Racial Justice

Join other UUs, and others that share our values, in taking action.

Current issues:

Article II: Principles, Values, 8th Principle...

Call for Volunteers to Support Our New Afghan Neighbors!

A new initiative, ALL Iowa, a partnership between the University of Iowa, Drake University, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services, is providing and facilitating immigration legal services to Afghans in Iowa evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021. (see website below for more information). Transportation is a huge barrier to successful claims as the immigration court for our area is located in Omaha, NE. There is an immediate need for help with transport to the immigration court in Omaha for Afghans residing in Iowa with asylum hearings before the court. We anticipate there will be multiple individuals residing in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Sioux City and potentially other areas of the state needing such transportation help in the coming months. This service would make a world of difference to these newly resettled members of our communities. If interested, please contact Amy Weismann at amy-weismann@uiowa.edu .

You’re soaking in it: White Supremacy Culture for White Folks–Faith Development Classes

It can be easy to ignore what we have been soaking in our entire lives. That doesn’t make it any less toxic to ourselves and others. This class is designed for white-identified UUs to explore the notion of White Supremacy Culture so that we might identify what we’ve been steeped in.

Anti-racism as a daily practice

All the new energy surrounding the election has been a lot for every one of us to take in! As Interfaith and I navigated all the changes of the last week, we’ve revised and renewed our plan (firm this time, we promise!) for engaging Antiracism as Daily Practice together, in community.

Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements – Decolonial Repair Work first Wednesdays of the month

Dear all, this in person and zoom event is led by Honor Native Land Fund, a group recommended by our friend Shelley Buffalo from the Meskwaki Settlement.

Solidarity with Students supporting justice in Palestine

Statement supporting student activism on Gaza

Side With Love in collaboration with the Youth and Emerging Adult team of Lifespan Faith Engagement office, and the UU College of Social Justice, join in solidarity with Unitarian Universalist young adults and students across the globe, who are protesting the ongoing assault in Gaza

Looking for Engagement with Iowa UUs–Volunteer Opportunities

We have spots on the board and on each of our task forces: Environmental Justice, LGBTQiA Justice and Racial Justice. Commitments vary–some as little as an hour or two every three months.

We are Unitarian Universalists!

We are Unitarian Universalists, people of many backgrounds who have different beliefs, but shared values. Together, we offer a guided path towards a better you and a better world. Get to know us in this short animated video.

Transforming Policing In the 21st Century

Harvey Harrison of the Des Moines UU congregation helped found an organization called Just Voices which has worked to address racially biased policing in Des Moines. This video will be available to view on Zoom for those registered for the 2023 GA. The workshop should be available online sometime after June 1. A meeting room…

Six Iowa UU Congregations Have Adopted the 8th Principle

Six of Iowa’s UU congregations have joined with more than 200 nationwide that have adopted an 8th Principle, committing to dismantling racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

A Possibility: Evolving from Principles to Values

At this year’s UUA General Assembly delegates from your congregation and others across the country will vote on whether or not to adopt revisions to UUA Bylaws that emphasize love and justice, anti-racism and anti-oppression language, and explicit statements of our Values rather than our Principles.