Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ

Sing-a-long Celebration of Pete Seeger
2019-06-01 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Unitarian Society, A Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 176 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, 08816, United States
Come join a Sing-Along Celebration of Pete Seeger, in honor of his 100th birthday. It is a fundraiser for the Solidarity Singers and for their parent organization, the NJ IUC. So please come out next Saturday night, June 1, at 7PM at the Unitarian Society, 176 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816. They are preparing a great show – you’ll have a great time while supporting their continuing effort to build solidarity throughout the progressive movement.
If you are unable to attend, donations can be made by mail:
NJ State Industrial Union Council
P.O. Box 339
Allenwood, NJ 08720
or thru their website:
www.industrialunioncouncilnj.org
or find the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/365975787350379/
We hope that you’ll be singing with us next Saturday evening.
In solidarity and song.

NJ Spotlight Roundtable: Affordable Housing in New Jersey: What's Next?
2019-05-31 08:00 - 10:30 | RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Mercerville, New Jersey, 08619
More than 250 New Jersey municipalities have finalized with the courts and housing advocates plans that detail how many affordable homes they are allotting within their borders and where these units could be built.
Not all of the proposed developments will happen. Towns are not obligated to build all the housing, they simply need to allow for its construction. It’s not clear how many may be built as there is no longer a state agency overseeing the process.
This year, for the first time in more than a decade, a New Jersey governor has proposed depositing the full amount of fees received — about $60 million — into the state Affordable Housing Trust Fund in recognition of the need for more affordable housing.
At this NJ Spotlight roundtable experts will look briefly at the history of the affordable housing issue in New Jersey — from the Mount Laurel decisions to the current court process — and dive deeply into:

Where we are today regarding the state’s need for more affordable homes
How many more municipalities need to draft plans and how many units are planned?
How many homes are actually likely to be built? Where and when? Who’s going to pay for them?
What are the prospects of the state retaking control of the process?

Attendees may submit questions for consideration in advance of the event as part of the registration process.
Opening remarks:
Peter Reinhart, Director, Kislak Real Estate Institute, Monmouth University
Panelists:
Staci Berger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Housing and Community Development Network of NJ
Christiana Foglio, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Community Investment Strategies
Assemblywoman Holly T. Schepisi, Assistant Republican Leader, Member Joint Committee on Housing Affordability, Member Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity, Member Housing and Community Development Committee
Kevin Walsh, Executive Director, Fair Share Housing Center
Additional panelist to be named.
Moderator:
Colleen O’Dea, Editor at Large, NJ Spotlight

Interfaith Community Iftar
2019-05-30 20:00 - 22:00 | Central Unitarian Church, 105 Fairview Ave, Westwood, 07675

Press conference to release Oil Change International Report, "Burning the Gas Bridge Fuel Myth"
2019-05-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Thomas Edison State University, 11 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey
Co-hosted by ReThink Energy NJ and Oil Change International, at which OCI will release its latest report, “Burning the Gas ‘Bridge Fuel’ Myth. The report’s data and analysis demonstrate that “gas is not clean, cheap, or necessary.”

The United States is moving further and faster than any other country to expand oil and gas extraction. The current debate about the role of gas in America’s energy future is a critical one. New Jersey is at the center of that debate due to the many pending proposals for new gas pipelines and power plants and the development of a new state Energy Master Plan to achieve 100% clean energy, a draft of which will be released in June.

ReThink Energy NJ is pleased to join OCI in presenting how the transition to a zero-carbon energy system is being undermined by overreliance on gas and, in fact, requires a managed decline of gas production and consumption along with that of coal and oil.

What: Press conference to release Oil Change International Report, “Burning the Gas Bridge Fuel Myth”

Where: Prudence Hall, Thomas Edison State University, 111 W. State St., Trenton, NJ

When: May 30th, 10:00 a.m.

