The First Unitarian covenant calls for social justice to be “…a positive force for social, environmental, and economic action.” This is the cornerstone of who we are as Unitarian Universalists and people of faith. The mission of the Social Justice Council is to foster and support programs and activities that provide such opportunities.
The Social Justice Council
The Council is an umbrella organization formed to nurture the activities of groups taking action in the community and to promote systemic change. The Council is devoted to enabling and funding social justice efforts within the church and the larger community. First Unitarian has 13 groups that provide food, tutor neighborhood children, improve the environment, pursue racial justice, conduct citizenship classes, offer ESL classes, seek economic justice, and more. Click here for a complete list of the church and community justice groups we support.
Core justice programs include: After School Program, Adult Language, Literacy and Citizenship Program, Earth Web, Family Promise, and Food Pantry.
Council Information
The Council meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 in Memorial Hall. Jessica Tafoya is the current SJC chair.
Change for the Future
Our “Change for the Future” program has been part of our religious practice for many years. Each year, nominations of organizations serving the Albuquerque and New Mexico communities are sought and the Council reviews the applications. The selected organizations are presented to the congregation for a vote at the January Annual Meeting. Four organizations are chosen to receive three months of our time, attention, and financial contributions beginning in March. The Change for the Future Committee provides support to each of the groups elected, helping them educate church members about their missions. Recipients receiving this funding may not apply in consecutive years.
Click here for more information about our 2026 Change for the Future Awards.
