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Social Action
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi
Social Action at First Parish Needham involves all generations of the congregation through the Religious Education program, the High School Youth group, and the myriad projects that occur throughout the year by various committees and members of the congregation.
Our mission is to coordinate outreach and service activities that promote positive social change, respect for the environment, and an active approach to solving local, national, and international issues.
Opportunities for YOU in Social Justice Ministry
For contact information, please consult our online directory or contact the Parish Office at 781-444-0823 or office@uuneedham.org
PRISON AND POST-PRISON MINISTRY – Give just a few hours a month. 5-7 people needed, preferably at least three males. One team includes Cathy Livingston and John Buehrens. The prisoner they have been visiting for some years is eligible for parole. Another includes Florence Graves and prisoners working with the Innocence Project. Details and intro to prison visitation provided. Contact John Buehrens.
BUILD A SCHOOL IN GUATEMALA – Sat., Feb. 18 to Sat. Feb. 25. (School vacation week.) Ten people needed; must be at least age 16. Participants pay or raise their own airfare (est. $650) and participation fee ($600). A well-organized UU project. See the beautiful Guatemalan highlands. Five schools already built, each in a Mayan village. See www.siennaproject.com. Volunteer through John Buehrens.
MINISTER TO THE HOMELESS OF BOSTON – First Parish provides two-thirds of the volunteers to Generic Ministry, Inc. Their van goes to Boston every Tuesday and Wednesday with food, clothing, personal care products, and outreach. Make sandwiches, donate clothing, drive, or help organize. See http://genericministry.org or John Mark Thomas.
MINISTER TO HOMELESS FAMILIES – We partner with the Pathways Family Shelter in Framingham. Help with the Mitten Tree project, getting Christmas gifts for homeless children. Each year we also help a family move from temporary shelter to more permanent housing. Contact Amy Gilmore.
VOLUNTEER IN AN URBAN SCHOOL – First Parish started this project, which now involves five other UU congregations and partners with the Mather School on Meetinghouse Hill in Dorchester. Many ways to help — tutoring, in the classroom, after school. You decide the hours. Contact the Rev. Cheryl Lloyd, UU community minister and coordinator.
ADVOCACY TABLE – This commitment is for two Sundays during coffee hour in the month of your choice. Two volunteers pair together and oversee the signing of a petition of their choice, including petitions for international human rights, environmental protection, animal rights, advocacy for peace and justice and GLBT equality. Contact Karla Barbieri.
SOCIAL ACTION RESERVE CORPS – Interested in occasional opportunities for social ministry? Sign up for the reserve corps! You will be added to our contact list and informed when opportunities arise for one time, task specific social ministry. You choose according to your availability and interest. Contact Karla Barbieri.
UUSC LOCAL REP – The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee organizes domestic and international human rights and social justice work. Local Reps help raise funds to defend human rights, organize opportunities to engage in UUSC’s work, and build strong UUSC membership so we have an effective voice for advocacy. First Parish local rep duties might include helping the RE Director with Guest at your Table campaign, participating in monthly conference calls to discuss current UUSC campaigns, and using the Social Action table to make the congregation aware of UUSC campaigns and social justice actions. Contact Karla Barbieri.
UU MASS ACTION LIAISON – UU Mass Action identifies the right time to address specific issues and organizes coordinated efforts throughout Massachusetts in an effort to have the greatest impact. Recent focuses have been homelessness and immigration. If you would like to facilitate communication between First Parish and UU Mass Action please contact or Karla Barbieri.
GREEN SANCTUARY TEAM – To keep First Parish in the forefront of environmental stewardship, the Green Congregation Committee welcomes help in setting up educational events, organizing an Earth Day service, working on our Sharing the Harvest environmental justice program, participating in interfaith and community green initiatives, and more. Opportunities range from a onetime effort of a few hours to an ongoing commitment of a couple hours a month. Contact Eleanor Rosellini.
NEW ORLEANS APRIL SERVICE TRIP WITH THE YOUTH – The dates are April 14-21 (school vacation). Intern Minister and Youth Advisor Christian Schmidt needs at least three more adults to accompany the Youth Group on their fourth service trip to New Orleans. Costs absorbed by the Youth Group — unless you are moved to pay some or all of your expenses. Must not be a parent of a current youth group member. At least two women and one more man are needed. There will be five adults in all, and an estimated 20 youth. Accommodations, meals, and work assignments through the Volunteer Center at First UU of New Orleans. Contact Christian Schmidt.
THE GROW CLINIC OF THE BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER – Four or Five adult volunteers are needed to work with the 4th and 5th grade students to raise money, pack cases of food and make the trip to deliver food to the Grow Clinic of the Boston Medical Center. This is done over a few Sundays in January, with the loading of the food and delivery scheduled for an afternoon during the week. The food pantry helps over 17,000 people and is affiliated with the Grow Clinic, a vital organization which helps treat children with severe malnutrition. To get involved, contact Rick Vincent or Mark LaPointe.
Other Projects
Social Action at First Parish goes far beyond the projects listed above. First Parish was a major player in the creation of Needham's first Habitat for Humanity project. And First Parish member Jackie Shepherd and her late husband Ron founded African Baobob, a non-profit which, with support from First Parish, is helping feed and educate orphans of AIDS in three villages in Uganda.
For more information please contact the Church Office at 781-444-0823 or office@uuneedham.org.