In our Society, social action is a big tent with room for lots of collaboration both in-house and in the community. Teamwork is a priority as our Social Action Committee, headed by Lisa Schwartz, gets ready for the new season. Take a look at what’s planned so far:
–The Social Action, Ethical Education, and Gathering Committees will work together to create intergenerational social actions and to tie in Sunday Gathering speakers related to those actions.
Non-partisan election work
–Non-partisan Get Out the Vote postcard-writing will continue through election season for members and for the larger community. Those who can’t attend a group session will be able to take home prepared packets. Other election-season activities planned are a concert by Resistance Café on Sept. 28 and an Election Night Watch Party on Nov. 5.
–Regular direct-service volunteer opportunities for all ages to support local nonprofits such as “Never Alone Again” in Teaneck and “The Center for Food Action” in Englewood will be on the calendar.
Environmental projects always a priority
–Work on environmental issues will be coordinated with projects that Leader Curt Collier is organizing, as well as with initiatives headed by local, state, and national organizations. This includes the American Eel Migration project, funded by the New York/New Jersey Estuary Program and overseen by Curt.
–Workshops on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and addressing these using Trauma Informed Community Practices, in conjunction with other North Jersey nonprofits, will be presented in November.
Before the busy fall season begins, our Society can celebrate all the social action work accomplished in the last year:
- Direct service at CUMAC and OASIS
- Get out the Vote postcard campaigns
- Haiti Packathon
- Food sorting at the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley
- Oxfam Hunger Banquet
- Tororo Orphans Club fundraising brunch
- Government education for our Sunday School youth through a trip to Washington, DC
- Hosting the Hudson River Foundation community meeting to create an action plan for the future of the Hackensack River
- Hosting the River Nation Steering Committee, funded by the Northern NJ Community Foundation (Curt Collier and Lisa Sandhusen are on this committee, which meets monthly to work with environmental representatives from across Bergen County.)
- Organizing Youth Mental Health First Aid training, including Narcan Overdose Resue training, at the Society, with the Central Unitarian Church and the Bergen County Department of Health Services, attracting participants from 15 nonprofits as well as government officials
- Organizing the Peace Affinity Circle, headed by Lisa Schwartz and Betty Zohar, as a dialog on the Israeli-Palestinian war
- The Dark Sky Party, which raised awareness about the impact of light pollution
- Installing a native pollinator garden and environmental curriculum development
- City of Water Day event to raise awareness of climate change
- OSHA training and job readiness classes to 54 youth from New Jersey and New York
- Hands-on job training, in conjunction with Groundwork Elizabeth, Mather High School in New York City, and the National Park Service
- Civil Rights Tour to Atlanta, Georgia, and to Tuskegee, and Montgomery, Alabama
Join us at the Gathering next Sunday, Aug. 18, 10:30 am, when our Ethical Education and Social Action Committees will lead a hands-on activity and welcome your ideas for social-action work in the upcoming year.