SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY

The Social Justice Ministry supports the Live Oak UU Congregation's mission to "actively live our values of diversity, compassion and justice to humanity and the earth." We live and promote our UU Principles to seek justice, equity and compassion in human relations, to respect the interdependent web of all existence, and to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that seeks to dismantle racism. See UUA-proposed 8th Principle.

Chase the Chill

Our Chase the Chill  Holiday Project warmed many Goleta residents as the weather turned chilly. Read this report to learn more.

Transition House Servers 2022

Live Oaks representation at the  Women's March in Santa Barbara, Jan 2023.

Homelessness Q&A with Frank Thompson (10-22-23)

Our own Frank Thompson discusses real, practical solutions to the unhoused in Goleta.

Social Justice Ministry 2023

Get out the vote postcard-writing & prison ministry holiday card campaigns, 2022.

What we do

Part of our Social Justice Ministry charge is to educate our congregation and our community about social concerns. This helps us initiate responses to needs and crises, and more compassionately assist individuals and groups facing social injustice and oppression. We coordinate bi-monthly collections to benefit local charities. We work collaboratively with other congregations, organizations and denominations to care for Mother Earth, to rectify injustices, implement change, and recognize and support human rights and the dignity of all people everywhere.

Currently members are active in climate and environmental issues (we installed solar panels on our building), voting rights (we sent thousands of postcards to voters of color in voter suppression states), supporting our homeless friends with meals for Transition House and assistance for “Showers of Blessing.” We participate in LGBTQ Pride activities (e.g., Proud Prom) and our CA-UU legislative ministry. We are involved in and informing ourselves on racial and immigration issues via programs such as “Beloved Conversations.” We support CalCare (Medicare for All), Public Banking, ending oil extraction along our coast, and ICE Out of Santa Barbara (to support our undocumented neighbors).

Unitarian Universalists affirm unconditional, universal love as a foundation and grounding for our actions in the world. We strive to be of service to our communities and advocate for change on local, state, national, and international levels.

Through our Side with Love campaign (formerly "Standing on the Side of Love") we amplify the voices of the oppressed through online media; we show up in partnership at justice events across the country; we lobby national leaders on immigration reform, racial justice, equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, religious freedom, and more; and above all we work to make love real in the world.

Community Outreach

Our Social Justice Ministry is an ally to local and national organizations that work for Social Justice. We are non-partisan. Here are some of our friends:

To join our work, contact:

social.justice@liveoakgoleta.org