At USNF, social justice infuses virtually all that we do and take many shapes and forms - education, advocacy, public witness, fundraising, and direct service. We have a number of groups and teams that organize and sponsor activities and events and help to keep members informed about issues and social justice efforts in the greater community. Ad hoc groups often spring up around specific interests and humanitarian crises. The Hawkins/Majumder Lecture series is a program begun in 2016 that features speakers on important social justice efforts and issues. We show up at demonstrations and rallies, we circulate and sign petitions, and we try to include a "social justice minute" in every worship service. We participate in efforts supporting local immmigrants and refugees, we cook for and serve at local shelters, take regular collections for the food pantry, staff volunteer crews to clean the local bike trail, and make bag lunches for the homeless.
Racial Justice
We work to support and strengthen the congregation’s commitment to racial justice. This year, we are considering what changes we need to make as an institution to adopt the proposed 8th principle of the UUA, “we affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community”.
We encourage ourselves and the congregation to face and challenge personal and institutional behaviors that perpetuate white supremacy, unconscious bias and systemic oppression. We offer various opportunities to learn about racism and dismantling white supremacy in ourselves and our institutions.This group has encouraged everyone to read the UUA's Widening the Circle, which looks at long term and institutional change in our congregations and Unitarian Universalism in general.
We maintain a google group to share racial justice events and actions in the wider community. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
USNF the Vote
USNF the Vote works to protect and strengthen democracy. Learn more about our current projects here. In 2020, over 150 congregants wrote postcards & letters and made phone calls – well over 25,000 – to protect and turn out the vote. In 2021, we’re supporting local groups who do grassroots organizing year round, and working on state and national-level actions that have compelling strategies to protect and strengthen democracy.
Work has already begun to prepare for the 2022 election. Voter suppression and other efforts to weaken democracy will no doubt continue, and we will take actions to overcome them, and take positive steps to make a more perfect union. USNF the Vote uses two google groups, one to share action announcements, the other to participate in on-line discussions. If you want to join one of these groups, or learn more about USNF the Vote, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask to be connected to Dave Roitman.
Climate Action Group (CAG)
The Climate Action Group meets twice a month to decide what we will do as a group to reduce climate destroying activity. We often join with other congregations and local groups. Actions take many forms, including educating ourselves and our congregation, organizing and carrying out worship services and action campaigns for the congregation, speaking up, advocating for community and/or legislative changes, bearing witness to and illuminating destructive actions, and highlighting existing and envisioned positive paths forward for our community and/or the world. One of our current efforts is to decrease the carbon footprint of the USNF building and the members of the congregation. All are welcome to join this group. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more.
Sanctuary
In April 2018, Irida Kakhtiranova – a western Massachusetts wife to a U.S. citizen and mother of three U.S. citizen children – entered into sanctuary at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence. Irida came to the United States from her native Russia in 2003 and had been employed since that time as a restaurant worker. She requested sanctuary with us while she fought her deportation case. In March 2021 Irida received a favorable ruling that allows her to continue pursuing her quest for permanent residency outside the Society’s walls.
- Learn more about Immigration Justice at USNF
- USNF Sanctuary Media Coverage
- Support Irida through her GoFundMe Page
Haiti Support Group
The Haiti Support Group was formed in 2010 to support the volunteer medical work of USNF members Doctors Matt Kane and Ann Markes in the Cap Haitien region of northern Haiti. While continuing to fund medical work, in recent years, we have also helped fund educational efforts for impoverished and orphaned children in the region.
Over the years, the congregation has supported our work generously. We conduct a service every two or three years to inform and update members and friends about the work we are doing in Haiti with their support. At each of these services, they have donated thousands of dollars. One year, our youth initiated a bottle drive that led to the purchase of a herd of goats for the northern town of Bode me Limbe. The goats have since multiplied and provided families in several surrounding towns with much needed milk.
Another way we raise funds for our work is through a very successful annual book sale. The USNF Haiti Support Group is open to all members and friends interested in supporting the work of fellow Society members as they deliver health care and community support through several programs.
