UUA News – October 2022

Dear Friends,

In this midterm election year, state and local races will have a critical impact on our communities. Georgia’s elections are among the most impactful and closely watched of 2022, with races for governor, secretary of state, and U.S. Senate all drawing national attention. Sadly, it’s also the first election to occur under the influence of the state’s new voter suppression measures passed into law last year.

Recognizing the state’s crucial role, UU the Vote made Georgia a top organizing priority this year. In September, I joined UUA Field and Programs Director Nicole Pressley for a series of events to support voter engagement and pro-democracy work in several cities across the state. We are deeply grateful to all the UUs and organizing partners who teamed up with us for many successful events in Augusta, Lawrenceville, and Athens.

UU the Vote: Faith Is An Action Word
Check out our video with highlights of these events and details on what’s in store for UU the Vote in the lead up to the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8.
Watch the Video
Georgia is just one of four states where in-person events supplement an abundance of remote organizing, training, and actions to reach potential voters this fall. Before arriving in Georgia, I had the honor of joining the Michigan UU Social Justice Network in several communities to bolster voter registration with workshops advancing social media and ballot issue organizing skills. UU the Vote will continue to hold in-person events in other states—stay in touch with us to see where we’re going next.

I am proud to be in this work with Unitarian Universalists because I share the belief that faith is an action word. I know that UU the Vote is a critical opportunity to put our faith—especially the 5th UU Principle—into action. If you believe in democracy, and you believe it to be sacred, now is the time to join us. And as my colleague Nicole Pressley reminds us, the work to advance justice and democracy can happen anytime and anywhere, as long as you remember to talk to as many people as possible.

More Ways To Get Involved

Help Us Reach 4 Million Voters – Together with UU State Action Networks and frontline partners, we’re hosting events across the country to engage and mobilize voters in key states. Join us to knock on doors, rally, call voters, and whatever else is needed to reach 4 million voters before election day.

Write A Strong Letter To The Editor – Letters to the editor are one key tool to help inform, influence and inspire others in your community. For most of us, it takes some effort and practice to develop an effective letter to the editor. Check out our guide to help you get comfortable with writing persuasively and getting published.

Become A Good Trouble Congregation – Join congregations across the country that have hosted postcard and letter-writing events, phone and text banks, and live rallies to protect voting rights and democracy. In honor of U.S. Representative John Lewis and those who came before, we are making good trouble together.

Learn more at UUtheVote.org.

In solidarity,

JaZahn

JaZahn Hicks, UU the Vote Campaign Manager began organizing just after high school in a school board election in his local community in Southern New Jersey. JaZahn now lives in Philadelphia and continues to organize for justice by connecting UU the Vote with grassroots partners and helping UUs build power in local communities.
Image of Rev. Lauren Smith