Monthly UUFANJ Board Meeting
2021-11-01 19:00 - 21:00, 2021-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | NJ, United States
Members/supporters of UU FaithAction NJ are welcome to attend our monthly all-volunteer Board meetings. To access online meetings (all meetings from March 2020 to present time will be conducted online) via the Zoom conferencing platform, please contact the Board President, Mia Morse or Vice President, Nick Lewis, ozballnick@gmail.com and request the “Zoom login” code. You must give at least 48 hours notice to request the code to allow our volunteer board members enough time to reply.
In the event that you do not hear back prior to that 48 hour cut off, please contact the Executive Director, Rev. Rob Gregson, execdir@uufaithaction.org or on the office phone, 908-376-6535.
As per our bylaws, the board leadership reserves the right to call an executive session of the board to discuss matters not appropriate for a more public conversation.

★ Election Day ★
2021-11-02 06:00 - 20:00 | NJ, United States
2021 New Jersey General Election Day

Polls will be open from 6am – 8pm
Find your polling location here

Criminal Justice Reform Monthly Conference Call
2021-11-02 20:00 - 21:00, 2021-12-07 20:00 - 21:00 | NJ, United States
Join us on the first Tuesday of the month from 8 – 9 pm for our UU statewide call where we strategize around issues like racial justice, mass incarceration, prison conditions and more.
For the Zoom or phone dial-up information to join the call, and/or to get on the email list for upcoming meetings and events, please contact Susan M., Co-Chair (UU Congregation in Princeton) at criminaljustice@uufaithaction.org or Anne H., Co-Chair (UU Congregation of Monmouth Co., Lincroft) at annehoule0102@gmail.com

Environmental Justice Task Force Monthly Call
2021-11-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Monthly Environmental Justice Task Force meeting to discuss current issues, updates and strategies

Would you like to join in the conversation, find out what’s going on *now* in New Jersey around environmental justice? Then join our statewide call held the 1st Thursday of every month at 12 noon sharp. All are invited.
For more info and to join the call, contact Environmental Justice Task Force co-chairs, Peggy Middaugh and Ray Nichols (environment@uufaithaction.org), or administrator Emily Parker (admin@uufaithaction.org).
Call hosted by Environmental Justice Task Force co-chairs, Peggy Middaugh (UU Congregation of Ocean County) and Ray Nichols (UU in Princeton Congregation).

Brady and Team ENOUGH National Conference: Fed up and Fired up to End Gun Violence
2021-11-04 13:00 - 2021-11-06 20:30 | Virtual Conference
Learn more and register at bradyunited.org/conference2021

RSVP for our three-day national conference (day three is open to Brady and Team ENOUGH members only) to hear from Brady President Kris Brown, special guests like author Nancy Kislin, and more. We’ll educate you about emerging issues — and solutions — in the gun violence prevention movement and provide you with tangible actions to prevent gun violence in your community.

FAIR (Youth Group)
2021-11-04 19:30 - 20:30, 2021-11-11 19:30 - 20:30, 2021-11-18 19:30 - 20:30, 2021-11-25 19:30 - 20:30, 2021-12-02 19:30 - 20:30, 2021-12-09 19:30 - 20:30 | Zoom
F.A.I.R. is an interfaith group of youth in grades 8-12 from across NJ and PA. Our goal: To work to incorporate racial bias education into NJ and PA school systems and provide educational opportunities to our community’s on the topic of race.
We meet every Thursday at 7:30 PM on Zoom. Sign up here!
Find us on Instagram @faithactionyouth_
Contact us at fair@uufaithaction.org if you have any questions or concerns!
Contact our adult advisors: Liandra Pires at gvprevention@uufaithaction.org, Emily Parker at emily@uufaithaction.org or ‪(908) 767-5145‬.

Reparations Task Force Monthly Call
2021-11-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom
The Reparations Task Force convenes monthly, for Unitarian Universalists to strategize around advancing reparations for New Jersey. Newcomers are warmly welcome!
Read and sign the petition.
For more info and to join the call, contact Task Force Co-Chairs Rohn Hein and Dr. Mahdi ibn-Ziyad (reparations@uufaithaction.org) or administrator Emily Parker (admin@uufaithaction.org).

