305 Wellborn Road (half a block south of George Bush Drive) brazosuu@verizon.net
Social Justice
The Social Justice Committee, consistent with Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes and our church's mission and vision, provides an avenue of outreach to the needs of the broader community of the Brazos Valley-putting our faith into action.
We meet in the Anthony Building of our church on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
We engage in many programs and activities:
Brazos Church Pantry
The Church Pantry provides food and supplies to our neighbors in need from a centralized food pantry supported by over thirty member churches, individuals and organizations throughout the community.
Members of our church gather on the third Saturday of each month, at 9:30 AM, and carpool to the Church Pantry location in downtown Bryan, volunteering our time to assist in distributing food.
Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity
Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing and making the right to simple, decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Please visit www.habitatbcs.org for more information.
CROP Hunger Walk
Every Fall, through Church World Services, we participate in the local Bryan/College Station Communities Reaching Out to People Hunger Walk. Where "neighbors walking together take a stand against hunger in our world. Together we raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting." Please visit www.churchworldservice.org.
Harmony: Peace Through Music Concert
We are excited to be apart of an annual, ecumenical concert promoting peace and cooperation among all religions and cultures through food and music each Spring. This year's concert will take place Sunday, February 7, at the Hindu temple on Hwy. 6 (south of College Station).
NWEI
The committee is pleased to help support Jerry Wagnon's presentation of the Northwest Earth Institute's courses "Voluntary Simplicity" this Summer and "Menu For The Future" coming in August. "The Northwest Earth Institute is recognized as a national leader in the development of innovative programs that empower individuals and organizations to transform culture toward a sustainable and enriching future." Please contact jerrywagnon77830@yahoo.com.
Banned Book Week
The Social Justice committee is proud to present the American Library Assciation's Banned Books Week. Banned Book Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2009, marks BBW's 28th anniversary. Please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm.
NAACP
We are pleased to support the NAACP of the Brazos Valley through their annual Banquet each June.
Pride Parade
This year marked the first ever donation to fellow UU's in the Houston area for their activities in the Houston Pride Parade. www.pridehouston.org.
Standing on the Side of Love
Standing on the Side of Love (SSLove) is a public advocacy campaign, sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association, promoting respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We believe that no one should be dehumanized through acts of exclusion, oppression, or violence because of their identities. SSLove is about lifting strong religious voices proclaiming love in the face of fear and hate. Please visit www.standingonthesideoflove.org to learn more.
Equal Exchange
Through Equal Exchange's Interfaith Program with the Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee, we gladly offer fairly traded coffee, chocolate and teas from small farmer co-ops using environmentally sustainable practices from around the world. Stop by each Sunday during Coffee Hour following worship service. Also visit http://www.equalexchange.coop/uusc.
UU Social Justice Resources
Unitarian-Universalist Service Committee [www.uusc.org] is a nonsectarian organization that advances human rights and social justice in the United States and around the world. We envision a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human rights. The Social Justice committee, through the UUSC, presents two fund-raising events: "Guest at Your Table" in November around Thanksgiving and "Justice Sunday" in March.
Unitarian-Universalist Ministry for the Earth [www.uuministryforearth.org] "envisions a world in which all people make reverence, gratitude, and care for the living Earth central to their lives."
Unitarian-Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty [www.uuadp.org] is "a social action group, seeking to give witness to the six UUA resolutions of past years calling for an end to capital punishment: 1961, 1966, 1974, 1979, 1989, and 2005."
Heartstrong [www.heartstrong.org] is a nonsectarian organization established to provide outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gendered and other persons adversely affected by the influence of all denominations of religious educational institutions.
Other Brazos Valley Resources
Brazos Valley African-American Museum
Bryan/College Station Chapter of the ACLU
Brazos Valley Chapter of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty