Climate Justice
The Climate Justice group is working to reduce our personal and collective environmental footprint, moving toward a more just and sustainable world. The Climate Justice group meets monthly on the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:30–8:00 p.m hybridly in person and on Zoom.
The committee works to foster practical solutions we can all take in our life including ways to:
1. Conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.
2. Address the causes of climate change and advocate for policy and structures that will ensure a livable future for all.
3. Bring balance and health to relationships with ourselves, each other and the natural world.
Jackie Smolen serves as the chair of our Climate Justice group. Please email her at jackiesmo@aol.com for more information on getting involved.
Housing Justice
The Housing and Homelessness group is working toward a time when all people have a place to call home. We recognize the impact of racism in the growing housing crisis. We frequently work with other community organizations including Beacon Interfaith Collaborative and Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP).
UUCM is dedicated to working to end homelessness and housing insecurity. Our volunteers meet with local lawmakers often and advocate for legislation to support more affordable housing in Minnesota.
The Housing Justice group meets virtually on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30–8:00 p.m. Sue Fust serves as the chair of the Housing Justice Committee. Please reach out to her at drlanasue@yahoo.com for more information on getting involved.
Racial Justice
The Racial Justice group at UUCM works to raise awareness about racism and combat in its many forms. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person and justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Our congregation also voted to approve the 8th Principal to covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
At UUCM, we work to end racial discrimination and injustice, starting within ourselves and moving out into the world around us. We're dedicated to working with our community partners, including BLUU, the Legal Rights Center, the Minnetonka Coalition for Equitable Education and the Mapping Prejudice Project.
We frequently host educational events and programming. Check out the recording of one of our recent events on Indigenous Perspectives on Palestine. It examines parallels between the colonial experience of Indigenous people in North America and in Palestine/Israel. The presentation also shares words from statements made by tribal governments and Indigenous-led organizations, compare them with the Unitarian Universalist Association's statements, and explore what this means to us as UUs.
The Racial Justice group meets virtually on the second Thursday of each month from 4:30–5:00 p.m. Karen Zais serves as the chair of the Racial Justice Committee. Please reach out to her at karen.zais@gmail.com for more information on getting involved.