Coalition of UU Social Action Networks (CUUSAN) monthly conference call
2021-11-10 07:00 - 08:00, 2021-12-08 07:00 - 08:00 | New Jersey
Rev. Rob Gregson joins other paid and volunteer staff on this monthly networking call. CUUSAN is the national organization that coordinates state-level UU social justice witness in 25 states across the U.S. If interested in joining the discussion, please reach out to Rev. Gregson at execdir@uufaithaction.org

March For Clean Air! Stop Dumping on Newark
2021-11-10 15:30 - 17:30 | Sharpe James/Kenneth A. Gibson Rec Center, 226 Rome Street, Newark, NJ, United States
Join us November 10th as we rally and march in solidarity with the Ironbound community to urge Governor Murphy to say NO to the Aries sludge plant and NO to the PVSC fracked gas power plant!

What: March For Clean Air! Stop Dumping on Newark
Where: Sharpe James/Kenneth A. Gibson Rec Center at 226 Rome Street, Newark, NJ.
When: Nov. 10th from 3:30 – 5:30pm.
Who: Ironbound Community Corporation, EmpowerNJ, Don’t Gas The Meadowlands
Here’s 2 quick actions you can take to join and support this critical mobilization:

RSVP to join us at the march: https://actionnetwork.org/events/march-for-clean-air-stop-dumping-on-newark-2
Share the event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/601586854532136

BACKGROUND: The Ironbound community in Newark is one of the most pollution overburdened communities in the country. Thankfully, after decades of inspired grassroots organizing and advocacy, our representatives took a critical step by enacting S232, landmark environmental justice legislation designed to protect communities like the Ironbound.

But Governor Murphy’s NJDEP has yet to implement the environmental justice law, and final rules to make it operational aren’t expected until sometime in 2022. In the meantime, polluters are trying to sneak in their permit applications before the new rules go into effect, including two new polluting projects proposed in the Ironbound.

The first project is a massive sludge facility proposed by Aries Corporation that involves the transport of 430 tons of human waste via hundreds of truck tankers DAILY. The facility would operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and would introduce more sludge trucks, noxious odors, and the potential for toxic exposures in an area that already has too much pollution. The plant would emit over 285,000 pounds per year of air pollutants including particulate matter, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and more.

The second polluting project in the Ironbound is being proposed by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC), a state agency within Governor Murphy’s administration. PVSC is proposing to build a new fracked gas power plant in the Ironbound of Newark. The power plant is part of a resiliency project to allow their existing facility to continue processing wastewater in times when the commercial electricity grid is down. While we support the goal of building resilient wastewater treatment systems, we simply cannot achieve real resiliency by building new fossil fuel infrastructure. The emissions from a new fracked gas power plant would further exacerbate the climate crisis and lock us into even more extreme weather events in the future. And it would increase the pollution burden in the Ironbound community, which already suffers from decades of environmental racism.

On November 10th we will rally and march in solidarity with the Ironbound community to urge Governor Murphy to say NO to these two polluting projects!

UUFANJ Board Meeting
2021-11-11 18:30 - 20:30, 2021-12-09 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom
Members/supporters of UU FaithAction NJ are welcome to attend our monthly all-volunteer Board meetings. To access online meetings (all meetings from March 2020 onward will be conducted online) via the Zoom conferencing platform, please contact Board President Mia Morse, at mia.morse19@gmail.com, or board member Nick Lewis, at ozballnick@gmail.com, and request the Zoom login code. You must give at least 48 hours notice to request the code to allow our volunteer board members enough time to reply.
In the event you do not hear back with 48 hours notice, please contact Executive Director Charles Loflin, at execdir@uufaithaction.org or at (908) 376-6535.
As per our bylaws, the board leadership reserves the right to call an executive session of the board to discuss matters not appropriate for a more public conversation.

Jubilee 3 Anti-Racism Training
2021-11-12 18:00 - 2021-11-14 18:30 | Zoom
You Are Invited to Participate in Jubilee Three Anti-Racism Training: Learning Together About Systemic Racism, Acclaimed Program, Experienced Trainers
Do you wish to deepen your understanding of how race and ethnicity play out in our institutions and our daily lives? Are you ready to take a leading role to nurture a multicultural future in the face of opposing cultural currents? Come Join Us for this Life-Changing Weekend!
This is an online training and all are welcome:

Friday, November 12th – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, November 13th – 9:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday, November 14th – 12:00pm to 6:30pm

Weekend Activities: The training includes presentations, discussions, videos, exercises, and small group work. This 2 ½ day workshop is open to anyone who wants to journey toward making a stand against racism. Church members and church leaders of any faith, as well as non-church members are all welcome!
Our Goals are:

To develop a shared analysis of racism and its individual, institutional, and cultural manifestations, and
To begin to apply this common understanding to the history, culture, and institutional structure of our society, and to envision the next steps in taking action.

