Unitarian Universalist FaithAction NJ

UU FaithAction NJ Annual Meeting
2025-03-05 | Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, 268 Washington Crossing Pennington Rd, Titusville, NJ, 08560, United States
Save the Date! Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be on May 31st at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing and online. We hope to see you there!

Grounded, Resilient, and Responsible: Responding and Organizing in Authoritarian Times
2025-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join Side with Love on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
This moment calls for us to be deeply grounded in our values, resilient in the face of challenges, and responsible stewards of justice. Together, we will explore:
✅ Simple tips on communicating safely in public and on private channels
✅ Strategies for responding in crisis moments
✅ Practical tools for organizing and resisting authoritarianism
Join us for powerful stories from the organizers who helped write the Grounded, Resilient, and Responsible toolkit. Learn how these tips can help you meet this moment.
Now more than ever, we must show up for one another. Join us to deepen your commitment, strengthen your skills, and stand in solidarity for a just and liberated future.
Register Here

Friday Action Hour
2025-02-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
“Friday Action Hour” — Every Friday
Join us at 12 noon, on Zoom, to TAKE ACTION together!
➱➱ bit.ly/1st-fridays

Join us on Zoom!
Topic: Friday Action Hour
Every Friday, 12 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94313960594?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 943 1396 0594
Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,94313960594#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
+19292056099,,94313960594#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (New York)
—
Dial by your location
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

At our 2023 Fall Issues Conference, we officially announced the launch of a new initiative for UU FaithAction NJ—”First Fridays Action Hour.” Our Action Hour is inspired by and modeled after the successful program of our sibling state action network, UU Justice North Carolina.
UU FaithAction NJ now hosts a one-hour Zoom meeting on the every Friday, 12 noon to 1pm. During that time, we take action together, in real-time! For those who cannot join us at 12pm on Friday, we provide a Google Doc with all necessary instructions.
An action could be almost anything, like making a phone call to key legislators to express your support for a bill. We briefly outline the talking points, provide you with a sample script and then the phone number of the legislators to call. And you make the call right there—in real time.
You don’t have to prepare. You don’t have to commit to coming to every single Action Hour. This is not a committee, nor a commitment—it is a come-as-you-are-able opportunity!
Can’t join us on a particular Friday, or maybe noon is just never gonna work for your schedule? No problem! The Google Doc will have all the information you need so that you can take the action at a time convenient for you. Not only that— we hope you will share the action with your congregation or community, and our one little pebble can start to produce ripples.

UPLIFT Trans/Non-Binary Gathering
2025-02-25 20:00 - 21:00, 2025-01-28 20:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Register to Attend
UPLIFT Gatherings
Fourth Tuesdays September-June
1.5 hours starting at 8 Eastern Time/7 Central Time/6 Mountain Time/5 Pacific Time
Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. Join us to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like)! Non-UUs are welcome if they are OK with being in a UU-focused community (we won’t proselytize). If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t (entirely or at all) cisgender, it’s a space for you.
What do we do during the gatherings? They are a cozy community space where we connect with each other with games and breakout groups, share ideas and stories on all kinds of topics, listen to music and poetry (often by trans/nonbinary+ creators), and much more!
This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. You can be a regular or someone new, someone who’s been curious for a while but hasn’t yet checked us out, somebody who is rejoining after time away, and all other ways of relating to this space! You are welcome here, and you are loved.
Check out our covenant if you’re wondering more about how we are in community together.
All-Ages Community
This space is intentionally multi-generational. It is open to and welcoming of trans/nonbinary elders as well as children, youth, and young adults. Standard UUA online safety measures apply to ensure all people under 18 are able to attend. We’re glad to have you here!
Accessibility Information
Closed captioning will be available, and any common chat content will also be spoken aloud. Please be mindful of processing and communication access, and speak one at a time. The meeting will not be recorded, and participation, as well as what is shared, will be confidential. There is no requirement to appear on video or to otherwise maintain “conventional” appearances. Any additional accessibility needs? Let us know by emailing lgbtq@uua.org or aballou@uua.org! We’ll do our best to ensure you can fully access the space.
Registration
To attend the next gathering and join the community, REGISTER TODAY.

Reproductive Justice Task Force Monthly Call
2025-02-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-27 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-23 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.

