Racial Justice
Our congregation has made a strong commitment to being advocates for racial justice in Asheville and the wider world. In June 2016 the congregation adopted a Resolution in support of Black Lives Matter Movement  that calls us to educate about and deepen our understanding of white privilege and racially oppressive systems and to partner with local organizations to harness the power of love to combat oppression at all levels in our communities.
Our work in this area is currently being organized by the Liberation Collective. They promote education, building partnerships with anti-racist organizations in the community, and building relationships with the Black community.
Contact: Fredda Mangel*
Environmental Justice
UU Asheville is committed to helping our congregation and its members live more  sustainably upon the Earth. We were recognized as a  Green Sanctuary  in 2008 and are currently applying to be recertified in that status.  Environment Action Committee  (EAC)  meets monthly to coordinate our work for environmental justice. Also, we as a congregation have undertaken many projects to help us live lightly on the land, including installing rain gardens & native plantings and retrofitting our buildings based on energy audits. We recently completed a major project of installing 100 solar panels on our main building. Together we are working to reduce our energy consumption and to serve as a beacon of hope in our community.
Pride+: Gender & Sexuality Justice
Our congregation has long provided support and a welcome sanctuary for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. As long ago as the 1990s Rev. Maureen Killoran convened one of the area’s first World AIDS Day services, and helped start the local Pride celebration. We organized an Interweave group to support LGBTQ people and for a time provided space for a Metropolitan Community Church, which provided gay-friendly Christian worship, to meet here. In 1995 UUU Asheville was recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation, and with Rev. Audette’s leadership, we have joined those congregations which keep an ongoing practice of recertification, celebration, and action through the UUA’s Welcoming Congregation Pillars.
Economic Justice
Two of our Unitarian Universalist principles lead us to action in the area of economic
justice. We believe that every person has inherent worth and dignity and we believe in
justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. These values lead us to several of
our congregation’s initiatives.
This team engages in actions to mitigate food and supply insecurity and homelessness. Below are a sample of their projects:
Pantry Project – UU Asheville has adopted a BeLoved Pantry on Charlotte St.
providing easy 24/7 access to food and supplies where our neighbors in need live. Lots
of volunteers are needed for this project throughout the year.
Other Partnership Projects: BeLoved Village Projects, Saturday Sanctuary, Free
Fridge Project with Liberation Collective, Asheville Survival Program and Babies Need
Bottoms.
For more information contact Anita Feldman or Jim Gamble.*
Reproductive Justice
Engages with the congregation and community partners to provide education, support, and advocacy for reproductive justice defined as the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities. It is about access and opportunities, not just choice. The team meets monthly, their newsletter has current programs, actions and meeting information.
Contacts: Melissa Heimlein, Kelly Wedell*
Community Plate
Our long-standing Community Plate program offers the congregation an opportunity to learn about and offer financial support to social justice organizations in our community. We also have a chance to volunteer for partner organizations.
In recent years we have funded BeLoved, the UUAvl-Hetland Scholarship, Co-Thinkk,  Bountiful Cities, Solarize, YTL-Youth Transformed for Life, and others. The Community Plate  also funds the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund and Holiday Giving which benefits families in  our own UUCA congregation.
Click below to learn more, including how to get involved or how to nominate an organization.
Our team meets monthly. If you are interested in joining contact Linda Kooiker,
Chair*.
UU the Vote
This team coordinates justice projects with the UU Justice Ministry NC which includes educational opportunities, the Friday Action Hour, and in-the-moment actions to address current justice-related actions in our community and state. UU Justice Ministry mobilizes congregations in our state leveraging the power of our collective voices. Details and recent actions here.
Animal Ministry
UU Animal Ministry (UUAM) is a group of concerned UUs who desire to express their faith, in part, through their compassion towards all beings. UUAM chapters across the United States and Canada work to promote justice and compassion for animals at the local level. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every being.
Contact: Iris Williams*
Immigration Justice
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has made a commitment on a national level to support undocumented and other immigrants. Members of UU Asheville have engaged in this area, working with local community partners to advocate for the undocumented community here in Western NC.
On October 29, 2017, our congregation voted to provide physical sanctuary (or a safe living space) for a person or persons at risk of immediate deportation. The Sanctuary Steering committee, comprised of members from UU Asheville, Temple Beth Ha’Tephila, and Land of Sky Ministries worked within the larger WNC Sanctuary movement to educate themselves about the logistics, resources, and risks involved with this work. Our guests resolved their status and UU Asheville members Katie Winchell and Sharon LeDuc keep us informed about what is happening in the local immigrant community.
Currently, we are educating ourselves in partnership with Faith Communities for Immigration Justice and the Interfaith Action Network and exploring ways to support our immigrant neighbors being targeted for deportation without due process.
Contact Katie Wenchell*
The Liberation Collective
works to dismantle supremacy culture in ourselves, our Congregation, and our community. Our goal is Beloved Community which happens when people of diverse racial, ethnic, educational, class, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, and backgrounds/identities come together in an interdependent relationship of love, mutual respect, and care that seeks to realize justice within the community and in the broader world.
Come to a Liberation Collective meeting and help us determine the work ahead of us!
Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month at 2:30 pm via Zoom, and new faces and ideas are always welcome!
For more information contact*:
Racial Justice
Fredda Mangel
Immigration Justice
Katie Winchell
Collective Liberation:
Our Justice Ministries
Working for justice and equity in our own community and beyond is integral to what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.
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