Agenda Topics Include:

The history of racism and resistance to racism in the Americas
Defining racism
The effects of racism on people of color and on white people
Dismantling racism
Claiming and shaping an anti-racist identity

Trainers are Paula Cole Jones, Dr Leon Spencer and Lutricia Callair.
Enrollment is limited so sign up today! $170 per participant. $85 for second or third person in same household. First person must register at $170 for subsequent family members to receive the discount. Contributions in support of this work are welcome. We encourage people seeking scholarships to request support from their local congregation.
Register Now
There is a limit of 70 participants for this training.
For more information contact: Paula Cole Jones pcolejones@gmail.com

Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Monthly Call
2021-11-17 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
The monthly statewide conference call for Unitarian Universalists and our friends to get the latest news and to strategize around gun violence prevention, advocacy and legislative action in New Jersey.
New advocates are always welcome on the GVP Task Force call, held the third Weds. of every month from 1 to 2 p.m.
For more information, and to receive the Zoom invitation and agenda for the next call, please email Liandra Pires, GVP Task Force Chair, at gvprevention@uufaithaction.org or email admin@uufaithaction.org.

“River Wide and Ocean Deep” Worship at Morristown UU
2021-11-21 09:30 - 12:00 | Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, New Jersey, 07960
Sunday, November 21st at 9:30am & 11:15am — “River Wide and Ocean Deep”
Led by Charles Loflin
Worship will be outdoors, weather depending. (If it is dry and the 50s or above we’ll be outside on the oval.) We are glad to have Charles visit in his new role as the Executive Director of UU Faith Action www.uufaithaction.org, which works on immigration justice, criminal justice, environmental justice, reproductive justice, gun violence prevention, and reparations.
Worship service hosted by Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Worship in-person or stream live on Facebook and YouTube.

Reproductive Justice Task Force Monthly Call
2021-11-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The monthly conference call to update and strategize around reproductive justice and rights in New Jersey. Join us monthly on the fourth Monday, 7-8 PM.
For Zoom invitation and agenda, please email reprojustice@uufaithaction.org attn. Carol Loscalzo, Task Force Chair.
Carol A. Loscalzo (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood) is Task Force Chair. For more information on reproductive justice, please email reprojustice@uufaithaction.org attn. Carol Loscalzo.
For general inquiries about our Task Forces, email admin@uufaithaction.org.

GivingTuesday
2021-11-30 | NJ, United States
#GivingTuesday is a global movement for radical generosity. Every year, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving day and “Black Friday” is designated “GivingTuesday.” Rather than kicking off the holiday season with materialism and excess, GivingTuesday calls us to open the season with humanity and generosity.
Your tax-deductible gift to UU Faith Action NJ on #GivingTuesday will not only allow us to continue the fight for justice and equality in New Jersey, but this year, thanks to a generous donor, it will have THREE TIMES the impact! That’s right: all gifts on #GivingTuesday will be matched 2 to 1, until we reach our fundraising goal. Our goal is to reach is $2,500 in #GivingTuesday donations, which will become $7,500 to further the the fight for justice and equality in New Jersey.

9th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence
2021-12-02 08:00 - 17:00 | NJ, United States
December 14, 2021 marks the 9th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting tragedy. Since that heartbreaking day when my neighbor used an AR-15 to kill 20 first graders and six educators, more than 900,000 Americans have been killed or injured by guns in America. The nation rarely remembers the victims of gun violence therefore we have worked for the last nine years to shine a light on the devastating toll of gun violence in our communities.
Newtown Action Alliance invites you to join them on their Facebook page Wednesday, December 8th at 7:00pm ET to watch the 9th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.
Sadly, the number of families and survivors who are directly impacted by gun violence is growing. In 2012, an average of 33,000 Americans were being killed by guns. In 2020, the CDC is estimating that 45,000 were killed by guns. Last Monday, Washington, D.C. recorded its 200th homicide this year, the 1st time that symbolic threshold of deadly violence has been reached in the nation’s capital since 2003.
Gun violence is a public health crisis and we must continue to work on ending all forms of gun violence in America. We have been extremely disappointed by the lack of congressional action but giving up is not an option. Our children, families, neighbors and communities are not safe in a nation with lax gun laws and 400 million civilian-owned guns.

