{"id":3383,"date":"2017-04-06T22:21:48","date_gmt":"2017-04-07T02:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/?page_id=3383"},"modified":"2026-09-29T13:31:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T17:31:46","slug":"social-justice","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/social-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Justice at UU Ithaca"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Social-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Social-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Social-1.png 620w, https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Social-1-420x210.png 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/about-us\/our-beliefs\/uu-principles-and-sources\/\">our values<\/a>. Because every person is sacred and there is an interdependent web of all existence, we cannot turn away from injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our justice work is more than just learning and sharing information. We aim to transform the world \u2014 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/connection\/volunteer\/\">Volunteer Page<\/a> for current social justice (and general UU Ithaca) volunteer opportunities and check out our Social Justice Activities below.<strong><br><br>Side with Love <br><\/strong>Side with Love is a weekly collection of items for organizations chosen by various UU Ithaca teams and Connection Circles. During Sunday services in October we are collecting paper towels, \u00a0laundry detergent, liquid hand soap, pots and pans, silverware, and dish sponges for Village at Ithaca.<br><br><strong>Shared Plate<\/strong><br>We are dedicating the month of October to the replenishment of the UU Ithaca Human Needs Fund. When someone in our congregation encounters sudden, short-term financial distress, there is a way for our caring community to help in a timely, confidential manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The UU Ithaca Board created the \u201cHuman Needs Fund\u201d in 2015. Representatives of the Care Team administer this fund. Please, <a href=\"https:\/\/fusit.breezechms.com\/form\/1529e783680938\">click here<\/a> to donate. Alternatively, checks can be made out to UU Ithaca. Please indicate HUMAN NEEDS FUND in the memo line. Mail the check to UU Ithaca Office, PO Box 6, Ithaca, NY 14851.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social Justice Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Important Program on Health Care Crisis<br>The Health Care Crisis and the New York Health Act &#8211; What, Why, When, Where<\/strong><br><strong>Sunday, October 4 at Noon in the Annex<\/strong><br>You are invited to a program of information with Q &amp; A and suggested actions.<br>DID YOU KNOW?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The county portion of Medicaid dollars would return to the State, a huge local savings Come and learn how you can help. New York must create an equitable system that treats healthcare as a right for all, not a commodity reserved for the privileged or a perk of employment!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three nearby local hospitals are at risk of closing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pediatric patients can no longer be admitted for care at Cayuga Medical Center<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the Act, approximately 92% of New Yorkers will pay less than they do now. The New York Health Act will cover long term nursing care and home health aides<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Environmental Interest Circle (EIC)<br>Wednesday, October 7 at 7pm in the parlor and over Zoom.<\/strong><br>The Environmental Interest Circle meets monthly in person and over Zoom to discuss\/exchange ideas and actions that further sustainable living for each one of us, for the UU Ithaca congregation, and for our congregations\u2019 role in the greater community, including environmental concerns and conserving energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Democracy Circle<br>Sunday, October 11 at noon<\/strong><br>Youth room, second floor of Annex<br>The Democracy Circle is a social justice group that turns values into direct action. Members identify personal causes and the group rallies to support and amplify each one. Any and all are welcome, whether you attend once or often. Please bring your suggestions, ideas and thoughts. For elevator access, exit the building and enter through the door at 208 E. Buffalo St.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Action Teams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">Action Teams<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Environmental Interests Circle: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.&nbsp;<\/span>Check the <a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/connection\/events\/\">Upcoming Events Page<\/a> for further information.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablefingerlakes.org\/about-us\/\">Sustainable Finger Lakes<\/a><span style=\"color: initial;\"> 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.<\/span> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><div>&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Tenant-Resources.docx.pdf\">Tenant Resources Document<\/a>&#8211; Ithaca&#8217;s Electrification Program<\/div> <span style=\"color: initial;\">This document helps tenants understand how an energy-efficient upgrade, made by their landlord, would benefit them.<\/span> <span style=\"color: initial;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><div><a href=\"http:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/What-is-Electrification.docx.pdf\">Electrification Document<\/a><\/div> <span style=\"color: initial;\">A release from Cornell Cooperative Extension, this details what electrification means, how it works, and lists the benefits of &#8220;electrifying.&#8221;<\/span> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Health Care Reform: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Democracy Circle<\/strong>: The Democracy Circle is a social justice group that turns values into direct action. Members identify personal causes and the group rallies to support and amplify each one. The group meets monthly. Any and all are welcome, whether you attend once or often. Please bring your suggestions, ideas and thoughts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Your action team here!<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Social-1.png\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/about-us\/our-beliefs\/uu-principles-and-sources\/\">our values<\/a>. Because every person is sacred and there is an interdependent <a href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/social-justice\/\"><strong>&#8230; read more<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3383","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Social Justice at UU Ithaca - First Unitarian Society of Ithaca<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/unitarian.ithaca.ny.us\/index.php\/social-justice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Social Justice at UU Ithaca - First Unitarian Society of Ithaca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A central aspect of Unitarian Universalism is to restore balance to our community and the world. 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