3rd Annual Social Justice Week - Trinity UCC

Greetings Justice Family,

 Can you feel it? Our 3rd Annual Social Justice Week is right around the corner!

This is a chance to learn, organize, and take action as we explore issues vital to liberation and justice, providing our congregation and wider community with meaningful ways to get involved. This year, as we face ongoing attacks from our federal government on everything from education funding and healthcare for the poor and elderly to environmental protections and food assistance, it is more crucial than ever to equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to fight effectively.

The Power of Organized Action

As many of you know, Trinity UCC, along with many African American churches nationwide, began boycotting various businesses that abandoned DEI programs out of fear of political pressure from Washington, D.C. Target, once a favorite retailer among many in our community, was one of those companies. While it's not easy to gauge the effectiveness of boycotting a major corporation, here are some compelling metrics: 

• Over 130,000 people signed up to participate in the boycott

• In their Q1 earnings report, Target missed analysts' expectations by $500 million

• Target's stock price has dropped 17.7% since February, while the S&P 500 has increased by 5.5%

• Since announcing they were curtailing DEI initiatives, foot traffic has been down for 25 of the last 27 weeks, including a 9% drop in February and a 3.8% drop in July (declining every month, with the lowest drop in May at 1.7% from the previous year)

• Target CEO Brian Cornell announced his resignation as sales declined amid "significant customer boycotts that emerged in response to the company's DEI policies."

Organized actions work! They work to get legislation passed, to get the attention of our politicians, and to hold huge corporations accountable when they abandon principle for profit.

Social Justice Week Events

Social Justice Week (SJW) is an opportunity to get detailed information on critical issues, to call on God's power, and to discover what you can do to impact the challenges that touch your heart. This year's SJW events include:

• Sunday, August 31, 1:00 PM | Skilled Trades Workshop What better way to celebrate Labor Day Weekend than to share the ins and outs of becoming a unionized skilled tradesperson? Our Career Development Ministry will help you discover what it takes to start the journey to become an electrician, carpenter, painter, elevator mechanic, and over 20 other skilled trades.

• Tuesday, September 2, 6:30 PM | Heirs Property and The Loss of Black Land | Virtual Film and Panel Discussion. This is an economic crisis for our community. Farm land that has been in our families for generations is at risk of being lost because we don't understand the laws that govern Heir Property rights. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to protect your family's land.

• Wednesday, September 3, 11:30 AM | Justice-Focused Midweek Manna You'll want to be in the house when Rev. Mosea Harris brings the word.

• Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 PM | Justice Watch Prayer Service | Virtual  Join the Trinity UCC Justice Watch Team for a powerful evening as we share critical challenges with the congregation and raise powerful prayers to our God.

• Thursday, September 4, 6:30 PM | Mission Revival with Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, Guest Preacher

• Friday, September 5, 6:30 PM | Mandela in Chicago | Virtual Film Screening and Panel Conversation  Chicago led the nation in activism and support to end apartheid in South Africa. We will use this film, which is filled with Trinitarians, to connect past strategies for social change with the challenges we face today. Our panel will include Trinitarians who appear in the film and young adults working to make change today.

• Sunday, September 7, 1:15 PM | Social Justice Community Forum This is your opportunity to gain insights into some of the seemingly intractable issues we are facing, find ways to be part of the solution, reflect on our major justice victory with the implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act, and celebrate as we honor three Trinity UCC Justice Warriors.

Please register for the Skilled Trades Workshop, Heirs Property Film and Panel, Mandela in Chicago Film and Panel, and/or the Social Justice Community Forum by CLICKING HERE.

God's blessings to you all. See you soon.

Daryle

Director of Social Justice

Trinity United Church of Christ