Three-Part Rally at State House Annex in Trenton
2021-12-02 10:00 - 13:00 | State House Annex, 125 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey, 08608
Three-part rally at the Statehouse Annex in Trenton on Thursday, December 2nd
Join UU FaithAction NJ and our coalitions partners as we press for progress on key issues before the 2020-2021 legislative cycle expires!
Sign-Up with UU FaithAction NJ: uufaithactionnj.salsalabs.org/12-2-legislative-rally-signup
UU FaithAction NJ will provide sandwich lunches to UUs who sign up by Wednesday, 6PM.
Agenda:

10:00 AM – Rally in support of A4656/S2963 authorizing municipalities and counties to establish civilian review boards to review police operations and conduct, led by People’s Organization for Progress.
11:00 AM – Rally for Reparations urging legislators to support A711/S322—historic legislation to establish a task force that will study New Jersey’s role in American slavery and make policy recommendations to repair its enduring effects. Led by New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and faith allies.
12:00 PM – Rally and press conference for the “Reproductive Freedom Act” S3030/A4848 led by ACLU-NJ and the Thrive Coalition.

Driving directions to the State House Annex are here. The address is: 125 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.
Remember your yellow shirt (UU FaithAction NJ or ‘Side With Love’) and to take pictures!
Sign-Up: uufaithactionnj.salsalabs.org/12-2-legislative-rally-signup

Rally for the Reproductive Freedom Act
2021-12-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Piscataway, NJ: RSVP for exact location, Piscataway
Sat 12/4 at 12PM, Piscataway (In person)
Click to RSVP with Planned Parenthood of NJ; exact location will be provided upon RSVP.
Join Thrive NJ, advocates, allies and supporters as we say it loud and clear: NJ must pass the #RFANOW!
A committed group of advocates in this coalition have been working to pass the Reproductive Freedom Act (S3030/A4848). When enacted, New Jersey will codify in statute the right to abortion and birth control and expand access to reproductive health care by removing racial and socioeconomic barriers. Join us as we make our voices heard and march towards a historic victory!

Deep in Color: Voices of Black Experience
2021-12-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Deep in Color: Voices of Black Experience
A deep dive into Reparations continues…
Sunday, Dec. 5, 7PM via Zoom
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtfuirqj8vG9Jky2kyJwG2ORwOytpbnhoY
Our monthly discussion series began a year ago with the goal of bridging experiential gaps between Black and white, as well as answering the question, How do we take the struggle for racial justice to a higher level? This month, we continue with the discussion to address reparations to African Americans.
“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates will guide our discussion. (Complete text as well as an audio option: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/ or a downloadable pdf: The Case for Reparations.pdf)
This is a lengthy piece, about an hour and 20 minutes of reading. For optimal group discussion, please read in advance. We hope that this discussion will empower attendees to become effective advocates for reparations.
Dr. Carol Penn (http://www.drcarolpenn.com) and Minister Kerwin Webb (https://www.kerwinwebb.com) will co-host the discussion. The digital venue is provided by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County’s (uucmc.org) Social Justice Committee.

Interfaith Clergy “Consultation on Conscience”: Standing Against Hate in All of its Forms
2021-12-06 10:30 - 13:30 | Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, 222 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, United States
Interfaith Clergy “Consultation on Conscience”
Standing Against Hate In All Of Its Forms
A gathering of Faith Leaders seeking to better understand and address the rising tide of White Nationalism, Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Islamophobia.
WHEN
Monday, December 6, 2021 – 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
WHERE
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple
222 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Confirmed Speakers:
Eric Ward
Western States Center, Executive Director
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner
Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Senior vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism
Rev. Charles Franklin Boyer
Salvation and Social Justice, Founding Director
Karen Gaffney
Raritan Valley Comm. College, Author: Dismantling the Racism Machine
Registration required, please email Nancy, rabbisec@aemt.info: Name, Email, Religious Affiliation, Phone number
Partner Organizations:
RAC-NJ (NJ Branch of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism)
Coalition of Religious Leaders of NJ
Interfaith Community Action Network of Somerset County (ICAN)
NJ Interfaith Coalition

Jersey Water Works Conference
2021-12-08 - 2021-12-11 | New Jersey
Join us for an informative event at the Dec. 8-10 Jersey Water Works conference with our feature keynote speaker, Colette Pichon Battle. Together, let’s seize the moment to explore solutions to urgent health and climate risks, as well as ways that every community can access much-anticipated federal funding. Register today!
Registration is free for the Dec. 8-10 Jersey Water Works Conference! One registration gives you access to all three days, and you can attend the sessions that best fit your interests and schedule.
Agenda: https://www.jerseywaterworks.org/events/annual-conference/2021/agenda/
Registration: https://www.accelevents.com/e/2021-jersey-water-works-conference#about
