Mission
Creating spiritually-grounded opportunities to bring justice and compassion to our community
Current Social Justice Programs
January Calendar of Social Justice Events
Jan. 10, 6-8 pm Reflection & Next Steps on Occupy San Diego & Economic Justice
Jan. 14, 8:30 am-12 pm Grassroots Leadership is coming to San Diego
Jan. 16, 9am-1 pm SJMT Service Project: MLK Interfaith Work Day
Jan 19, 6 pm The 39th Annual Celebration of Roe v. Wade
Jan. 22, 10:30am-1:30 pm Social Justice Fair (Hillcrest Campus)
Jan. 29, 11 am Social Justice Fair (South Bay Campus)
Jan. 30, 6:30-8:30 pm SJ Training: The Spiritual Ground of Non-Violence
Feb. 5, 1:15-3:15 pm Telling Our Stories: A Spiritual Exploration of Diversity
Feb. 25, 9am-12pm SJMT Service Project: Sorting Food at Feeding America
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly Service Project
Once a month, the SJMT organizes a family-friendly service project in partnership with a local community-based organization.
SJMT Service Project in January: MLK Interfaith Work Day
January 16 (Mon), 9am-1 pm, Morley Field in Balboa Park (corner of Upas & Texas)
Join the Social Justice Ministry Team for a family-friendly service project. The 4th Annual Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Balboa Park will bring together people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds for a morning of community service in our parks, including clearing brush and collecting trash. After the park cleanup there will be a picnic, so please bring a lunch for yourself and desert to share. For more information or to sign up, please come by the Social Justice Ministry Team table on the Hillcrest Campus, the Get Involved table on the South Bay Campus, or contact Kristen Kuriga, SJMT Coordinator: Kristen@firstuusandiego.org, 619-298-9978, x216. For more information, go to: www.fumcsd.org/MLKDay/.
Grassroots Leadership Is Coming To San Diego
January 14th (Saturday) from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Chapel
Learn about private prison corporations criminalizing people like undocumented immigrants to increase profits. Hear what it's like to be detained. Consider how the American Bar Association Immigrant Justice Program is helping. Explore how to defend those being exploited for profit. Network with organizations pushing for social justice. To pre-register contact Angela at 619-423-7248 or email defendcivilrights@gmail.com
The 39th Anniversary Celebration of Roe v. Wade
January 19 (Thursday) at 6 p.m., Joe and Vi Jacobs Center; 404 Euclid Avenue.
No-host cocktails begins at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is “Reproductive Healthcare Access: Globally, Nationally, and Locally.” Speakers will give international and local perspective on the fight for reproductive rights. Seating is limited. For information or to purchase tickets visit the event website or call 619-881-4539. If you wish to pay by check; please make your check payable to “Coalition for Reproductive Choice” and mail to: CRC, c/o PlannedParenthood 1075 Camino del Rio South, San Diego, 92108. Tickets are: $60 in advance or $65 postmarked after January 15; $20 Student/Low Income; or $600 for a Reserved Table of 10. Please contact Karen Lamphere for information.
Social Justice Fair-Come find out how you can get involved!
October 18 (Tues) at 6:30pm, Ultra Star Cinema at Hazard Center
January 22 (Sun), between services & after second service, Hillcrest Campus
January 29 (Sun), after service (11 am) at the South Bay Campus
Join us for Justice Sunday, which will highlight the church’s social justice work during the service, and will be followed by a justice fair on our patio. We will have tables featuring organizations inside the church, partner organizations from the community, and recipients of our generosity offerings. This will be a great opportunity to find out ways to get involved and to start new projects with the Social Justice Ministry Team. Questions? Contact Kristen Kuriga, Social Justice & South Bay Ministry Teams Coordinator: Kristen@firstuusandiego.org, 619-298-9978, x216.
Social Justice Leadership Training: The Spiritual Ground of Nonviolence
January 30 (Mon), 6:30-8:30 pm, Room 113
Throughout the world and locally we have seen new and energized nonviolent movements for justice, equality, and democracy emerge. This class will look at the spiritual grounding for nonviolent social movements and will help you to explore your own orientation to nonviolence. We will also look at a few case studies, historical and present day, to learn about how nonviolence has been the base of many successful social movements. To register for this training or for more information, contact Kristen Kuriga: kristen@firstuusandiego.org or 619-298-9978, x216.
