Social Justice

• After School Program
• Blood Bank
• Green Sanctuary
• Human Needs Food Pantry
• Interfaith Hospitality Network
• Partner Church Committee
• Promise the Children
• Peace Site
• Peace Crane Project
• The Undoing Racism Committee
• Rainbow UUnion-Welcoming Congregation Committee

Undoing Racism Committee

One of our highlights from last year was the Undoing Racism Film Series: An Evening with Filmmaker Pete Chatmon. Please join us this coming year for our next film series.

We are a long-standing committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair whose goal is to work with our congregation and the wider community to develop, strengthen and act upon anti-racist, multicultural perspectives through worship services, educational programs, lectures, book & film discussions, other cultural events, and community involvement

Some URC Initiatives:

•  Anti-racism Training. Since 1992, the URC has partnered with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond in New Orleans to sponsor transformative training for our congregation and wider community on the core principles and consequences of racism and white privilege

• Affordable Housing. URC support of affordable housing in Montclair for more than a decade has included participation in the Montclair Affordable Housing Coalition and the task force on rent regulation, fundraising for the Emergency Assistance Fund, and organized efforts to pass the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (IZO).

• Katrina Family Partnering. Working through the People’s Institute, the URC has work to provide ongoing contact and crucial elements of support

• Lecture Series. Historical highlights of these widely attended educational events include:

  • “Our Place in the World” – Larry Hamm, People’s Organization for Progress

  • “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome” – Joy DeGruy Leary, Portland State University

  • “Moving Toward Peacemaking” – Dick Burr, NAACP Legal Defense Fund

  • “The Challenge of Katrina” – David Billings, People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond

• Film Series. Through screening, discussion, and analysis, participants explore the ways that race has been portrayed by filmmakers in American cinema and examine the larger influence of these images

• Dance for Justice. For many years, the URC has hosted this annual community event, which draws participants from throughout Essex County and is a major fundraiser for our educational programs

What’s Coming Up:

• Youth Workshop. URC will sponsor an educational workshop for youth participants that provides tools for analyzing ways that their identities and perceptions of race and gender have been influenced by images in the mass media and popular culture

• Book Discussion on The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide

• Stay tuned for a schedule of reading discussions on this important and provocative book

• Second Annual Film Series. The URC will continue its tradition of offering viewings and moderated discussions on the portrayal of race in American cinema

When we Meet:

• The URC meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.