Who:
• Tom Gilbert, campaign director, ReThink Energy NJ
• Lorne Stockman, senior research analyst, Oil Change International
• Barbara Blumenthal, research director, NJ Conservation Foundation
• Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (invited)

Invited guests: Energy policymakers from NJ gov’t, nonprofit organizations

If you are able to attend, please RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/burning-the-bridge-fuel-myth-international-report-release-tickets-61423514385

Introduction to Representing Unaccompanied Children in Immigration Matters
2019-05-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Lowenstein Sandler LLP, One Lowenstein Drive, Roseland, New Jersey
Within the past three years, more than 150,000 unaccompanied children have come to the United States risking a harrowing journey without a parent or legal guardian; often to escape abuse, mistreatment or persecution in their countries of origin. Once in the United States, the majority must face immigration proceedings without a lawyer. KIND is a movement of pro bono lawyers and volunteers committed to providing fair, competent and compassionate legal counsel to unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States.
This training will provide an overview of the basics of removal proceedings for children and an introduction to appearing in Immigration Court. Legal remedies, including asylum, special immigrant juvenile status and victim’s visas, will be discussed. Participants will be prepared to take on the representation of an unaccompanied immigrant child under the supervision of a KIND attorney.

Reproductive Task Force Monthly Conference Call
2019-05-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2019-04-22 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ, United States
The monthly conference call to update and strategize around women’s reproductive justice and rights in New Jersey. To join the call via phone or video, please see details below.
Carol A. Loscalzo (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood) Task Force For more information, please email reprojustice@uufaithaction.org attn. Carol Loscalzo, TF chair

Welcome to the Reproductive Justice Task Force monthly call!
Time: this is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/153587254
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16465588656,,153587254# or +16699006833,,153587254#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 153 587 254
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference?m=K4sSO3ip6lRKzBkWCjs05g64KmjSSP3Q

Economic Justice Monthly Task Force Call
2019-05-23 15:00 - 16:00, 2019-04-25 15:00 - 16:00
The monthly conference call held the 4th Thursday of every month to update and strategize around furthering economic justice in New Jersey. To join the video call using a desktop/laptop computer or smartphone (strongly preferred for ease of use!) or by phone, please see details below. All are welcome to attend!
Jerry Fried (UU Montclair) Chair
For more information, please email Jerry at econ_justice@uufaithaction.org
Topic: Economic Justice TF meeting
Time: this is a recurring meeting; meet anytime
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android by clicking this link: https://zoom.us/j/3422164493

Or dial one of the following two numbers to join by phone and then follow the prompt to enter Meeting ID code below:
+1 646 558 8656
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID:
342 216 4493

NJ Black Issues Legislative Conference
2019-05-23 | Thomas Edison State University, 11 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey

Salvation and Social Justice
2019-05-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 353 South New Road, Pleasantville, New Jersey, 08232
According to an analysis from NJ Advanced Media for 5 years of police use-of-force data from every department in the State, Black people were three times more likely to be punched, kicked, pepper sprayed, struck with a baton and attacked by a dog in police use-of-force situations and more than twice as likely to be shot. Very few departments analyze racial profiling. Of more than 4,600 uses of force against people under the age of 18, slightly more than half the subjects were Black, though they represent only 14.5% of the child population in New Jersey.

We must break the cycle of violence inflicted upon our communities by:

Implementing community oversight of local police departments;
Unifying reporting standards and systems; requiring culturally competent implicit bias and psychological analysis and de-escalation training, and expanding auditing measures to ensure the training is effectively implemented;
Removing officers who violate the civil rights of African Americans or demonstrate bias;
Mandating in-car and body-worn cameras—in conjunction with effective policies, training, and implementation—and the public release of footage;
Requiring a five-year residency requirement for all law enforcement;
Developing a truth and reconciliation process to faithfully deal with the history and evidence of abuse.

Together we can transform this situation! These are all Joint Hearings Black Legislators, Clergy and Community Leaders and the hearings will be sed as an opportunity to hear from victims as well as organize communities in how to access the data, build an accountability commission and hold local law enforcement responsible for problematic issues.

Interfaith Partners in Action for the Earth
2019-05-19 14:00 - 18:00 | Temple B’Nai Abraham, Livingston, New Jersey
It’s time to reconnect. To celebrate. And to plan to make an even bigger impact in the coming year.
Join us for the 2nd Annual GreenFaith Action Day on Sunday afternoon, May 19, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at Temple B’nai Abraham in Livingston.
Over the past two years, the GreenFaith community in New Jersey has been making a difference!

