The UUSCV Social and Environmental Justice (SEJ) team is a vibrant and connected group of people working to make the world a better place.

Current programs:

• Third Sunday collection: On the third Sunday of each month, the non-pledge proceeds from the in-service collection are donated to a local charity. Four times a year, the proceeds go to a project for the congregation or to a UU-related cause. Some of the groups we have donated to are below.
  • SCV Food Pantry
  • PFLAG
  • UUA Disaster Relief Fund
  • Guest at Your Table (UU Service Committee)
  • SCOPE Radio KQRU
  • SCV LGBTQ+ Center
  • UU@UN
  • The Gibbon Conservation Center
  • Bridge to Home
  • Assoc, of UU Music Ministries
  • Domestic Violence Project of the Child and Family Center
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • UU the Vote.
• Fifth Sunday – On the fifth Sunday of the month, the SEJ team sponsors a presentation on a social justice or environmental topic. Some of the topics covered have been:
  • Lynne Plambeck of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment on how climate change affects the Santa Clarita Valley
  • Moms Demand Action on their work for sensible gun laws
  • California Clean Money on election financing
• Bend the Arc is a monthly current events discussion group held on the third Wednesday of the month at a member’s home. We discuss a wide range of current events and we have a list of actions that people can take to “bend the arc” of justice.
• A workshop on the proposed Eighth Principle of Unitarian Universalism and two subsequent Anti-Racism Workshops
• Donated to Family Promise and will have a brick with the team name placed on the wall at their new transitional house. Also donated a gift basket to be auctioned off.
• A table at the weekly service, with information on events and topics of social and environmental justice.

Congregational activities

• We are a Welcoming Congregation, and renew that designation yearly. We hold periodic LGBTQ sessions through the Transforming Hearts Collective, and we donate to LGBTQ causes through our Third Sunday program.
• We have been holding periodic Anti-Racist workshops in order to determine how we can actively work to dismantle racism, and how to be more welcoming to people of color.
• The congregation has for several years collected gift cards for teens in the Domestic Violence Project of the Child and Family Center for the December holidays. Teens are often forgotten while younger children receive gifts.
• UU of SCV endorses the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR-2307)

Community Outreach

• Members of the SEJ team and the congregation are active in several community groups:
  • Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG-SCV)
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP-SCV)
  • Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment (SCOPE)
  • Friends of the Santa Clara River
  • Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)

The SEJ Team meets on the second Sunday of the month at Vibe Performing Arts (after the service) from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm. The meeting is also accessible by Zoom  Connect with Zoom