Proposed Slate of Justice Partners for 2019-2020

Each month the Church supports a social justice organization by donating one Sunday’s plate collection.  The UUCPA Action Council reviewed the current program, considered current and proposed causes nominated by congregants, and decided on a slate of organizations to present to the congregation for approval at the Annual Meeting on April 14.

Factors that were given priority in making the recommendations were:

  • UUCPA members actively involved with the group;
  • Preference for local groups;
  • Who they serve and what they do;
  • What is their funding base and will our donation have an impact;
  • Balance among the issues addressed by the chosen organizations.

This year we are proposing one new partner, nominated by the Green Sanctuary Committee: Interfaith Power & Light.  To make room for this new partner we retired our current partner South Palo Alto Food Closet.  We will continue to support the food closet by collecting food.

If you have any feedback or questions on Justice Partners, please talk to one of the members of the Action Council:  Kristi Iverson (Chair), Sally Ahnger (Justice Partner Coordinator), Edie Keating, Karen Skold, Jane Glauz, Tina Kochel, Jeb Eddy, or our new member Jessica Martin.

Slate of 2019-2020 Justice Partners

Outlet — May

Outlet is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQQ) Youth organization based in Mountain View. As the Peninsula’s only comprehensive LGBTQQ youth organization, it provides services to youth and adults who work with youth, including bilingual Spanish services.

California Interfaith Power and Light — June

CIPL serves congregations and institutions of many faiths that are committed to working together to protect our common home, the Earth.  They provide guides and educational programs for energy efficiency, solar installations, electric vehicles, water saving, etc. From time to time they engage in advocacy.  UUCPA is one of over 600 member congregations.

California Clean Money Campaign — July

Their vision is achieving an open and accountable government that is responsive to the needs of all Californians.  The short term goal is passing the Petition Disclosure Act, to require paid initiative signature-gatherers to tell voters who’s paying for them.

Abilities United — August

Located next door to the church, Abilities United (formerly CAR – Community Association for Rehabilitation) advances advocacy, inclusion, and independence for people with developmental (autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, and intellectual disability) and physical disabilities.   A group of members comes over to our church every Monday and breaks down our Main Hall (stacks and moves chairs).

Hotel de Zink — September

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 as well as funds to cover costs for breakfast and lunch food and supplies.

South Bay Sanctuary Covenant (SBSC) — October

SBSC is an interfaith, non-partisan organization of churches and individuals in the Bay Area. The group is concerned with peace, justice and liberation for the people of Central America and for the refugees who have fled these areas.

 American Muslim Voice (AMV) — November

AMV is a local grassroots, nonviolent, inclusive, civil, immigrant and human rights organization. AMV hosts open houses, peace picnics and peace conventions annually to unite neighbors and strangers alike, including the popular EID celebrations.  They also provide the Muslim perspective through teach-in opportunities at schools, colleges, universities, places of worship, and peace conventions.

Heart and Home  — December

Heart and Home, founded by Stanford students,  provides night-time winter shelter for fifteen unhoused women in the general Palo Alto vicinity, and was hosted by UUCPA in February and March.  Operated by H+H and rotating between Palo Alto houses of faith, the shelter is run by volunteers from the community and Stanford University, and is staffed by trained professionals.

Parents Helping Parents – January

Parents Helping Parents San Jose provides low or no cost support for parents with special needs children in the Bay Area.  They offer classes and support groups on how to navigate IEPs (individual education plans), on how to advocate for your child, and on how to keep your sanity while dealing with all of this, among many other topics.

Stevenson House — February

Stevenson House’s mission is to provide affordable housing where older, independent adults enjoy a safe and caring community. Stevenson House opened its doors in 1968. Built under the sponsorship of Palo Alto Senior Housing Project, Inc., Stevenson House has received ongoing support from UUCPA and also from the greater community.

Ada’s Cafe — March

Located in the Mitchell Park Community Center, Ada’s Cafe and Catering is dedicated to hiring, training, and empowering people with disabilities in a commercial food service business.  Ada’s provides jobs for the disabled while creating numerous employment and internship opportunities for other local teens and college students as job buddies.

Acterra — April

Acterra is an organization based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. Current projects serve everyone on the Peninsula through ride & drive events, green at home programs,  local environment restoration and maintenance, green business awards programs, lecture series, and other actions.