Our Social Justice Team

We affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all and respect the interdependence of all creation. We seek to build partnerships with other groups and extend bridges across barriers of race, class, sexuality and gender, ability and generations.

This site provides information about organizations, events, and activities that promote social justice.

ACLU Gave “Know Your Rights” Update on LGBTQ+ Issues

ACLU Gave “Know Your Rights” Update on LGBTQ+ Issues

On Feb. 6, 2025, staff attorneys from the ACLU of NH, NH Outright, and GLAD Law gave a sober but inspiring Zoom presentation attended by almost 200 people. There was no sugar-coating the present moment, which they acknowledged is “scary.” But they assured the audience that LGBTQ+ folks still have rights and protections. “Together we are powerful and we will take care of us.”

Meet-Up for Neurodivergent Young Adults

Meet-Up for Neurodivergent Young Adults

be; has started a series of 10-week sessions of an EXCEL program called be;yond the spectrum. Sponsored by Bridgewater State University, each 10-week on-going session is open to 8 participants. The current session is full. Call or text 508-272-3625 for more information or to sign up for the next session!

BCCR & E. Bridgewater CCC Co-sponsor Recent Webinar on DEI

BCCR & E. Bridgewater CCC Co-sponsor Recent Webinar on DEI

On January 28, 2025, an excellent panel shared insights about DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion): What it is, Why it’s important, and How we can champion it in our schools.

Bridgewater Communities for Civil Rights (BCCR) and East Bridgewater Coalition for Community Change (CCC) co-sponsored the event. Panelists included a variety of disciplines and perspectives:

MA Right to Shelter Is Under Attack

MA Right to Shelter Is Under Attack

Gov. Healey’s proposed modifications to Massachusetts’ Right to Shelter Law, also a coming vote on her supplemental budget, could leave many more people, including families with children, out in the cold.

UU Mass Action is planning several actions in response. Learn more here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ug0LPwfnbI8-mLBwt7fJ2N3htpO9ahHJ/view

Current SJ Posts

Brennan Center Showcases Mike German, Author of Policing White Supremacy

Brennan Center Showcases Mike German, Author of Policing White Supremacy

Entitled Do the Police Care About White Supremacist Violence?, this Youtube interview on January 28 was fascinating, and chilling. Mike German is the author of the new book Policing White Supremacy: the Enemy Within.

Learn more

February Cash in the Plate

February Cash in the Plate

The Cash in the Plate for February will be donated to the Brockton Branch NAACP. The NAACP’s mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial discrimination.

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MA Transgender Political Coalition Defies Trump Executive Order

From a message issued by MTPC on January 21, 2025: “…Our first message, as always, is to our transgender and nonbinary community members. The US government has no power to tell anyone their gender or to force them to conform. The Executive Order signed [on January 20] will no doubt lead to negative consequences and…

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Finally! Leonard Peltier’s Sentence Is Commuted

Finally! Leonard Peltier’s Sentence Is Commuted

Some very good news: President Biden, in one of his last acts as President, commuted the sentence of Leonard Peltier, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1977 after a killing of two FBI agents during the Wounded Knee uprising. Supporters have believed for years that Peltier, beloved and revered, now 80 and in…

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“Don’t Obey in Advance”

“Don’t Obey in Advance”

Subtitled a “Faith-Based Call to Action to Save Democracy,” this January 6 event was a nationwide interfaith Zoom call with 1,000 attending. It was sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance, Sojourners, Faithful America, Faith in Democracy, Freedom Road, and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.

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What Can We Do for Freedom?

What Can We Do for Freedom?

Near the end of her December 29 Sunday worship service, Adrienne Williams asked the congregation, “What can we do, what can you do, for freedom? What do you think?” Here are the responses: We can make a difference. Be there. Listen. Be awake.

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January Cash in the Plate

January Cash in the Plate

The Cash in the Plate for the first week of January will go to World Central Kitchen. The Cash in the Plate for the remainder of January will be donated to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.

Learn more

Upcoming SJ Events

More about Social Justice at UU Middleboro

The mission of the Social Justice Team of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleborough is to help the congregation take actions that create positive change in people, in our communities and in the world.  Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal theology of engagement.  We covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people and to promote respect for the interdependent web of creation of which we are a part.  We draw inspiration and truth from experiencing each other and the world around us.  We witness both the beauty and brokenness of our world, and we choose to do social justice work to recognize the beauty and to address the brokenness.

We seek to explore and address issues of systemic privilege and oppression.  We look to build partnerships with other faiths and secular groups, to build bridges across barriers of race, class, sexuality and gender, abilities and the generations.  We look to strengthen coalitions for justice by working as accountable partners in local projects.  Projects may include education, raising awareness about justice issues, advocacy, public witnessing and service.  Accountability includes a willingness to take on supportive roles and receive leadership from marginalized groups.

How our work is done is as important as the end goal of promoting justice.  We work to stay conscious of the ways that race, class and other privileges advantage one group while simultaneously disadvantaging others. We also strive to be aware that the benefits the privileged receive operate to perpetuate the status quo.  If the justice work we do helps build community – rather than create division – we will move ourselves, our communities and the goals of justice forward.

Our Current Projects

The Team brings news and information to the congregation about social justice events and activities being held in our community, offers training and runs events that are of major interest to church members, and actively supports several local organizations including Bridgewater Committee for Civil Rights (BCCR). The Brockton Chapter of the NAACP, the Matthew Mission Food Pantry, and Sustainable Middleboro.

Our Social Justice Team

Team members are Lois Aldrich, Dody Adkins-Perry, Deanne Bonnar, Bill Howe, and Christine Hoyle. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact a member of the team or write to sjt@UUmiddleboro.org.