Through Electric Vehicle Blessings in Newark and Paterson, we’ve raised awareness about the need to accelerate the use of electric vehicles in the state and to make clean transportation accessible to everyone.
We’ve opposed the proposed Meadowlands natural gas plant.
We’ve pressed the state to divest its pension funds from fossil fuel holdings.
We took more than 50 faith leaders from Newark to Netcong on a tour of the Block Island Wind Farm and then released a multi-faith statement calling for an aggressive state policy to support environmentally responsible, labor-friendly offshore wind development.

We have GreenFaith Circles in Central Bergen, Raritan Valley, Hunterdon / Somerset, Summit, Essex, a new Circle launching in Newark, and Circle exploratory efforts in Monmouth and Moorestown. We are on the move!
Join us on May 19!
On May 19, we’ll gather to celebrate our successes, to learn about the issues, and to plan to make a bigger impact in the coming year.

We’ll learn about the Green New Deal, and how GreenFaith can support a climate-jobs-justice agenda.
We’ll hear an update on the future of electric vehicles in the state. With 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from transport, EV’s are hugely important.
We’ll enjoy some skills training and a vegetarian meal.
We’ll come together in prayer for our precious planet and our work to protect it.

Lock Arms Rally - lock arms around the site of a planned youth prison
2019-05-18 13:30 - 17:00 | West Side High School, 403 South Orange Avenue, Newark, New Jersey

Conversations on Race—The Invention of Race
2019-05-15 19:30 - 21:30 | Seton Hall University Center, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange
This year’s conversation will be led by Dr. Nell Irvin Painter, professor emeritus at Princeton and author of New York Times bestseller The History of White People in which she discusses both the invention of race and the frequent praise of “whiteness” for economic, scientific, and political ends.

Presentation- Update on Southern Reliability Link (SRL) and SJ Gas Pipeline-impacts
2019-05-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, New Jersey, 08753
New Jersey Natural Gas has begun their construction of their Southern Reliability Link (SRL) in Burlington and Ocean County despite still being involved in ongoing litigation. SRL is 28-mile gas pipeline that will destroy environmentally sensitive land in the Pinelands and threaten communities along the route in Burlington, Ocean, and Monmouth Counties. SRL will create irreversible harm to wetlands, streams, as well as damage important open spaces, and threaten one of the largest sources of fresh drinking water on the east coast. The proposed SJ Gas Pipeline is another unnecessary and destructive pipeline that would cut a 22- mile scar through the Pinelands. South Jersey Gas plans were to build their pipeline to connect into the B.L. England plant however since the plant will not repower with natural gas, there is no need for the SJ Gas pipeline. Both Pinelands pipelines must be stopped. That is why it is more important than ever that Governor Murphy puts a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects.
Where: The Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St, Toms River, NJ 08753
When: Monday, May 13th from 7:00 pm 8:45pm
Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2405196033058514/
Empower NJ Website: http://empowernewjersey.com/

2nd Annual New Jersey Human Rights Film Festival
2019-05-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2019-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | UU Society of Ridgewood, 13 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, New Jersy

UU FaithAction Board of Trustees monthly meeting
2019-05-09 15:00 - 17:00, 2019-04-11 15:00 - 17:00 | The Unitarian Society (E. Brunwswick) or Beacon UU Congregation in Summit
The monthly board meeting open to the public with advance notice to the office staff. The board meets at the Summit and E. Brunswick congregations on alternating months–please contact the UU FA office to find out where the next meeting will be happening.

