Social Justice Priorities Set for Greater New Orleans UU Churches

Abandoned houses, providing community space, child care, food, and mental health were recently identified as the greatest neighborhood needs of the three New Orleans area Unitarian Universalist churches.

The Greater New Orleans Unitarian Universalists (GNOUU), a group that consists of leaders from each of the three UU churches in the metro area, has submitted a proposal to the UU Funding Panel for a planning grant for a proposed UU Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal. The proposed center would be a virtual place in which First UU Church, Community Church, and North Shore UU Church would engage in programming in partnership with each other and community groups. To start that process, ministers, officers, trustees, and members of the three churches met on Saturday September 22 at First Church with the assistance of Joe Sullivan, President of the Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference, to:

1. Agree on top priority needs for joint programming of the churches
2. Identify existing or potential community partners to provide those services with

In breakout sessions, each church identified the needs of their neighborhood and possible community partners. Combining the lists resulted in 20 possible projects. After considering which ones the three churches could start on and produce early results, five were voted top priority:

- Gutting/abandoned houses (still a priority in each area 2 years after Katrina)
- Providing space for community organizations
- Affordable, accessible childcare and programs for youth, such as mentoring
- Accessible, affordable food
- Mental health services

Also highly ranked were services for seniors. The group identified existing and potential community partners with whom the churches could work to fill these community needs. GNOUU will highlight these program priorities in its case statement for support, which will go out to potential donors to its upcoming Rebuilding and Revitalization Campaign, a national fundraising effort to be launched in early 2008.

In an afternoon session, Joe Sullivan from Houston described the new governance structure of the UU Southwestern Conference, which is designed to improve communication with member churches. He asked for input on priorities, focused upon what the 76 UU churches of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas can do together that they can't do alone. Discussion centered around support for member churches in times of need, sharing knowledge and contacts, and respect for the unique situation of New Orleans area churches post-Katrina. As Rev. Jim VanderWeele of Community Church said at the end of the day, "Tell them we still need help."