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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Your time and talent can make an impact at the Urban Ministry, and beyond.

We greatly appreciate the dedicated volunteers who give their time and talent to move our mission forward by supporting the work of our programs.

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And we are committed to being a partner in Roxbury and beyond.  This means bringing the strength and dedication of those in our 46 member congregations to support our partner organizations.

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It means that when we say in our mission statement that we work across race and place to dismantle racism and white supremacy culture and advance racial, economic and social justice, we know we can’t achieve that in isolation. We believe partnerships are essential, and make real our words. 

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Engaging with Community Partner Organizations

Our member congregations are made up of people committed to social justice, and who have skills and knowledge that can help make a real impact.  We are working to be a connector, helping bring committed people from our member congregations together with local social justice organizations to help increase the impact of the good work they're doing.  This is a different way of looking at volunteering, and is what we mean by partnerships. 

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We are working with each of our partner organizations to gauge their interest and needs.  Check out some of the opportunities that they identified below.  If you are interested or have any questions, contact Rev. Tricia Brennan, our congregational partenrships consultant: tbrennan@uuum.org.

UUUM Community Partner: DeeDee's Cry

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We are working to help build a circle of support for DeeDee's Cry that can assist with some of these engagement opportunities.  Our partnerships coordinator will work with these volunteers, and DeeDee's Cry, to ensure it's a meaningful experience for both sides.

We have spoken with the Founder and Executive Director, Toy Burton, about partnering with her organization, and what that might look like. She identified a number of opportunities where folks can be helpful, including:​

  • Grant-writing

  • Social media promotion

  • Helping send thank you notes to donors

  • Reaching out to companies for sponsorships

  • Website Improvements

  • Offering a session on loss/grief at out-of-Boston locations, with training

  • Hands-on helpers in the community when DeeDees Cry is having an event at the Urban Ministry and other larger public events like Suicide Prevention Walk in September

For more info or to volunteer, contact Tricia Brennan, congregational partnerships consultant, at tbrennan@uuum.org.

UUUM Community Partner: City Life/Vida Urbana

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For over 50 years, City Life/Vida Urbana has been fighting for tenants’ rights, and winning. As a community partner of UUUM, we invite our member congregations to support them in their important work.

Here are six ways you can get involved:

  • Lawyers and others with legal training are needed at weekly housing meetings Tuesday night in Jamaica Plain (English) and Wednesday in East Boston (Spanish). Training in housing law offered.

  • Attend “Actions” when tenants are at risk of eviction. We march together in front of tenants homes or management companies.

  • Join Public Letter Workshops, at the CLVU office, UUUM office or your UU church. When a tenant is at risk of losing housing,

    letters written on their behalf to the Mayor, State Reps, or the owners can remedy the situation.

  • Support Legislation on rent control, foreclosure prevention and TOPA- Tenant Option to Purchase- by letter-writing and phonecalls/meetings with legislators.

  • Canvass buildings where tenants are being treated unfairly, passing out literature informing them of their rights, usually with CLVU members and Harvard Law students.

  • Join the Devenscrest Village Tenants Association campaign to enable tenants of Devenscrest Village in Ayer to purchase

    their units. Over 100 units of affordable housing are at stake. CLVU is organizing with the support of a local interfaith coalitionand UU congregations in the area are encouraged to join.​

For more info or to volunteer, contact Tricia Brennan, congregational partnerships consultant, at tbrennan@uuum.org.

UUUM Community Partner: Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

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28th Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace

The Mother's Day Walk for Peace is a beloved Boston tradition honoring the lives of our loved ones who have been murdered. It is the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s (LDBPI) largest fundraising event to grow and sustain our services, advocacy and training.

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Again this year, over a dozen UUUM member congregations have teams who will be participating in the walk.  

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Want to Walk?

CLICK HERE to find a team or to register as an individual to walk on May 12th.

UUUM Community Partner: Paige Academy

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Paige Academy was founded in 1975, and is the only independent Black school in New England. The school's educational mission is to provide an environment that fosters individual worth as well as collective responsibility. It centers the African-American values of Nguzo Saba, Seven Principles of Kwanza: Unity, Self- Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.

Many of you may have met Sister Angela and Brother Joe Cook, who  have spent the last 50 years educating children up to sixth grade at Paige Academy.   We are proud to support them, and this true educational gem.

Identified Needs of Paige Academy: Spring 2024

  • Help raising funds for the overhead cost of the school van 

  • Creating an annual fundraiser/Gala to help benefit the school 

  • Support with helping them begin to start a mailing list for potential funding support. They are currently using emails for communication purposes. 

  • Help market their elementary school program through an awareness campaign

  • They are interested in working closely with someone who is knowledgeable in development 

  • Try to connect with previous students (Alumni) that has aged out or parents that have been involved in their programming 

  • Website/social media support 

  • Help plan a celebration for their 55th year next year

  • Help fundraise for their scholarship program that they offer to Roxbury Families 

  • Support with some beautifications on the site and some ground/garden support

For more info or to volunteer, contact Tricia Brennan, congregational partnerships consultant, at tbrennan@uuum.org.

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