Social Action Team
The Social Action Team (SAT) meets monthly to communicate with and support social, economic, and environmental justice groups and to provide information regarding social-justice issues within the congregation, at local and regional levels, and worldwide. We follow the mantra of "Think globally, act locally". The team works with local and regional social-service organizations and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee https://www.uusc.org/, the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice https://uusj.net/wp1/ and New York Unitarian Universalist Justice https://www.nyuuj.org/, the state advocacy network, among other groups.
The Social Action Team also compiles the annual list of recipients for Share Our Plate https://uuso.org/share-our-plate/, by which the congregation’s weekly offering, except for donations marked as annual pledge fulfillment, is shared monthly with designated local social-service or social-action nonprofit organizations.
The Social Action Team meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. The meetings take place over Zoom at 6:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. The Zoom link is published in the weekly email newsletter
A curated literature table featuring information about upcoming events related to social justice issues is maintained in the back of the sanctuary and can be viewed before and after the Sunday service. Requests to add literature to the table made be made by contacting SAT.
Please contact the Social Action Team at socialaction@uuso.org
The Mali Education Project
Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision: We reach for a better world.
Mission: To support Youchaou’s School in Mali to support education for children and to promote intercultural growth for ourselves and our communities.
Values: We value respect, collaboration, empowerment, and transformative personal growth
Purpose: The purpose of the Mali Education Project is to make a difference in the lives of the residents of the Kalabankoro neighborhood in Bamako, Mali, West Africa. The group manages the sponsorship of fifty-six elementary (grades 1-9) children to attend Ecole Priveé Youchaou (Youchaou’s Private School). These are children who would otherwise not be able to attend school. We hope that with this education the students will be able to make positive differences in their families, in their community, and in Mali – one of the poorest countries in the world.
Youchaou’s School Mission
- Provide educational opportunities for children from poor and disadvantaged families.
- Create a quality learning environment.
- Promote and encourage the education of girls.
- Strengthen the skills of teachers with regular training sessions.
- Cultivate student excellence and responsibility.
- Value merit.
Fund Raising: In addition to our yearly sponsorship drive, at least two major fundraisers are held annually. All proceeds go directly to benefit Youchaou’s School:
- Muffins for Mali is held on successive Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We offer muffins as well as Malian jewelry and African fabric craft items made by group members.
- Spring Fundraiser This event is designed to be interesting with the intent of furthering understanding of an African culture. It could feature a speaker, film, musician, or a dinner.
Youchaou’s School is a private, non-profit, secular school that Youchaou first began for his neighborhood children in 2000. Our group began by sponsoring 26 students in 2006. The school has now grown into a campus that enrolls 285 elementary students (we sponsor 56), as well as having a kindergarten, vocational school, and a high school. It consistently ranks among the top performing schools of the region and has won many awards. In addition to usual education subjects, the students learn French, English, and Computer Skills. They are exposed to the best current teaching techniques.
Building Community: Members of our group have visited the school (at our own expense) over the years and have always found a quality learning environment in the midst of homelessness and poverty. We have, however, been unable to travel to Mali since the 2012 coup. We remain in regular correspondence with Youchaou and others at the school. Youchaou has been able to visit Oneonta (at his own expense) both before and after the coup. Even so, Youchaou’s School and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta NY continue to actively build relationships between our two communities, across cultures and across the world.
For more information, to make a tax-deductible donation, to attend a meeting, or to explore sponsorship please contact Susan Ryder, Chair, or Shirley Ferguson, Sponsorship Coordinator, at mali@uuso.org
Saturday’s Bread
Saturday’s Bread is a hot meal program based in Oneonta, NY. Every Saturday a free meal is served from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM to anyone in the community who comes to the First United Methodist Church at 66 Chestnut Street. In addition, local grocery stores and bakeries donate food that can be taken home by the guests at Saturday’s Bread.
Members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Society volunteer to help prepare and serve the meal on the first Saturday each month. Volunteers are requested to come at 8:30 AM and cleanup is finished by 1:30 PM. Lunch, coffee, cookies, and good karma are provided. Volunteers must be at least 13.
The UUSO coordinator for Saturday’s Bread is Deb Bruce and questions can be sent to connections@uuso.org. Volunteers can sign up during Coffee Hour on Sundays during the two weeks before the UUSO’s first Saturday monthly date with Saturday’s Bread. We hope to put together groups of 6-8 volunteers for our Saturdays.