepare desserts for, if anyone is looking for an excuse to make themed cookies :) 

Get involved

Is there a cause that you feel called to act on? The Social Justice Associates can help congregants develop their ideas, connect them with others in the church who share their passion, and direct them to organizations working on this issue in the area. We invite you to fill out this form to tell us about your cause.  We will be in touch!