In fall of 2021, the Social and Environmental Justice Committee added an emphasis on Civic Engagement as one of its four portfolio areas, with Harper West as the project leader. If you would like to be involved or have ideas for Civic Engagement efforts, please contact Harper West at harper_west@yahoo.com
Civic Engagement Projects
Following are examples of types of Civic Engagement projects being offered for BUCers and friends.
- “Write Here, Write Now” projects, which involve letter-writing to elected officials on various topics, including climate change, bail reform in Michigan, reforming the Electoral Count Act, and others.
- Programs such as “How to Talk about Politics Constructively” and informational sessions about ballot proposals.
- Events enabling people to participate fully in the voting process, including those focused on voter registration, absentee voting, the census process and redistricting, and what’s involved in serving as a poll worker or poll watcher.
- Phone bank opportunities such as a Quick Response Phone Bank in support of major climate change or budgetary legislation (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022).
- Selection of plate offering recipient organizations that align with the civic engagement mission. These have included Voters Not Politicians, Michigan Liberation, and Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence.
MUUSJN Action Alerts
Another easy way to get involved is to sign up for Action Alert emails from the Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN). MUUSJN Action Alerts contain a brief summary of an issue and specific steps you can take, such as calling an elected official or attending a public forum on the issue.
UU the Vote
In 2020 the Unitarian Universalist Association launched its nonpartisan “UU the Vote” project. It was motivated by two primary objectives:
- Responding to the moral call to combat the rise of white supremacy and fascism and imagine a just society where all have inherent worth and dignity, where our communities are governed democratically, and where we live sustainably.
- The opportunity to move Unitarian Universalists to embody our values by centering marginalized people and building organizing infrastructure across the UU ecosystem.
UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray stated about UU the Vote: “For Unitarian Universalists, this is faithful, moral action because democracy and the right of all people to have a voice and a vote are at the very heart of our Seven Principles. This work is about the inherent worth and dignity of every person; it is about restoring right relationship with the planet; it is about our commitment to justice and equity for all people. We are called to courageously embody the deepest values of our faith with our hearts, bodies, and spirits while building toward an abundant future in which all are free and flourishing.”
BUC Petition Policy
In 2013 we developed and the Board approved a BUC Petition Policy that provides a process for petitions to be approved for signature collection during church events. Congregants are welcome to use this process if there is a petition they feel aligns with UU values. BUC has supported a number of petition efforts, including those for the citizens redistricting commission in 2018, voting rights reform in 2018 and 2022, minimum wage and earned paid sick time proposals in 2018 and 2022, a Regional Transit proposal, Reproductive Rights, and an amendment of the Elliot-Larson legislation to protect all genders and orientations.
The Future of Civic Engagement
Moving forward, BUC hopes to broaden the civic engagement of our members and our community with efforts in education and activism. Specific areas of interest include opposing voter suppression legislation, participating in petition drives, continuing education on voting rights, and encouraging voting involvement in all elections.