Recent Highlights

Issue Work

  1. UU EcoMinds (endorsed by MUUSJA, February '05) a MUUSJA working group with 15 core group members from five UU congregations - focused on passage of a Renewable Energy Standard for Minnesota, with a longer-term vision of ending global warming and advancing renewable energy & energy conservation.
    • Hosted a public forum on peak oil with expert with Richard Heinberg - 225 attended.
    • Worked to promote passage of a Renewable Electricity Standard with door knocking in targeted precincts, collecting 800 postcards, moblizing for rallies, calls, etc.
    • Developed media on global warming, including posters that will be distributed nationally through Interfaith Power and Light. Helped UU Ministry on Earth to develop a power point presentation to engage UUs in shaping the UUA Statement of Conscience on Global Warming.
    • Four MUUSJA congregations responded to UUA Statement of Conscience on Global Warming.
    • Organized sales of compact florescent lamps (light bulbs) in several UU congregations & reported the energy savings resulting from the use of CFLs (several hundreds of thousands of pounds of CO2 saved).
    • Organized Earth Day programs & educational presentations by renewable energy experts in several UU congregations.
    • Worked with Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) to create & staff a successful exhibit on energy conservation at the MN State Fair, reaching hundreds of people per day over 10 days
    • Acted on a strategic opportunity to bring a UU moral voice to our work with interfaith partners, when UU EcoMinds chair, Madalyn Cioci, was invited to represent the faith community in a meeting with the Governor's staff person for energy issues.
    • Worked with a key interfaith coalition partner, Congregations Caring for Creation (C3) - a new group UU EcoMinds members helped found and nurture; and, a key secular coalition partner, Fresh Energy - a highly respected and effective state-wide policy advocacy organization that includes faith-based partners.
  2. UUs Out For Marriage (endorsed by MUUSJA, October '05) a MUUSJA working group with 18 core group members from nine UU congregations – focused on stopping a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, with a longer-term vision of advancing GLBT & marriage equality.
    • Created and distributed to all 26 UU congregations and all UU ministers in Minnesota, a UUO4M informational packet about the issue, sermon materials, and organizing tools - including a model congregational statement of opposition to the constitutional amendment, which 18 of our 26 congregations passed
    • Created a first-ever UU "Buddy System" - connecting metro-area activists and leaders in UUO4M's core group with UUs from congregations in greater Minnesota, for information-sharing, mobilizing, and accountability regarding campaign goals
    • Held monthly campaign strategy meetings, involving two to three dozen UUs
    • Eighteen UU congregations in Minnesota passed resolutions opposing the constitutional ban and 11 UU ministers were involved in various ways.
    • Organized 300 UUs from around Minnesota to mobilize and attend two key events with legislators: a faith-based rally (Rev. Victoria Safford – White Bear UU Church - was a key speaker), and a "Day on the Hill" citizen lobbying event that attracted 5,000 participants
    • Organized a "UUs Power UP!" event, attended by 60 UUs, the evening before Day on the Hill, with a shared meal, service (led by Rev. Meg Riley and Rev. Kate Tucker)
    • Organized National Coming Out Day programs & educational presentations in several UU congregations
    • Raised public awareness by coordinating letters to editors, trainings, speakers, and special events.
    • Worked with Rev. Meg Riley to organize a wonderful evening of celebration and discussion with Rev. Bill Sinkford, several UU ministers, and many UUs who had supported the UUO4M campaign.
    • Worked with a key interfaith coalition partner, Faith Family Fairness - a group UUO4M members helped found and nurture; and, a key secular coalition partner, OutFront Minnesota - a highly respected and effective 20 year-old state-wide policy advocacy organization that includes faith-based partners.

Building a Lasting UU Social Justice Organization

  1. Leadership Development
    • Organized third annual Leadership Development workshop focusing on worldview
    • Racial Justice Training, with Gary Delgado (then executive director of Applied Research Center) - focused on distinctions between interpersonal racism, institutional racism, and structural racism.
    • Continued to mentor MUUSJA leaders.
  2. Building Coalition Partnerships
    • Partnered with 13 community organizations, including the Metro Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, Minnesotans for an Energy Efficient Economy, United Steelworkers of America, OutFront Minnesota, Alliance for Metro Stability, Clean Water Action, Congregations Caring for Creation.
    • Participated in building a local social change infrastructure by engaging in the Minnesota Interfaith Alliance and the Interfaith Quality of Life Task Force.

Bringing UU Values into a Larger Movement for the Common Good — Worldview Work

    Worldview Working Group
    • Organized a 3-part workshop series based on a framework called the "three faces of power" to (1) educate UUs about the role of worldview in achieving social change and (2) create both our individual and MUUSJA worldviews, using these to frame and communicate messages in relation to our issues.
    • MUUSJA leaders are bringing worldview and values to their work in all policy arenas.