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

Side with Love 
Each Sunday in February we  are collecting food items for the Code Blue shelter. The Ithaca Code Blue shelter is an emergency resource for unhoused individuals, operated by Volunteers of America, offering beds, meals, and support services daily through April 2026, serving as both a daytime warming center and overnight shelter. We are collecting breakfast bars, 100 percent juice boxes, boxes of single serving instant oatmeal envelopes.

Information about upcoming social justice events can be found below. See the Weekly Announce email or contact office@uuithaca.org for Zoom links.

Upcoming Events

UUs of Color
Monday, February 2
If you are a UU of Color, please join us from 6 – 7 pm for community, resource sharing, and activity planning. Please contact poc@uuithaca.org for meeting details.

The Environmental Interest Circle
Wednesday, February 4 at 7 pm
In the Parlor and over Zoom
The Environmental Interest Circle meets to discuss/exchange ideas and actions that further sustainable living for each one of us, for the FUSIT congregation, and for our congregations’ role in the greater community. We meet every first Wednesday of the month

Democracy Circle
Sunday, February 8 at noon
Sophia Lyon Fahs room (top of stairs by Buffalo St entrance)
The Democracy Circle meets on the second Sunday of the month to share ideas and companionship, engage with one another and educate ourselves and each other during this turbulent time in our history.

Supporting Immigrants in Our Community
Sunday, February 15 at noon in the Annex
Mary Jo Dudley will lead a discussion about immigrants in our community, what motivates them to migrate, what roles they play in our communities, and how they contribute to the NYS and US economy. Current immigration enforcement environment will be discussed as well as how families can plan to prevent family separation and how community members can provide support for immigrants in the region.
Dudley was the former director of the Cornell Farmworker Program and current director of Migrant Advocacy and Support (MAS). Her leadership has been recognized nationally – including by the White House, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Association of Public and LandGrant Universities. She has been interviewed by The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, CNN, USA Today, ProPublica, Scientific
American, The Atlantic, National Public Radio, and many other media outlets.

LGBTQ+ Group
Meets Monthly
This Small Group is especially for FUSIT’s LGBTQ+ community and meets monthly. All who identify on the LGBTQ+ continuum are welcome. Come enjoy this opportunity for fellowship and community within our larger FUSIT community, in a safe, confidential and nurturing environment. Please reach out to dre@uuithaca.org for more information.

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!