Free Screening and Discussion of PBS NJ's The Price of Silence at Montclair Public Library
2025-02-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Montclair Public Library, 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair,, 07042, United States
Come view the Emmy Award-winning three-part NJ PBS documentary, The Price of Silence, at Montclair Public Library! Afterward, there will be a discussion with the filmmaker, Ridgeley Hutchinson, and Linda Caldwell Epps, a founding partner of the Sankofa Collaborative and a historical consultant on the film.
New Jersey, the Garden State, is known for its produce, but not for the enslaved people who tilled the soil. In this three-part documentary series, which was originally created for and broadcast on NJ PBS, descendants and historians tell their stories and why it was the last northern state to end the institution of slavery, and how NJ’s history affected those who came here in the Great Migration. Each episode is 28 minutes long and there will be a 5-minute intermission after the second episode.
The Price of Silence is a Public Media Initiative through The WNET Group.
You can register for this free event using the link below:
https://montclairlibrary.libnet.info/event/12916936

Monthly Congregational Liaisons Call
2025-02-19 19:00 - 19:45
Our February monthly meeting will be on Wed. Feb 19, at 7 pm.
Note that this is a change from our standing meeting date (2nd Wednesday of each month) for February only.
Here is the Zoom Link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96922194091?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 969 2219 4091
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Environmental Justice Task Force monthly call
2025-02-19 15:15 - 17:00 | 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 EJTF (environment@uufaithaction.org), or administrator (admin@uufaithaction.org).

Criminal Justice Reform Monthly Conference Call
2025-02-17 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on the third Monday of the month from 7–8 PM for our UU statewide Criminal Justice Reform 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 admin@uufaithaction.org.

“Resiliency, Sustainability, and Joy” with Rebecca Parker and Joanne Braxton
2025-02-09 16:00 - 17:00 | The HUUB, 35 & 47 Cleveland St, Orange, NJ, 07050, United States
On February 9th, the FAITH+WORKS UU congregation welcomes Rev. Drs. Rebecca Parker and Joanne Braxton who will give a FAITH+WORKS talk entitled “Resiliency, Sustainability, and Joy.” The event is 4-5 p.m., with a social hour to follow.
Please join us for this event as we celebrate the congregations’ 135th year and the HUUB’s 10th year.
WHEN
Sunday, Feb. 9th
4–5 p.m.
WHERE
The HUUB
35 Cleveland St.
Orange, NJ
—
& on Zoom at essexuu.org

Reproductive Justice Gala Cancelled
2025-02-08 | Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, 07960
Update
After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision to cancel the UU FaithAction NJ Reproductive Justice Gala that had been scheduled for Saturday, February 8th, 2025. at Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Given the current state of events and the rapidly evolving situation among the many partners working in the Reproductive Justice space in New Jersey, we feel called to focus our efforts on the most immediate needs. Will be sending out an email providing more details about next steps.
Thank you!

First Friday Action Hour
2025-02-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
“First Friday Action Hour” — The 1st Friday of every month!
Join us at 12 noon, on Zoom, to TAKE ACTION together!
➱➱ bit.ly/1st-fridays

Join us on Zoom!
Topic: First Friday Action Hour
Every month on the First Friday, 12 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94313960594?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 943 1396 0594
Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,94313960594#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
+19292056099,,94313960594#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (New York)
—
Dial by your location
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

At our 2023 Fall Issues Conference, we officially announced the launch of a new initiative for UU FaithAction NJ—First Fridays Action Hour! Our Action Hour is inspired by and modeled after the successful program of our sibling state action network, UU Justice North Carolina.
Here’s how it will work: UU FaithAction NJ will host a one-hour Zoom meeting on the First Friday of every month, at 12 noon. During that time, we take action together, in real-time! For those who cannot join us at 12pm on Friday, we provide a Google Doc with all necessary instructions.
An action could be almost anything, like making a phone call to key legislators to express your support for a bill. In that example, we’d briefly outline the talking points, provide you with a sample script and then the phone number of the legislators to call. And you’d make the call right there—in real time. Or, maybe the action is writing a letter to the editor about a justice issue. Again, we’d provide the key talking points, some sample language and the contact information and during that zoom meeting, we’d collectively write our letters. Another possibility for an action is that we invite a key coalition partner to guide us in taking an action. The possibilities are almost limitless.
You don’t have to prepare. You don’t have to commit to coming to every single First Friday. This is not a committee, nor a commitment—it is a come-as-you-are-able opportunity!
Can’t join us on a particular Friday, or maybe noon is just never gonna work for your schedule? No problem! The Google Doc will have all the information you need so that you can take the action at a time convenient for you. Not only that— we hope you will share the action with your congregation or community, and our one little pebble can start to produce ripples.

IJTF Monthly Call
2025-02-06 08:00 - 21:00
Here is the Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97240542415?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 972 4054 2415
Passcode: [REDACTED]

UU FaithAction Office closed
2025-01-19 - 2025-01-20
In observance of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the UU FaithAction office will be closed today.

