All Souls NYC | Outreach and Advocacy

Outreach and Advocacy

All Souls is involved in over 25 social programs. Some of these programs are organized by the church. With others, we supply volunteers and financing. All Souls finances many of its Outreach Programs through a yearly gala event: The Heart & Soul Auction.

Outreach and Advocacy Groups
and Programs at All Souls

The following advocacy and outreachs groups have detailed information about their activities on this website. Click on a link to them for information. You can also request more information from All Souls.

P.S. Partners is a volunteer program based at CPE1 (Central Park East 1), a K-6 public school in East Harlem. Volunteers provide assistance to the school in programs deemed most urgent by Principal Julie Zuckerman. Currently, volunteers are working to create a functional library system with a weekly reading group and plan to assist teachers in the classrooms beginning fall 2006.

Anti-Gun Violence Initiative, committed to the reduction of gun violence in the United States, participates in political demonstrations, education through speakers’ forums, community outreach and coordination with other faith-based organizations, advocacy of legislative solutions, and participation in election activities to ensure that candidates will advance these goals.

Booker T. Washington Learning Center is a multifaceted community learning enhancement center in East Harlem, where volunteers work with children and young adults.

Task Force to End the Death Penalty, in the drive to abolish capital punishment, engages in education and advocacy and supports interim measures that include moratoria on the death penalty.

Friday Soup Kitchen serves lunch to 160 guests every Friday of the year to neighbors who are in economic crisis.

Girl Scouts All Souls sponsors and recruits leaders for the Girl Scout troops that meet at St. Edward the Martyr Church in East Harlem.

Task Force on Housing is an outreach program dedicated to affordable housing for all in New York City through participation in building programs for low-income families, advocacy of fair housing policies, and fulfilling faith-based safe shelter programs.

Interweave is an alliance of bisexuals, gays, lesbians and transgender persons and their heterosexual friends at The Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City.

Inwood House is a residence for pregnant teenagers, volunteers engage in support activities for young mothers and fathers.

Journey Toward Wholeness focuses on systemic racism as it affects our congregation and the community.

Monday Night Hospitality, each Monday evening, 52 weeks a year, provides a hot meal for approximately 160 guests.

Navigators USA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help boys and girls build trust, respect, and self-esteem though adventure activities.

New Orleans Initiative Grounded in our Unitarian-Universalist faith, we pledge to promote awareness within the congregation of the long-term nature of the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to engage the congregation in the rebuilding of New Orleans through both hands-on and financial support, and to advocate on behalf of the people of New Orleans.

The Nuclear Disarmament Task Force works to educate the public regarding nuclear non-proliferation and put pressure on lawmakers to reign in investment in nuclear arms programs.

Peace Task Force is a discussion and action group and information source for members who are concerned about immediate threats of war as well as exploring ways to work toward lasting global peace.

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee seeks to raise awareness of and seek membership support for programs worldwide that empower women, defend the rights of children, and support the struggles of indigenous people and oppressed racial and ethnic groups.

UU United Nations Office, an accredited “NGO” (non-governmental organization) at the United Nations, oversees numerous denominational activities regarding international affairs. The recently established All Souls Envoy Program is our congregation's programmatic link with the UU United Nations Office. Focus issues are UN International Affairs and Human Rights.

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How to Get Involved

There are many points of entry to involvement in the committees and task forces and events that describe so much of life at All Souls.

Explore the programs described here and consider what appeals to you, what awakens your desire to become more involved in these groups. Then pick up the phone and call the volunteer hotline (described above).

Learn even more about this group, including when the next meeting or event is being held. Attend. Then reflect on how the focus of this group matches your aspirations. If it does, stick with it for awhile. If not, try something else. In the meantime, you are meeting that many more people who will allow you to feel more at home at All Souls.

We invite you also to:

• Read the monthly Bulletin. The Bulletin will provide an update on what is happening at All Souls. Again, consider what appeals to you, and simply show up at the next meeting or event.

• Read the inserts in the Sunday morning Order of Service. These printed announcements provide you with the most updated knowledge of what is happening at All Souls.

• Attend the Volunteer Fairs—called "Faith Works Sundays"—that are held three Sundays each month from October through May. Faith Works Sundays will be held during Sunday morning Coffee Hour in Reidy Friendship Hall. Each church group depending on volunteers will have a representative present with information that will allow you to make an informed choice about where to focus your time and energy. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions about how they got involved, what exactly they do, what their group�s current needs and opportunities are, and what your next step might be to getting involved.

• Contact the ministers. Come and see the ministers of All Souls. Forrest, Galen, and Jan welcome the opportunity to get to know you better and explore with you how you might link with one of the committees or task forces that speaks to you. Or share your vision for what doesn�t yet exist at All Souls, and tell us how you�re ready to make it happen�with a little help from the rest of us.

The doors are open. We welcome you.