Michigan UU Social Justice Network

(MUUSJN)

2011 – 2012 Highlights

Standing on the Side of Love for MI!

During the past year, MUUSJN supporters have put our hearts, hands, and donations to work standing up for justice, equality, and compassion at a time when our families and neighbors need it most.

LGBT Equality

In January, members of the First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, others UUsand MUUSJN staff braved the cold foraGay Families Matter Rally on the Capitol steps. Together with partners such as Inclusive Justice, we organized UUs from all over the state to call for a strong anti-bullying bill for our schoolchildren and to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to protect against discrimination based on gender or sexual identity.We are proud to publish anInterfaith LGBTQ Toolkit, a resource guide available for free on our website,

Immigration Reform

We held two statewideworkshops, one for youth and one for adults in the Heartland District, to help activists get educated and network for immigration reform (above left). The UU Church of Greater Lansing is among our congregations that have rallied with friends and neighbors from various faiths throughout the year in support of reform (above center and right). Rev. Kathryn Bert of UUCGL spoke at the Rally for Immigrant Family Unity at the Capitol in May. We encouraged over 70 UUs to write letters in support of a Family Unity Waiver.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

We joined the Michigan Campaign for Justice to successfully lobby Governor Snyder to reform Michigan’s broken public defense system. We also fought for release and/or compensation for some of the victims of this broken system, wrongfully convicted prisoners such asTemujin Kensu (pictured at left, in white, at his 2000 wedding in a Saginaw prison). Members of the Community UUs in Brighton (CUUB) have extended thePrison Book Ministry,which was started by UUs in Ann Arbor. CUUB teamed up with New Hope UU Congregation in May (right) to deliver 49 children’s books to the visiting room and 367 books to the inmates of the Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia. Our network also urged UUs to oppose SB 59, which would allow concealed weapons to be brought into places of worship, day care centers, schools, and other “safe zones.”

Health Care for All

Our director, Randy Block, and other UUs gave testimony on the need for consumer oriented health exchanges. We organized three communityforums on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, especially the good it does for women and seniors. MUUSJNmobilized UUs to contact their State legislators, testify and demonstrate against legislation that would undermine Michigan womens’ health and reproductive rights. (photo at left by Progress Michigan)

Economic Justice

OurStanding Up for Families & Kids Conference at First UU Church of Detroit was organized in response to devastating cuts to services for poor families and children. We have prepared an amicus brief in a lawsuit against the State of Michigan on behalf of 11,000 families who were unfairly cut off public assistance. We helped stop a federal policy that would allowprivatization of workers who determine Medicaid eligibility.We successfully advocated to restore full funding fora program to assist older persons to leave nursing homes to live in the community and we mobilized UUs to advocate with federal legislators to preserve Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Organizational Accomplishments:

  • Obtained a non-profit incorporation status from the State of Michigan in 2011
  • Developed and adopted a set of bylaws in March 2012
  • Begun planningin 2012 to apply for our non-profit status with the IRS
  • Secured grants to help continue our work on immigration reform, LGBT equality, health care for all, and fundraising for our network and our member congregations

Contact Us:

You can find more information at Like us at or contact our director, Randy Block, at (248) 549-5170 or .

Contact Randy to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter and general action alerts. Our list has grown to over 1,300 people. You can also join an email list for each of our areas of focus. MUUSJN members share local justice activities, network, take stands, and plan coordinated actions on Task Force conference calls.

We rely upon the generosity of individuals, families, and congregations to sustain our advocacy work. July 1 is the beginning of the new 2012 - 2013 MUUSJN membership year. All contributions to MUUSJN are tax-deductible.

Support Our Justice Work:

Membership Dues Giving Levels:

Individual - $25

Family - $40

Silver - $50

Gold - $100

Champion - $250+

Congregations can become a member by contributing (or splitting) the proceeds of one plate collection or contributing $100.

Payments can be made via PayPal at by check mailed to Randy Block, 4220 Arlington Dr., Royal Oak, MI 48073. Please writechecks to “Heartland District – UUA” with“MUUSJN” inthe memo line.