UU San Mateo - Perspectives

Perspectives

"Acting" for social justice means putting yourself out there — Going on an AIDS walk, holding up a banner supporting the right of all loving couples to marry, helping with homework at Homework Central, cooking a meal for the Interfaith Hospitality Network, or even signing a petition. Acting leads to reflection — Why is our country so dependent on carbon-based fuel? What can be done to provide health insurance to more people? Why are so many people in San Mateo county without enough food?

Inevitably, action for social justice leads to thoughts about our own place in the world, our values, and what we are committed to. Reflection then leads to more action, then more reflection. This cycle becomes the bedrock for transforming ourselves and transforming the world.

The perspectives presented here are the result of the action-reflection cycle generated from social justice actions at UUSM.

Social Justice and You

The Social Justice Council has been rejuvenated this year and there are many opportunities for you to participate at your personal level of comfort and ability. Many of you have already logged years of service and are still showing up with a helping hand or check. Some of you sign on for one or two activities each month. We need all of you to take some action that will help our neighbors and raise the visibility of UUSM in our wider communities:

Check out our SJC Bulletin Board in Beck Hall for ways you can help.
Call Caryl Hughan or the people mentioned in this article for information on how to make a difference.
Visit the Social Justice Table between services on the third Sunday of each month (and have a Social Justice Brownie).
In social situations, mention some action you took for your congregation. People will always ask, “What congregation?”

Bringing the Chicken Soup

The Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA) for Access to Health Care for Everyone (ACE) program needs us. No time to get involved? You would help your neighbor, wouldn’t you? You’d bring the chicken soup!

You can bring the chicken soup to 40,000 of our neighbors in San Mateo County who don’t have health coverage. Why? They don’t have health insurance through employment or enough resources to purchase insurance independently. 88% of these adults are working, productive members of our communities. Some of these adults are self-employed or not offered insurance options through employers.