Dear Friends of Justice,

The work to help heal the world is always plentiful but the next few weeks are particularly vital. Please pay particular attention to our multi-part action this week and to the calendar section where other important social justice dates are listed. As always, it is a blessing to do this work with you.

In faith and for justice,
Rob, Kat, Orelia, Rowan, Audra, Susan, and Meg

ACTION: Mass Mobilization for Immigration Reform

Here's one reality: the next 6 weeks are absolutely critical for pressuring Congress to take up comprehensive immigration reform.

Here's another reality: supporters of reform, including the UUA and our partners in the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, have pushed our advocacy and organizing in to high gear, and it's making a difference! Key Members of Congress are changing their minds and increasing their support for comprehensive immigration reform. Our job is to keep turning up the heat until we have new laws that respect immigrant workers, protect families, and ensure fairness and stability in the economy.

Will you and your congregation be part of the mass mobilization for immigration reform? We hope so! Here's three ways to join the momentum:

1. Use the tools in the Immigration Toolkit (see the resource section below) to educate and mobilize your congregation for advocacy.
2. Join the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign as we Rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on Sunday, March 21 (or through observances in your own congregation).
3. Ask your Members of Congress to support Rep. Luis Gutierrez's Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR-ASAP). Just click below!

SUCCESS: Office Presents at Training for DOJ Staffers

Earlier this week, Washington Office Director Rob Keithan spoke at a training for staff from the Department of Justice Community Relations Service, a "peacemaker" agency that helps address community conflicts. In recognition of the UUA's work to confront hate violence, including our long-time advocacy for the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, Keithan was asked to provide suggestions and resources for addressing religion-based hate crimes.

• March 1: Deadline for nominations/submissions for several UUA Social Justice Awards
• March 1: Deadline for congregational comments on the Ethical Eating CSAI
• March 6-10: End Mountaintop Removal Week. (The deadline for registration is Feb 24th!)
• March 19-22: Ecumenical Advocacy Days: A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples. This year's focus will be on Immigration. The UUA is a sponsor and urges all who can to participate. If you are planning to come, please contact Kat Liu at kliu@uua.org.
• March 21: March for America: Change Takes Courage and Faith. An interfaith event to Support Immigrant Families on the National Mall in DC, March 21st at 2pm. Standing on the Side of Love is supporting this event and encourages all who can to come.
• March 22: Sex Education Advocacy Call-In Day. Coinciding with our annual Sex Education Advocacy Training (SEAT), support comprehensive sex education.

Created to help Unitarian Universalists and UU congregations advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, inside the Immigration Toolkit you should find what you need to tell your legislators to move on Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP (H.R. 4321). Your involvement can be as simple as filling out our online action or as involved as organizing a congregation-based campaign to lobby your Members of Congress for immigration reform. You decide based on your time and energy. We truly hope you will find these materials useful, and we value your feedback.

Make sure that you make your GA travel plans to arrive in time for this social justice gathering. Meet UUA Advocacy & Witness staff and other UUs engaged in social justice ministries. We will provide training, share best practices, and allow time for networking on specific justice issues. Please RSVP to Audra Friend at afriend@uua.org to receive more information.