Environmental Justice TF Video Conference Call
2019-05-08 15:30 - 16:30, 2019-04-10 15:30 - 16:30
Would you like to join in the conversation, find out what’s going on *now* in New Jersey around environmental justice? Join our statewide call held the 1st Thursday of every month at 12 noon sharp. All are invited.
To join the video conference insert the link below in your computer search/browser window and follow the instructions (This is our preferred way to conduct the call. You can join using your desktop, laptop or smartphone camera and the free, downloadable Zoom app.)
Call hosted by Environmental Justice Task Force co-chairs, Peggy Middaugh (UU Congregation of Ocean County) and Ray Nichols (UU in Princeton Congregation). For questions, please contact Peggy Middaugh at peggymiddaugh@gmail.com or 508-864-3489

Use this link to join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://zoom.us/j/712490459

Or Telephone (please note the Meeting ID number below the dial in number):
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 712 490 459

Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16699006833,,712490459# or +16468769923,,712490459#

Coalition of UU Social Action Networks (CUUSAN) monthly conference call
2019-05-08 08:00 - 09:00
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

"Unbreaking America" short film & discussion
2019-05-05 09:00 - 10:30
UUCWC’s FAM hosts the NJ chapter of Represent.Us for a presentation of the short film “Unbreaking America” with Jennifer Lawrence on the problems of political corruption and how to save our democracy. Followed by discussion of next steps and legislation. In the Sanctuary at UUCWC.

What's Next in Health Care?: Opportunities for State-Based Reform
2019-04-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ, 08560, United States
UUCWC’s FAM hosts a panel discussion organized by STAND CNJ and NJ Citizen Action.

Voter Suppression Speakers at UU Congregation of the Palisades
2019-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades, Lydecker Homestead 228 Grand Ave, Englewood, NJ, 07631, United States

Voter Suppression and Criminal Justice Reform in NJ
2019-04-26 15:00 - 17:00 | The Historical Lydecker Homestead, 228 Grand Avenue, Englewood, 07631
Come hear Speakers Chané Jones and Ron Pierce From The New Jersey Institute of Social Justice talk about Voter Suppression and Criminal Justice Reform in NJ.
Why are almost 100,000 New Jersey citizens denied the right to vote? Why does New Jersey have the worst record of any state in the nation in the disproportionate criminalization of people of color?
SUPPORT NJ Bill A3456/S2100 to restore voting rights to those on Parole, Probation or when incarcerated and join 16 other States in the U. S. and the majority of other democratic countries.
Speakers Bios: https://www.njisj.org/about_staff
Sponsored by: The UUCP Racial & Social Justice Team
Co-Sponsored by: UU FaithAction NJ and Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County

Empower NJ Earth DAY fORUM
2019-04-22 15:30 - 17:00 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Rd, Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
A coalition of environmental groups that are part of Empower New Jersey, along with Indivisible Princeton, will host an educational forum focused on state-wide energy issues beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, N.J. Members of the public are invited to attend this free event.
The speakers include leaders of major statewide environmental organizations. They will discuss the dozen new fossil fuel projects proposed throughout New Jersey, including the PennEast Pipeline and the Williams’ Northeast Compressor Stations and proposals by the coalition to combat these projects, including proposals for a moratorium on fossil fuel development and a complete ban on fracking.
Speakers include:
• Amy Goldsmith, N.J. State Director of Clean Water Action, who will discuss Empower New Jersey and campaign overview.
• Doug O’Malley, State Director of Environment NJ, who will discuss environmental issues related to fossil fuels.
• Jeff Tittel, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter, who will discuss the status of the Penn East and NESE projects.
• Matthew Smith, senior organizer of Food and Water Watch will describe how citizens can take action.
• Rev. Bob Moore, of Princeton Community Peace Action.
Empower NJ is a coalition of over 50 environmental, citizen, faith-based, and progressive groups in New Jersey that are calling on Governor Murphy to enact a moratorium on all new fossil fuel projects in New Jersey until there are rules in place to achieve our 100% clean energy goals. The organization has been sponsoring informational forums throughout New Jersey. More information is available at www.empowernewjersey.com.
In addition to Indivisible Princeton, co-sponsors include Princeton Coalition for Peace Action, the Princeton Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, and UUCP’s Ministry for Earth.

Salvation and Social Justice
2019-04-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Mt. Zion AME Church, 39 Morris Street, New Brnswick, New Jersey, 08901

UUCWC Faith Action Ministry Action Hour
2019-04-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Unitarian-Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd., Titusville, 08560
The FAM of UUCWC will meet in room 202 to write postcards & letters to our elected officials about timely issues and legislation. Light snacks provided.

2019 Plenary
2019-04-13 06:00 - 11:30
