The Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance is a multi-congregational organization of UUs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, USA working together for social change. Our purpose is to
  1. build a powerful and lasting organization that empowers UUs to work collectively for social change based on our UU imperative to create a just, equitable, and sustainable world
  2. organize and wage campaigns with interfaith and secular allies to achieve winnable solutions to systemic social problems
  3. create a space for UU activists to share and learn from their experiences, especially in relation to our UU faith
We're led by a Steering Committee, with reps from metro UU congregations and working groups. Note: the "M" in MUUSJA formerly was stood for "metro"; now it is for Minnesota. We have not completely purged old references.
  Action Groups
UU Affordable Housing Partnership (UUAHP) works to address the affordable housing crisis through education, organizing, and public policy advocacy, building Habitat for Humanity housing, and raising money ($100,000 to date) for homelessness prevention and supportive housing. Our current campaign is 'Yes, In My Back Yard' in coalition with the Metro Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing. UUAHP meets the first Thursday of the month.
FFI: UUAHP Web Site
Barbara Weatherhead: bweatherhead at mn.rr.com
UU EcoMinds promotes lifestyles, policies and technologies that respect and sustain all life. Goals are to (1) advocate for sustainable energy policies; (2) promote UU understanding and adoption of sustainable practices; and (3) help shape UUA's Statement of Conscience on Global Warming. The group works Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy and with the new interfaith organization, Congregations Caring for Creation.
FFI: Ecominds Web Site
Madalyn Cioci: joemadalyn at earthlink.net      or
Chris Burda: cburda at smm.org
UU Worldview/Framing Group will engage Metro UU's in shifting the political climate by learning how to articulate our spiritually progressive UU worldview and skillfully frame the issues we work on in terms of this worldview. The group will also coordinate MUUSJAƒs involvement in broader interfaith discussions about worldview locally and nationally.
FFI: Contact Phyllis Stenerson: phyllis at wisethoughts.com
UUs Building Democracy is a Working Group in discussion. The idea is to engage UUs in a new emerging interfaith effort to shift the political climate, building on our successful UU Voter Registration Campaign in 2004. Activities might include speaking out, educating candidates, registering voters, dialoguing with folks of different faiths and political views, and more.
FFI: Betsy Allis: erallis at aol.com
Leadership Development is a key focus of MUUSJA. Our aim is to help UUs develop the core skills involved in social change work, such as relationship building, building power for effective systemic change, and organizing winning campaigns with interfaith and secular partners and allies. We sponsor an annual day long training workshop, ongoing mentoring, and periodic programs.
  Meetings
  We meet quarterly for issue updates, community building, leadership training, and a short business meeting. Our gatherings are interesting, fun, and empowering!
See Current Announcements ( Weekly E-Event Update) for details of upcoming meetings.
  Join Today!
  Interested in learning more about MUUSJA or helping us build a strong, effective UU social justice organization?
Contact Betsy Allis: erallis at aol.com
 

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        muusja-webmaster at muusja.org        Updated June, 2005
Weekly E-Event Update of UU social justice events.
(Click on most recent dated item
- near top of page.)