Social Concerns

NEVER DOUBT that a small group of thoughtful
committed citizens can change the world.
INDEED it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

Social Concerns work is very important to the members and friends of the Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. We are a Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Certified "Welcoming Congregation" and we have been recognized for our support of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) with a "Creating Justice Banner Society" award. Kate Santucci is the Social Concerns Trustee for the Fellowship.

Ongoing activities and groups include:

SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE
We meet the third Monday of each month, 7pm at the fellowship to provide updates on current projects, plan social action activities, and discuss ideas.

How you can participate: attend meetings, offer assistance to current social action projects, share your interests and ideas.

Who to contact: Heather Wendel

HUMAN RIGHTS FOCUS
Through various projects, we will be addressing the issue of human rights.

How you can participate: organize and/or support specific projects related to human rights issues.

Who you can contact: Kate Santucci

Some of our other social action and social justice activities include:

  • Soup Supper (Spring) - Annual benefit for the Miami Valley Food Bank.
  • Holiday Sharing (Holiday Season) - We collect money and purchase items needed by a local charity or organization to help individuals in need. This season we supported Daybreak, a shelter for runaway youth.
  • Mitten Tree (Holiday Season) - We collect mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves to hand out at The Other Place or EDESP.
  • Martin Luther King Walk (January) - We walk together in the MLK parade in downtown Dayton.
  • Guest At Your Table (March) - We collect money to support the UUSC.
  • Friends of Planned Parenthood Book Drive (Spring through Fall) - Our fellowship houses a book barrel to collect donated books. The books are sold at a book fair in November to raise money for Planned Parenthood.
  • Pride Parade. (June) We participate in Dayton's Gay Pride Parade to show our support for the GLBT community.

In 2004-2005 , we  worked to involve people across our congregation in Social Action Program devoted to Empowering Women and the GLBT Community:  Equal Rights for All.

In 2005-2006, we worked on various projects which addressed Urban Hunger issues.