UIA’s Holiday 2020 GIVING LETTER                           

December 2020

Greetings,  

As we look toward a season of giving and reflect on a most unexpected year, we write to share the growth and powerful work of United Interfaith Action (UIA) and ask for your gift toward our continued efforts. Since 1996, UIA has promoted social, economic, and racial justice in Southeastern Massachusetts. We recruit and train lay leaders and clergy to act on issues of greatest concern, founding social action on teachings of our faith traditions.

In its 20-year history, UIA has worked to start outreach programs for at-risk-youth, increase funding for adult basic education, get job training funds, support immigrant rights and worker rights, and pass an Innovation School policy. UIA also helped WIN Raise Up MA campaigns, collecting over 20,000 signatures for ballot initiatives to raise the minimum wage and provide earned sick time and paid, family medical leave to workers across Massachusetts.

Here is a summary of UIA’s work in the past year locally in Fall River and New Bedford, and statewide:

  • Advanced organizational issue areas: education, immigration, housing, public safety & police reform

  • Helped win the statewide Student Opportunity Act, $1.5 Billion education funding and won commitments from local school districts to help set spending priorities and focal areas in their 3-year implementation plans

  • Trained 50 community leaders with the launch of the School of Prophetic Action leadership training series

  • Focused on statewide organizing, during the pandemic, meeting with legislators and working in coalitions:

    • Helping to win a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures

    • Continuing to fight for expanded, paid leave for workers and stimulus support for ITIN holders, and the passage of the Work and Family Mobility Act

    • Preventing deep budget cuts in needed services by proposing fair share taxes on profitable corporations

  • Organized on local issues that emerged during the pandemic, meeting with City housing officials, School Superintendents, Mayors, and Police Chiefs in Fall River and New Bedford:

    • Advocating for increased use of Cares Act funds for rental assistance & housing programs in our Cities

    • Meeting with district Superintendents for community input on equity in distance learning

    • Organizing for racial equity and policing reform, partnering with the NAACP New Bedford Branch for a series of community meetings with 250 people and Mayors & Police Chiefs of Fall River and New Bedford

  • Developed a COVID Community Response Fund and raised $90,000 to directly support over 150 families in our community with help to pay for housing, utilities, and food expenses during a time of economic uncertainty.

  • Helped form the SouthCoast Faith Leaders, in partnership with the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford, a collective of 45 congregations and community organizations addressing racial injustice and dominant systems, producing a public statement, interfaith prayer vigil, legislative action, and congregation-based learning groups.

  • Partnered with MA Voter Table and the South Coast Civic Engagement Hub to Get Out the Vote in Bristol County

This past year, our country has met at the crossroads of pandemic and protest, and UIA remains strong in its commitment to faith-filled action for justice. There are many ways your contribution can help us to continue building stronger communities of faith and action together and be the change we seek. Please consider a gift!

Gratefully, from the leaders and staff of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern MA

Online:  at this link

Mail: 228 N Main Street, Fall River, MA  02720

Payments made via check should be made payable to United Interfaith Action with a notation for “COVID