How can our UU church creatively influence policy and community?

We’re not legislators. But we are voters, storytellers, moral voices, and community builders—and that’s where our strength lies.

At Peoples Church, we’ve long understood that social justice isn’t just about laws—it’s about lives.

Through our Second Sunday Plate Collection this quarter, we are directly supporting Iowa Environmental Council’s work advocating for clean and healthy drinking water across the state.

And that’s not abstract, it’s personal. Because water flows through our bodies, our homes, and ecosystems.

But giving money isn’t the only way we participate. Our recent presence at Cedar Rapids’ Juneteenth and Pride celebrations show how we can creatively make a difference.

With our Ribbon Art installation, we invited the community to answer “What does freedom mean to you?” And as each tied a response to the frame, a collective testimony of hope and struggle emerged.

So what’s next?  For one, we don’t need to wait for an invitation to speak up. Each of us can—

• Write op-eds

• Submit public comments

• Testify at city council meetings

• Organize letter-writing campaigns

• Volunteer at a phone bank

• Partner with groups already advancing social justice causes and help amplify their stories

Already, Peoples Church is hard at work. Together, let’s sustain that momentum!

Your Social Justice Team