Our History of Social Justice and Inclusion
As Unitarian Universalists we live our Covenant by being actively involved in social justice issues. We know that tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are candles in the dark, and integral to making a change in the world. We work to serve, raise awareness, and to support and partner with those who face injustice. More than 200 years ago the American Universalist Church was one of the first religious groups to formally oppose slavery and was the first group to ordain a woman into the clergy.
Members of our church are outspoken advocates of LGBTQ rights, climate justice, racial justice, immigration, and economic justice. We focus our efforts on issues such as homelessness, food scarcity, threats to democracy, environmental justice, and public health issues such as domestic violence and mental health. Accordingly, our Social Justice Committee collaborates with local organizations such as the Laconia-Gilford Lion’s Club to support nonprofit organizations with missions to provide assistance to those experiencing food or housing insecurity or serving the needs of those with mental health illnesses.
Social Justice
Social Justice Committee Announcements
9/1, 11-3pm “Workers over Billionaires” State House, sponsored by NH 50501. Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ro Khanna are guest speakers. For other details see NH50501 website: NH 50501
8/15/25 4-7 pm, NH Bridge Brigade for Democracy, by NH50501, the Pinnacle Hill Road overpass, New Hampton, exit 23. To get connected and directions, contact the social justice committee at uuslso-cialjusticecommittee@groups.outlook.com. To see photos and videos from the last bridge rally taken by Frank! Frank's videos
• For a list of other Labor Day events: Workers Over Billionaires Events In New Hampshire Sept. 1 – Kent Street Coalition
• 9/16/25, 6:30pm: The General's Son Speaks: Confronting Truth in Israel-Palestine with author Miko Peled. Has been cancelled.
• Renewable Energy Event: September 21st. NH State House. For more info email: newhamp-shire@thirdact.org. Website: https://thirdact.org/new-hampshire/
• 10/15/25, 7PM, Divestment as a Tool For Change, virtual presentation sponsored by AFSC. To learn more and register: here https://actionnetwork.org/events/divestment-as-a-tool-for-change?clear_id=true&link_id=12&can_id=c03e3afb2c4550a0a6609e9a8acb6a75&source=email-action-news-celebration-events-august-1-2025&email_referrer=email_2836857&email_subject=news-solidarity-events-august-8-2025&&
• Every Friday in Concord there is a visibility rally to support immigrant neighbors. Sponsored by Stronger To-gether, a project of NH AFSC. Visibility is at the corners of Main and Centre Streets from 4-5 PM.
• Another virtual video option they have shared: A Long Talk About the Uncomfortable Truth, in conjunc-tion with the New England Conference, is offering four transformative Anti-Racism Activation Experiences to equip congregations to move from resolution to action. In order to watch the video you can register for Answer the Call: Anti-Racism Activation Experiences with "A Long Talk" by going to the Act and Engage page. https://www.uuactionnh.org/act-engage?emci=e0f9b2b1-686d-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&emdi=531b4e6b-d76e-f011-8dc9-6045bda9d96b&ceid=38094
Registration is free and there are still two pairs of online sessions you can sign up for: September 10 and 17 and September 23 and 30.
Registration is free and there are still two pairs of online sessions you can sign up for: September 10 and 17 and September 23 and 30.
Social Justice
The Social Justice Committee (SJC) would like to share the following information:
- Many folks are continuing with calls to the US House and Senate. Do you need help in scheduling weekly calls to
the NH Delegation? Try the app 5 Calls or add our delegation’s numbers to your cell phone as well as the numbers for Rep. Harkeem Jeffries ((202) 225-5936) and Senator Chuck Schumer ((202) 224-6542).
- There are two ongoing postcard campaigns to exercise first amendment freedom of speech rights: Card Campaign for Democracy and #TheMajorityProject: 500k Postcards to Congress – Signs Of Justice.
- NH Forward and NH50501 are seeking contributions for a billboard project in Manchester. To learn more and contrib- ute: Billboards Project | NH Forward
- The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a surveillance self-defense guide for safer online communications and for tips for attending protests: Surv
- Are you curious about what organizations and products support either the Democratic or Republican Parties? Goods Unite Us is an application you can download in the App store, and there is a website too. You can search for either an organization or product and receive a break- down on what parties and candidates received monetary support from the organization or product. Here’s a link to the website: Home - Goods Unite Us
- Not comfortable going to a protest rally? There is an on- going postcard campaign to send postcards to the White House exercising our first amendment rights. If you de- cide to participate, be sure not to include your name or address. Here’s a link to a website providing templates that you can print out or use their message on your own postcards: Card Campaign for Democracy
- Finally, Senator Jaime Raskin is encouraging all Americans to file a formal demand for access to their personal information obtained by Musk and “DOGE”. Here’s a link to his website with a fillable form: DOGE Privacy Act Re- quests - Jamie Raskin for Congress
Our Current Social Justice Projects
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are primarily focusing our efforts on sharing our monetary offerings with local charities and on coordinating collection drives to support local and state organizations working to mitigate the economic impacts of this crisis such as homelessness and food insecurity. Please click on the links to learn more about each organization.
- Share the Plate - We share our monetary offerings with the following local charities:
- Collection Drives - We coordinate the collection of food and non-food items for organizations, and partner with the Laconia Gilford Lion's Club in this endeavor. The following are two organizations that will benefit from this effort:
- Isaiah 61 Cafe
- Community Action Program Food Pantry
- Other Social Justice Activities:
- We are a Green Sanctuary congregation
- We host the local American Red Cross Blood Drive annually
Our Previous Social Justice Projects
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are tabling some projects until we can perform them safely. Below is a list of projects that we have either tabled with the intent to resume participation after the pandemic or projects we have done in the past.
- UU The Vote - We participated with our national organization’s efforts to get out 1 million Unitarian Universalists for the 2020 election. We conducted phone calls to members and friends to provide assistance with voting.
- Gun Safety - To highlight the need for common sense gun safety reform, we created a poster and did a presentation at our national organization’s annual meeting and have hosted educational awareness sessions.
- Hands Across the Table - We volunteer to serve food for Hands Across the Table, an organization that provides free, hot meals to those in need.
- Belknap House - We participated in the fundraising and grand opening of the Belknap House which is a local cold weather homeless shelter. We have sold Fair Trade products to support small scale farmers and we donate the proceeds to the Belknap House.
- Liberty House - Coordinating collection drives for clothing and winter items for homeless veterans served by Liberty House in Manchester.
- Mental Health Awareness
- Hosted the former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court, Justice John Broderick, for a presentation to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Change Direction campaign
- Hosted NAMI for the presentation "In Our Own Voice" to increase awareness and help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
- Bullying Education - Hosted a workshop for local educators on the issue of bullying
- Habitat for Humanity - Raised funds and participated in Habitat for Humanity projects