MLK March Of Resistance
2025-01-18 11:30 - 15:00 | 495 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ, 495 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Newark, 07102, United States
In the non-violent resistance tradition of Dr. King, we will gather at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue at 495 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102 on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
We will rally for 1/2 hour from 11:30 to noon to join the Solidarity Singers in songs of the Civil Rights Movement.
At 12:00, representatives of the many and varied endorsing organizations will encourage us. These include civil rights, labor and business, faith-based, environmental, anti-poverty, anti-war, immigrant and women’s rights organizations.
At 1:00 those who are able will march to Broad St., Newark and back. Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes, as it will be cold.
PARKING: Free parking is available in the Jurors lot behind the Division of Records on MLK Blvd (the same building where his statue is located). The entrance is on Rt. 510/S. Orange Ave. around the corner from Springfield Ave./MLK Plaza. After parking, you can walk through the lot to Legend Way, turn right, and the MLK statue will be a short distance away on your right.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take NJ Transit train service from various NJ locations to Penn Station, Newark. Walk just under one mile up Market Street to Springfield Ave. & bear left. Go through the park onto MLK Blvd.

Environmental Justice Task Force monthly call
2025-01-15 15:00 - 17:00 | 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).

UUFANJ Board Meeting
2025-01-14 19:30 - 21:30 | 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, 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.

Latino Action Network Working Summit
2025-01-08 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Monmouth University
The Latino Action Network Foundation invites you to join us for the 2025 Working Summit — a powerful gathering of state leadership, returning citizens, advocates, families, and incarcerated voices from across New Jersey. Together, we’ll address the pressing issues that continue to affect African American and Latino communities in our state’s criminal justice system.
About the Summit:
This year’s summit marks a pivotal moment, building upon the groundbreaking progress made since the first summit 20 years ago. New Jersey has become a leader in reforms such as Police Licensing, Cannabis Legalization, Bail Reform, and more, thanks to the work of advocates, community leaders, and legislators. Now, we are calling on everyone to help shape the next chapter of these reforms.

The Longest Night
2024-12-19 20:00 | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5_cDsuQVtRI1KMcpsLCeCAxXW2cEDegY7B7m1xS9YRrZ-UQ/viewform
The longest night of the year is a time we drop into stillness, honor the dark, release the pain and struggle of life. We also embrace the light of strength and courage.
This year, UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) partners with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) to bring you worship, artistic expression, and stories from partners in Kiribati where climate justice is culture justice and disability justice.
Our guest speaker is Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, UUSC Board of Trustees Co-Chair and Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
During the service, we will collect an offering which will be shared between UU Ministry for Earth and UUSC’s partner Te Toa Matoa in Kiribati.
You can donate then (or now) by noting “Winter Solstice” in the memo line.
Register for the worship service.
For the interactive part of the service, bring with you:
Paper (blank, any size)
Pencils and erasers
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
Optional: Gel pens, paint, or other art materials for added detail
Thanks to the Side With Love’s Climate Justice Campaign for financial support of this event.

Strengthening Rights in Healthcare, Immigration, Environment & Law
2024-12-19 18:00
State of Protection: Strengthening Rights in Healthcare, Immigration, Environment & Law

Dear friend,

New Jersey has always been a leader in advancing policies that prioritize fairness, equity, and the well-being of our communities. However, as we face shifting federal priorities and new challenges, we must work together to ensure our state’s protections remain strong, resilient, and inclusive for everyone.

On Thursday, December 19, 2024, I’m hosting a special event, State of Protection: Strengthening Rights in Immigration, Healthcare, Environment, and Law, and I’d love for you to join me.

I’ll be moderating a panel discussion with some of New Jersey’s top leaders:

Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU-NJ
Professor Heather Howard from Princeton University
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin

We’ll explore the steps New Jersey has taken to safeguard critical rights and services and discuss what more needs to be done.

Event Details:

When: Thursday, December 19, 2024, 6:00 PM
Where: Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ (Livestream available here)
Cost: Free and open to the public
Registration: Required, please visit andrewzwicker.com/state-of-protection-panel

This isn’t just a conversation for policymakers—it’s a conversation for everyone who cares about keeping New Jersey a beacon of progress and protection. Whether you’re an advocate, a community leader, or simply a concerned resident, your presence is essential as we navigate the path forward.

I hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a meaningful and thought-provoking evening. Together, let’s work to ensure New Jersey remains a place of fairness, opportunity, and hope for generations to come.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Andrew Zwicker
State Senator, District 16
