Our Social Justice Committee guides our annual Social Justice Speaker Series and Special Collections. Since 2008, the committee has helped the congregation choose a justice focus for each church year. Once a month we donate the collection from our worship service to a group doing good work in that area. In addition, the Committee will bring 5-6 people from some of those groups to be the featured speakers at a worship service.
Our Social Justice Committee is a dedicated group that gathers monthly to guide and shape this aspect of Wy’east’s Social Justice Work. In addition to outreach to organizations for the Speaker Series and Special Collections, they guide the congregation in selecting a social justice focus for each church year and recommend Sustained Partnership opportunities.
This practice of Special Collections and the Speaker Series brings to life our UU Values of Generosity, Equity and Justice and is a meaningful way for our congregation to make an impact on our community.
We Are Stronger Together 2025-2026
Rose Haven Day Shelter
Hand Up Project (food bank at the Q-Center)
Adelante Mujeres
Cultivate Initiatives
Innovation Law Lab
Beloved Community 2024-2025
Portland Youth Builders
Underscore Native News
Y.O.U.TH (Youth Organized and United to Help)
Family Promise of Washington County
SAGE (Senior Advocates for Generational Equity)
Black Prisoners Caucus and the Teach Program
Pacific Refugee Support Group
Bridge Meadows
Rahab’s Sisters (3rd year of our Sustained Partnership)
With Love
IMIrJ — Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice
PAW — Portland Animal Welfare
Climate Emergency - 2023-2024
Trash for Peace
Citizens’ Utility Board
Blueprint Foundation
Save California Salmon
Climate Justice Alliance
ECO: Ecology in Classrooms and Outdoors
Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Friends of Trees
Rahab’s Sisters
Backyard Habitat Certification Program
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
Verde NW
Examining Economic Inequality - 2021-2022
Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence (summer)
Oregon Remembrance Project (summer)
College Possible
Q Center (final year of our Sustained Partnership with them)
Rahab’s Sisters
Oregon Center for Public Policy
Human Solutions
Portland Jobs with Justice
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (final year of our Sustained Partnership with them)
R.I.P. Medical Debt
Street Roots
Friends Stay Warm
Portland Street Response (summer)
Marked by Covid (summer)
Voting Rights: A Year of Democracy - 2019-2020
UU the Vote
Vote at Home Institute
Move to Amend
Oregon Food Bank (off theme due to need during the COVID-19 Pandemic)
Common Cause Oregon
Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (second year of sustained partnership)
Healthy Democracy
Q Center (first year of sustained partnership)
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute
Next Up
Portland League of Women Voters
Called On to Care for Others - 2018-2019
Thunder Valley CDC (Pine Ridge Reservation)
350PDX
Potluck in the Park
SMART reading program
Wisdom of the Elders
Ceasefire Oregon
Oregon Humane Society
NW Quilters / Comforting Quilts
Human Solutions / Food to Women’s Shelters
Mother and Child Education Center
Produce for People Program
Partnership for Safety and Justice
Immigrant Rights Project, Oregon Justice Resource Center
Themes in Previous Years
Housing Justice – Focus for 2016-2017
Children – Focus for 2015-16)
Environmental Justice – Focus for 2014-15<
Privilege – Focus for 2013-2014
Race – Focus for 2012-2013
LGBTQ (Ffocus for 2011-2012
Immigrants and Refugees – Focus for 2010-2011
Getting Health Care to People Without It — Focus for 2009-201
Getting Food to People Without It – Focus for 2008-2009
