Our passion for social justice manifests in a variety of activities.
We approach our initiatives through direct service, policy and procedural work, and fighting for systemic change.

Peruse these opportunities for putting our faith into action!

SHARE-THE-BASKET PARTNERS
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light (VAIPL)
Living Interfaith Network (LINK)
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP)
Parishioner Assistance Fund

ADDITIONAL MISSIONS
Black Lives Matter
Boys and Girls Club
Crop Hunger Walk
Equality Virginia Phone Bank
Legislative Efforts
Moral Mondays
Pridefest
Voter Registration–UU the Vote!

Share-the-Basket

The UUFP supports its Food and Shelter ministries, some of its environmental justice activities, and other social justice organizations through our "Share-the-Basket" program. Each Sunday, a different, highlighted organization/ministry receives half of the cash offering from our collection basket as well as designated Share-the-Basket gifts. Contributions to Share-the-Basket and other programs can be made during the worship service, online and/or via mail.

National Association for the Advancement for Colored People (NAACP) Newport News – First Sunday

The mission of the NAACP is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Among its goals are:

• removing all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes,
• enacting and enforcing federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights,
• informing the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and seeking its elimination
• educating persons about their constitutional rights and how to take lawful action to secure the exercise of those rights.

Virginia Interfaith Power & Light (VAIPL) – Second Sunday

Virginia Interfaith Power and Light (VAIPL) works with faith communities across the Commonwealth of Virginia to achieve sustainable living. Reaching across sectarian lines, participating congregations collaborate with other people of faith to grow healthy communities and advance climate justice through education, advocacy and worship. VAIPL is an affiliate of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. UUFP has rallied to host Climate Care workshops sponsored by VAIPL

Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) – Fourth Sunday

Founded in 1982, VICPP is the largest statewide advocacy voice for the faith community in Virginia.  The organization focuses primarily on issues of racial, social, and economic justice. Historically VICPP has been a leader on poverty issues, working on expanding school breakfast programs, reducing predatory lending, and advocating Medicaid expansion. Today it focuses on racial justice, immigrant rights, and economic justice issues like requiring employers to offer paid sick days. VICPP engages people of faith and goodwill in advocating for justice in Virginia's policies and practices through education, prayer, and action.

Customarily slated for a Sunday in October for the Newport News/Peninsula event, the Crop Hunger Walk inspires walkers across Hampton Roads to raise money to support local and global hunger relief and sustainable agricultural development. Our Fellowship supports this mission through walkers, financial gifts, and donations of cookies and shoes (all types and sizes), helping make a global, local and environmental impact!

Equality Virginia believes in a truly inclusive Commonwealth where all are equally valued, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and a Virginia that is a safe, welcoming, and equal place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families to live, work, and play. Supporting this mission, UUFP volunteers have actively served through the EV phone bank, helping to pass pro-equality bills!
Contact: dre@uufp.org.

UUs in Virginia now have a consolidated legislative voice! Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Virginia (UULM-VA) is the 18th statewide faith-based network focusing Unitarian Universalists on important and achievable state legislative issues. Join our UUFP team as it researches state legislation involving social justice issues ( e.g., raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, reforming the redistricting process, etc.) and lobbies for positive change. [To locate your Virginia legislators, visit http://virginiageneralassembly.gov.]

UUFP actively joins the voices of Moral Mondays! We gather in peaceful protest on Mondays, in front of the UUFP office building (corner of Warwick Blvd. and Youngs Mill Ln.), to witness for Black Lives Matter. Join us in showing the community who we are as we work to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy.

Moral Mondays BLM Witness is usually held in the afternoons (but sometimes moves to the mornings during seasonal heat waves). Check out the Monday listings on our UUFP Event Calendar. Bring a sign, or use one we have on hand.

Sponsored by Hampton Roads PRIDE, PrideFest is an LBGTQIA+-centered event scheduled annually in June in Norfolk. Affirming inclusion, dignity and equality of all people, UUFP volunteers have staffed an information table in support of this important event.

As progressive people of faith, Unitarian Universalists can take up a meaningful role in election years without being partisan. We have opportunities to meet and talk with our neighbors, fight for our values, expand democracy, and help others who are promoting justice. Redistricting reform is another vital area of concern. If you would like to share in this effort, please join us as we work to "UU the Vote." A few of the many ways to do this include: talking with your neighbors about your yard sign (“In this house, we believe..”), providing rides to the polls, encouraging young people who will be 18 by the time of the election to register to vote. To learn more, please stop by the Social Justice Table on Sunday mornings, or email socialjustice@uufp.org, and look for articles in the E-Flame in the months ahead.