A central aspect of Unitarian Universalism is to restore balance to our community and the world. This translates to a firm commitment to social justice action, which traces back to our values. Because every person is sacred and there is an interdependent web of all existence, we cannot turn away from injustice.

Our justice work is more than just learning and sharing information. We aim to transform the world — and ourselves in the process. Social justice is woven throughout all of our programs, from religious education to worship to events. You are invited to join in this mission. Transform yourself, as you transform the world. Visit our Volunteer Page for current social justice (and general FUSIT) volunteer opportunities and check out our Social Justice Activities below.

Social Justice Activities

Shared Plate and Side with Love for September

Menstrual Equity Center will be the recipient of September’s Side With Love and Shared Plate. Every Sunday service in the month of September we will be collecting menstrual products as part of the initiatives aimed at providing access to affordable, sustainable menstrual products and promoting menstrual health education in the Ithaca, NY, area. The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) opened the MEI outside their office in Center Ithaca in 2023 to eliminate period poverty through advocacy and community engagement.

Upcoming Social Justice Events

Democracy Circle Meeting Sunday, September 14 at noon in the Arch Room

For all those who have joined us in the past and any new faces, please join us for a Democracy Circle meeting. The Democracy Circle at FUSIT has been gathering to share ideas and companionship, engage with one another and educate ourselves and each other during this turbulent time in our history. We have shared information about current issues and legislation being proposed as well as actions that can be taken.

Small groups have been formed to focus on various areas including Engaging with Others, Engaging with the Community, Communication and Action and Constitution Study. We are joining together again after a summer reprieve and will be discussing actions moving forward.  Any and all are welcome.

Adult RE – Showing Up for Racial Justice Sunday September 21, noon in the Annex

Join organizers from Tompkins County Showing Up for Racial Justice to explore the meaning of reparations using the Movement for Black Lives Reparations Toolkit and discuss our Redistributing White Wealth campaign as a local step toward reparations work. Come to learn about the current context of reparations at the local, state, and national levels, share ideas, and identify what steps you can take with others around reparative action and wealth redistribution!

8th Principle Action Ministry – Wednesday, September 24 at 7pm
Please join us on Zoom to gather in community to share ideas and companionship, engage with one another and educate ourselves during this turbulent time in our history. We plan to learn more about the issues and legislation being proposed as well as actions to be taken.

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Action Teams

Action Teams are formed by a person or group of people who identify a social justice topic on which they want to focus. These teams are somewhat dynamic and are created and discontinued based on current events and issues. The following is a description of the current or recent action teams:

• Environmental Interests Circle: meets monthly to support one another in developing sustainable habits and to provide information and resources to learn about how to live in a more environmentally sustainable way. Below are some resources we use to guide our monthly discussion. Check the Upcoming Events Page for further information.
• • Sustainable Finger Lakes offers news articles related to sustainability and environmental conservation, lists sustainability-minded organizations for networking in a shared region, and offers resources and tips for an environmentally-conscious future.
  •  Tenant Resources Document– Ithaca’s Electrification Program
    This document helps tenants understand how an energy-efficient upgrade, made by their landlord, would benefit them.
     
  • Electrification Document
    A release from Cornell Cooperative Extension, this details what electrification means, how it works, and lists the benefits of “electrifying.”
• Health Care Reform: Working towards changing New York State and national laws to provide healthcare for all people. This group is currently tracking privatization as well as medical debt issues. Contact Judy Jones jwj2@cornell.edu.
• Your action team here!