Social justice is a value deeply woven into the fabric of Unitarian Universalism, and made explicit in our seven UU principles. At the UU Church of Canton, we put our principles and passions into action in many ways.
Our church’s social justice work seeks to help all members of the congregation live their values by providing information and education on issues at the local, national, and international levels, and offering opportunities for advocacy and action.
Helping the congregation live their values with information, education, and opportunities for action on issues of social concern in the wide world, including Climate and Environmental Justice Food Security, LGBTQIA+, Racial Justice, Voting Rights, and more.
A program that happens once every two years, it brings together people and organizations from beyond the congregation to share ideas, make connections, and share resources to develop strategies for addressing a specific social justice issue. Previous SJIs have focused on systematized imprisonment in the North Country (2019) and harassment and bullying in the workplace (2017).
These offerings provide a way for our members and friends to learn about and support various local, national, and international organizations committed to justice work. All are invited to propose organizations or initiatives that they believe are effective and deserving of our support. Click here for a list of previous SASOs and a nominating form.
Our current Social Action Shared Offering is dedicated to Direct Relief and World Central Kitchens.
Each year, we recognize a member of the community who makes a difference in our community with the Rachel Somers Grant Social Action Award.
We work closely with a number of community organizations who are doing wonderful work. Some of these include: