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social action committee activities |
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Theodore Parker Church's Social Action Committee
has initiated a new method to address concerns of interest to
congregation members. The 2007-2008 Church year is the first year
of using a Task Force model, where the Congregation votes and
approves on Task Forces at the annual meeting.
During the 2007-2008 church year, social action at TPC is focusing
on four issues, following the congregation's approval of four
new task forces at the annual meeting in June 2007.
- The Boston Peace and Safety Initiative Task Force
will continue TPC's support for Renewal House with the Tickets
to Safety Campaign, but will broaden its social justice efforts
by also collaborating with the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
and Healthy Roslindale. Contact: Jennifer Johnston, Jennifer.Johnston(at)childrens.harvard.edu
- The Community-Supported Agriculture Task Force
will promote connections between food growers and producers
at the local level, and provide information and activities
about sustainable agriculture and food distribution. The task
force has compiled a
list of CSA farms in greater Boston. For many years, the
church has supported the Food Project, which grows and sells
organic vegetables at urban and suburban plots and distributes
the produce through food pantries and local farmers' markets.Contact:
Laura Dowd, dowd(at)gis.net
- The Green Sanctuary Task Force will provide
information about sustainable living and promote measures
to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, both at the church
and at home or work. Contact: Steve Greene, sggreene(at)gmail.com
- Hands Across the Water, in partnership
with Temple Hillel b'Nai Torah, will collect books for distribution
to schools and libraries in developing countries, and explore
other opportunities for collaboration with the synagogue.
Contact: Susan Caron, suzecaron(at)rcn.com
The Social Action Committee is examining its role in relation
to the newly formed Task Forces and welcomes the particpation
of members and friends alike in their interest in exploring
ways to support a social action program. The Committee supports
and helps congregation members/friends in developing or finding
a Task Force that aligns with their interests, as well as being
a resource to learn about social action initatives/groups outside
of this Congregation. In addition, the Committee and Congregation
members are pursuing ways to be involved with other social action
groups for information, collaboration, consultation, support
for the Task Forces and resources: UUSC, GBIO, Urban Ministry,
etc...
For more information about the Social Action Committee and/or
about a Task Force in particular or in general, please contact
Lara Sullivan, larasull(at)aol.com, or Jennifer Johnston, Jennifer.Johnston(at)childrens.harvard.edu.
INTERESTED IN RECEIVING PROGRESSIVE ACTION ALERTS? Would you
like to be on an email list to receive information about events,
rallies, marches, and forums addressing anti-war efforts, climate
change, immigrant rights and other issues.? In order to honor
the diversity of social and political viewpoints within our
congregation, we have kept a general guideline of not using
the weekly TPC Enews to announce such events. It now seems to
make sense to start a separate list for those who would like
to receive this information. Please reply to tpcuu@verizon.net
if you would like to be on the PAL list (progressive action
list).
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