Social and Environmental Justice (S&EJ) is a spiritual practice and a unifying force at First Parish UU in Milton. The Social and Environmental Justice Committee proposes and facilitates opportunities for service, education and public advocacy to empower members of First Parish to actively engage in our mission:

We welcome all to build a just and healthy world with faith, love and compassion. 

Social Justice Themes for 2022

– Climate Action and Environmental Justice – In May 2021, the congregation voted to reach net zero carbon emissions at the church by 2035.  An ad hoc Climate Action Team was appointed to develop a draft plan to help us meet this ambitious goal.  The report was presented to the congregation at the May 2022 Annual meeting. 

– Economic Justice – Economic Inequality has wide ranging impacts in the world today from environmental deterioration to homelessness; from mass incarceration to low wage earner exploitation. We work for justice, equity and for systemic change in our world.

– Racial Justice – The suffering causes by racism must be ended if we want to create fair, healthy and loving communities. We work to end racial discrimination and injustice- starting within ourselves and moving out in our communities and beyond. Justice for all the people begins at home.

– Immigration Justice – We advocate for immigration reform, for an end to detentions and deportations, and for a world where no one feels forced to leave their home or must risk death in pursuit of a decent life for their whole family.

Social and Environmental Justice in Action!

Justice in action takes many forms. Members of First Parish in Milton engage in social and environmental work in our work, in our homes, and in our daily activities. As a community, we join together to expand our impact through a variety of activities. S&EJ defines and promotes opportunities for service projects and collaborations with area non-profit, non-partisan civic organizations such as:

Courageous Conversations toward Racial Justice:  A monthly series of dialogue centered initiatives on racism and privilege in Milton and Mattapan designed to address racial healing, equity and justice.

Fair Foods is a non-profit organization that rescues nutritious wholesale fruits and vegetables about to be discarded for distribution to members of the community. We work at their new warehouse, filling bags of fresh produce for distribution at various sites in the Boston area. Join us for our monthly volunteer day with Fair Foods.  For info, contact Tony Dutzik at tdutzik@gmail.com

Share the Plate: each month on the first and third Sundays, First Parish donates the proceeds of its collection plate to a non-profit which is addressing one of the identified themes of the Social and Environmental Justice Committee.

MainSpring/Father Bill’s– First Parish members provide support by assembling and providing lunches to Stoughton and Brockton shelters twice a mopnth. For more info, contact Peter Schneider at peterlschneider@gmail.com.  We hope to resume cooking and serving dinner at one of the shelters in the near future. 

Mother’s Day Walk for Peace– each Mother’s day, First Parish Members join other churches and community groups to walk in an effort to create more peaceful communities. Organized by the L.D Brown Peace Institute, we join with families and individuals who have been impacted by murder to bring awareness to this issue and demand dignity and compassion for families impacted by this violence.

UU Urban Ministry is a social justice organization based in Roxbury. First Parish members work with volunteers from Boston-area congregations as well as local colleges and universities on a variety of programs. UUUM seeks to build bridges of understanding and mutuality so that people from different social and economic backgrounds can work together to effect change.

For more information on the Social and Environmental Justice Committee, please contact the 2022-23  chairs Pat Gallivan at socialjustice@fpmilton.org or call the office at 617-698-6329.