Our work for a better world calls us to unexpected places as we harness love’s power to stop oppression. From grassroots community organizing to interfaith local, state and national advocacy; in protest marches, prayer vigils, and press conferences; we strive to put our faith into action, bearing witness to injustices that surround us. You will likely see a group of us marching in Raleigh, the local MLK Day, or Pride parade. You may also see us at School Board meetings and County Commissioner’s meetings.

Our social justice ministries in and around Hillsborough use the concept of “Community Partnerships” to guide our work. The most efficient and effective way of making a difference is through coalitions with other faith communities and organizations that are breaking down divisions, healing isolation, and honoring the interconnectedness of life. We also recognize that justice work necessarily includes a balance of service, education, witnessing, advocacy, and community organizing. With both the UUA’s priorities and the needs of Orange County in mind, we have developed strong relationships with the following Community Partners:

Orange Congregations in Mission is a private, non-profit ministry located in Hillsborough. OCIM is the primary vehicle for feeding the hungry in Northern Orange County, and offers vouchers for people needing help with utilities or other emergency support. The Meals on Wheels program delivers a nutritious meal to frail, elderly and homebound residents of northern Orange County. The Samaritan Relief food bank has seen an increase in people needing help with the basics of life, such as food, shelter, water, electricity and clothing. Revenue from the OCIM Thrift Shop supports these programs. 

UUCH has been a member of OCIM for over two decades. An important benefit of being a member congregation is that any of our members can access OCIM’s help without being vetted by social services. Our membership dues are 0.5% of our operating budget.

Orange County Justice United is a broad based community power organization that develops civil sector leaders with the capacity to organize and win. OCJU is dedicated to developing institutional leaders to organize their communities and take effective public action on the social justice issues that affect the lives of those who live, work, and worship in Orange County. Recently, Justice United leaders secured commitments from County Commissioners and Alliance Health to move forward together on affordable housing priorities for home repairs and reentry and permanent supportive housing.

UUCH has been a member of Justice United for almost 10 years. Our membership dues are 1% of our operating budget, which give us access to a full time community organizer, access to other congregational growth specialists, and leadership training workshops.

New Hope Elementary School is the closest neighborhood school to our building. New Hope is a Title One School, meaning more than 50% of its students receive free or reduced lunch, and many of the students are English Language Learners.

We believe that as a small congregation, we could have a significant impact by focusing community outreach on our public school system. UUCH started supporting New Hope Elementary School in 2019 through the Backpack Buddies program. We added NHE as a community partner in 2020 and our current monetary support through Share The Plate is used by the school social worker to support students in need.

UU Justice Ministry of NC was created in 2017 and UUCH became a community partner in 2021. Their mission is to joyfully organize Unitarian Universalists to co-create a transformative movement for justice through spiritual grounding, collaboration, and imagination. UU Justice NC continues to engage NC UUs in a range of legislative efforts, direct actions and opportunities to grow as skillful, spiritually grounded organizers for justice. North Carolina UUs and friends gather on Fridays to take action and experience the joy and power of community. Friday Action Hour takes place every Friday at 11:00am on Zoom. Our membership dues are 0.5% of our operating budget. 

The NAACP has been at the forefront of the civil rights movement for over a century, fighting tirelessly to dismantle racism, promote inclusivity, and foster positive change in our society. The Northern Orange Branch is committed to carrying on this legacy and making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities within our reach. 

UUCH consented to becoming a life-time member of the Northern Orange NAACP a decade ago. We have now paid for that membership, and there are no more dues associated with this community partnership. The relationships we form through our partnership with the NAACP help us understand the historical and current challenges of people of color in our community.