Many people find that the most satisfying justice work is direct involvement in a project or activity.   UUCPA has a number of projects that occur annually which offer opportunities for active participation by members and friends.  In addition, opportunities arise based on what is happening in the larger community at any given time.  The Action Council endeavors to ensure there is at least one opportunity for justice work each month.  Please see the list below for upcoming opportunities.  For further information on these projects, please email or call the contact person listed, using the contact information in the UUCPA Directory, or email the Action Council at actioncouncil@uucpa.org.

Ongoing Justice Project

White Folks Dismantling White Supremacy launched in the fall of 2019. The name and focus were chosen out of recognition that pervasive white supremacy and systemic racism are white people’s responsibility to overcome. In learning, we use resources that are mostly by people of color (paying them if we request in-person consultations), and in choosing actions to accompany our learning, we follow the lead of people of color. All are welcome to participate.

Facilitators are Susan Owicki, Kristi Iverson, & Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

For updates on events, join the group’s e-mail list.

Annual Justice Projects

English Together

Its goal is to coach Spanish-speaking immigrants in the use of workplace English through a series of 10 one-hour coaching sessions.  Volunteers will be trained and do not need to be able to speak Spanish in order to participate.  To learn more about the organization, please visit the English Together website or send an email gvaldez@englishtogether.org or to info@englishtogether.org.  

Fair Trade Chocolate

None of us want to support child labor, or child slaves!  Yet the Food Empowerment Project writes “The farms of Western Africa supply cocoa to international giants such as Hershey’s, Mars, and Nestlé—revealing the industry’s direct connection to the worst forms of child labor, human trafficking, and slavery.”

To make it easier for our members to “Buy Fair Trade”, UUCPA sells Fair Trade chocolates on the patio after Sunday services during the Sundays leading up to Halloween.  Chocolates are purchased from http://equalexchange.coop/ and are sold at cost.

Heart and Home

Heart and Home Collaborative (https://www.hhcollab.org/) is a non-profit organization serving unhoused women in Palo Alto, California.  Heart and Home provides meals and shelter for 15 women during the winter months.  Heart and Home is usually hosted at UUCPA during a month in the winter.  Please check the calendar for details.

Hotel de Zink

Hotel de Zink (http://lifemoves.org/our-solution-works/our-services/single-adult-services/hotel-de-zink/), a rotating church shelter program run by InnVision, is hosted by UUCPA during September. We offer breakfast, bag lunch, dinner, and a place to sleep for 10–15 homeless community members. We recruit volunteers to provide dinner each night and raise funds to cover costs for breakfast and lunch food and supplies.

Stevenson House

Stevenson House (https://stevensonhouse.org) is an affordable senior housing complex located next door to UUCPA.  Our church was instrumental in the creation of Stevenson House and maintains an ongoing relationship with the organization.  Low-cost weekday lunches are provided at Stevenson House for residents and local seniors by an organization called La Comida.  UUCPA prepares and serves a Saturday lunch for our neighbors several times each year.

Undie Sundays

These are the days we bring a lot of underwear, including shoes, gloves, and hats to give to homeless and very poor people.  For them, these items are particularly helpful during the cold months of the year.  We then also bring money to buy anything we did not get.  Our gifts are distributed through the Opportunity Center.  Undie Sundays typically run in the month of December.

Fundraisers

Bodhi Tree Concerts

Bodhi Tree Concerts North presents high-quality musical performances to the public, and then donates 100% of the profits to charitable causes.  These concerts are held at UUCPA.  We are committed to the idea that music can be a powerful tool for community building and social justice, and that giving back to the local and global communities through music is a path towards understanding and enlightenment for us all.

Guest at your Table

Guest at Your Table (GAYT) is UUSC’s annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about the UUSC’s work to advance human rights. The Guest at your Table program highlights people around the world who have been helped by UUSC. This program usually runs at UUCPA between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

UUCPA is seeking a new Guest at Your Table Coordinator for this year. Questions? Please contact the Children & Youth Religious Education Committee: cyrecommittee@uucpa.org.