Telling Our Stories: A Spiritual Exploration of Diversity
February 5 (Sunday) from 1:15 to 3:15 p.m., Hillcrest Campus, Room 113
Find out what it’s like to speak deeply from the heart and listen deeply to others as a spiritual practice. Through sharing personal stories, we discover how diversity lives in each of us, and we deepen our connection to ourselves and one another. In keeping with the overall themes of intercultural diversity and social justice, we respond to a prompt that evokes memories of transformative moments, people, and events in our lives. No “storytelling” experience is necessary; spontaneity, a bit of introspection, and a willingness to explore are essential. This is open to everyone. Participants are invited to bring a meaningful object, which may be used as a “talking piece,” to place on our altar. Prompt arrival is imperative in order to create a safe space. Join us and tell your story!
Interested? Contact Kristen Kuriga for more information: Kristen@firstuusandiego.org
Generosity Offerings in January: UU Justice Organizations and Causes
Throughout the month of January we will be exploring the work of justice through our transformational Worship Theme and our Generosity Offerings. Similar to the past six months, 85% of our weekly offering will go towards the important work of organizations that reflects our values. This month will be special because each week the offering will be received for a different cause that is linked to our UU faith. On Jan. 1, the offering is being received in support of the UU Service Committee, and the UU-United Nations Office. On January 8 (Sunday), the offering is being received in support of the UUA, our denominational association. January 15 (Sunday) will be our annual “Journey Towards Wholeness Sunday,” supporting our church’s work to become a more inclusive, multi-cultural and anti-oppressive community. On January 22 (Sunday) we will have a special Justice Sunday, with the offering being received in support of the work of the Social Justice Ministry Team, followed by a Justice Fair on the patio of the Hillcrest Campus. And finally, on January 29 (Sunday), our offering is being received in support of sending youth, young adults, and others in need of support, to Justice General Assembly in Phoenix this June. You can read more about this month of justice and generosity in the article in the January edition of the First Words Church Magazine.
Social Justice Leadership Training: Building Power
January 30 (Mon), 6:30-8:30 pm, Room 113
Throughout the world and locally we have seen new and energized nonviolent movements for justice, equality, and democracy emerge. This class will look at the spiritual grounding for nonviolent social movements and will help you to explore your own orientation to nonviolence. We will also look at a few case studies, historical and present day, to learn about how nonviolence has been the base of many successful social movements. To register for this training or for more information, contact Kristen Kuriga: kristen@firstuusandiego.org or 619-298-9978, x216.
SJMT Service Project in February: Sorting Food at Feeding America
February 25 (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 9455 Waples Street, Ste. 135, 92121
Join us for a family-friendly service project sorting food at the Feeding America warehouse in Mira Mesa. Each month, Feeding America relies on volunteers to sort, clean, bag, and box more than 1 million pounds of food that helps alleviate hunger for the most vulnerable members of our community, including children, seniors, and the homeless. For more information or to sign up, please come to the SJMT Table at the Hillcrest Campus or the Get Involved Table at the South Bay Campus, or contact Kristen Kuriga at 619-298-9978, ext. 216.
Donations and Volunteers Needed at UPTOWN Faith Community Service Center
Given the rise in poverty in San Diego, UPTOWN Faith Community Service Center has been experiencing a big demand for used clothing and hygiene items, especially soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth paste and razors, as well as clean, lightly used socks and underwear. Donations can be dropped off at the Social Justice Ministry Team Table on the Hillcrest Campus or by the Get Involved Table on the South Bay Campus. UPTOWN is also in need of volunteers to work a three hour shift, weekly or every other week, at either the Community Service Center, located at 4101-B 30th Street, or at Uptown’s thrift shop, Upscale Resale, located at 3505 5th Avenue. In addition, they are currently in need of help with grant writing and website design. For information about volunteering call Joan Anderson, 619 583 3643.
Weekly Food Drive
Every week, there are barrels on the patio to collect non-perishable food that is distributed through Mama’s Kitchen and Western Service Workers.
Action and Affiliate Groups
Find information about each of our Action and Affiliate groups by clicking on their name on the Social Justice tab at the top of the web page.
Journey Toward Wholeness
At First Unitarian Universalist Church San Diego (FUUSD), Journey Toward Wholeness focuses on dismantling racism, eradicating other oppressions, and on bringing about transformation through increased awareness. To find out more, go to our JTW page.