September is VOICE Month at UUCA

This month of September is the time to reflect on our VOICE accomplishments and to rededicate ourselves to support VOICE financially, the center piece of our UUCA social justice ministry.

During this month, non-designated funds collected from Sunday service plate offerings will be shared equally between church general funds and VOICE. To designate your gift exclusively to VOICE, please write "VOICE" in the memo line of your check. If giving cash, please use a VOICE special gift envelope available at the VOICE table in the Fellowship Hall.

Dental care

• 300-leader action in Richmond with 18 Virginia Senate and House leaders that helped preserve $9 million for the Virginia dental care safety net in the FY 2011 budget
• Secured $100,000 in renewal funding in FY 2011 budgets from Arlington and Fairfax counties as well as Alexandria City to continue the provision of dental services to 2,000 low-income adults through the Northern Virginia Dental Clinic.
• Organized 150 person public action at Prince William County FY 2011 budget hearing that led to restoring the proposed 15% cuts to nonprofit health and human services providers and the allocation of $20,000 in new funding for the Prince William Free Health Clinic.

Immigration

• Secured commitment from Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Esther Olavarria to address 200 backlogged immigration applications from VOICE members at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church. Ms. Olavarria promised a full accounting on 200 backlog cases and a follow-up meeting in August 2010.

Affordable Housing

• Identified all foreclosures over recent years in Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park which had the highest foreclosure rate in VA. Working with The Reinvestment Fund from Philadelphia, VOICE linked these foreclosures back to the originating lenders and analyzed the data to identify lenders whose loans failed at the highest rates.
• Held 125+ person action to challenge Alexandria Housing and Redevelopment Board of Commissioners and Alexandria City Council to meet VOICE and tenant demands on relocation and redevelopment issues. Testimony at Virginia Housing and Development Authority Board Meeting lead to investigation of ARHA relocation policies and actions.

UUCA

• Built a relational community of 350 UUCA VOICE activists, members and friends who consistently stand in solidarity with fellow VOICE congregants from diverse religious, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic communities.

• Developed public recognition of the "UUCA" brand, that of a faith congregation known for multi-cultural, anti-racism, anti-oppression activism across Northern Virginia.