The UUnite for Justice team organizes the congregation’s major social justice efforts into the following social action groups.
Racial Justice
UUCF launched its commitment to exploration, learning, and transformation around racial justice in 2016. The congregation continues this commitment through UUnite for Justice, the main organizing body for UUCF’s social justice programming and actions.
Food Justice Team
Since May 2020, just after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, UUCF’s Food Justice team has organized a monthly Food Drive to benefit several area food programs serving the most marginalized communities in Northern Virginia. Partners include Food Justice DMV, Bailey’s Mutual Aid, Fairfax Circle Church and Centreville United Methodist Church. Read more here.
Climate Justice
UUCF’s Climate Justice initiatives include Act for Climate Today! (ACT!), the Paris Pledge Initiative, and Conscious Consumption.
- ACT! plans and implements climate-related projects with a direct impact on UUCF, its members, and the interconnected web of life. ACT! is actively involved in Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, an interdenominational climate action group started by ACT! members along with members of other congregations.
- The Paris Pledge Initiative is a framework of ACT! projects with the goal of reducing UUCF’s carbon dioxide emissions.
- Conscious Consumption
Reproductive Justice
UUCF affirms its commitment to building a world in which all people are able to make choices about their bodies, their health, and their families within safe, thriving communities. In partnership with Repro Rising Virginia, organizes educational opportunities, events, and actions to ensure full access to healthcare for all women. The Events page will have updated activities. Contact Lisa Carroll.
LGBTQIA+ equality
For decades, UUCF has been dedicated to ensuring LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/ally and others) rights and is a Welcoming Congregation focused on education, consciousness raising and fellowship within the UUCF community and beyond. Read more here.
Hypothermia Shelter
UUCF participates in this annual FACETS interfaith winter project, providing shelter for about 40 homeless adults homeless in Fairfax County. Many volunteers are needed. Read more here.
Immigration Justice
UUCF is committed to taking action for immigration justice through engagement with organizations led by immigrants impacted by immoral, inhumane immigration policies on the local, state, and national levels. Partners in this work include the Congregation Action Network, which UUCF joined in April 2017, Centreville Immigration Forum, Food Justice DMV, and others. Read more here.
Ending Gun Violence
UUCF is committed to ending gun violence and to urging our legislators to approve sensible gun violence prevention legislation. To that end, UUCF members passed a Congregational Resolution on Preventing Gun Violence in 2013.
In additional to other local, state and national actions on gun violence prevention, UUCFers participate in gun violence prevention vigils at the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax on the 14th of each month at 10 a.m. (2 p.m. if the 14th falls on a Sunday). These vigils commemorate the lives lost to gun violence at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and thousands of others since. Read more here.
Other Justice Projects
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): In partnership with Southgate Community Center in Reston, UUCF volunteers teach ESOL classes for disadvantaged immigrant residents. Check the Events page for upcoming events.
- Hot Meals: In partnership with FACETS, UUCF volunteers prepare and assemble breakfasts for homeless people in Fairfax County six times a year.
- Check the calendar for upcoming events.