Justice United

Who Is Justice United?

Justice United is a broad-based, non-partisan group of individuals from various organizations, faith-based communities and non-profit groups that have come together to address social justice issues. Understanding social justice issues and how they impact our community is the key to initiating change. Justice United supporters are dedicated individuals that agree to address the following issues: education, affordable housing, healthcare, living wages/jobs, immigrant families, environmental justice and the equity/quality of life for rural Orange County.

On October 26, 2009, Orange County Justice United held a ceremony and public action meeting at the United Church of Chapel Hill. This ceremony was an opportunity for organizations to accept an active role in becoming aware of and addressing the issues that affect the low- and middle-income families in Orange County.

Inter-Faith Council for Social Service accepted the invitation to be a member of Justice United. Staff and volunteers from the IFC were present at the meeting. It was wonderful to see a large number of IFC volunteers taking an active role in addressing these issues. Volunteers stood not only with their faith-based communities, but with other community organizations as well. As the name of each organization was announced, individuals from that group stood (literally) in solidarity to accept an active role in Justice United.

It was a powerful evening with witness stories on children’s safety issues, education, neighborhood development and living wages. Stories were told by Juan Carlos Nunes, Habitat for Humanity, Kevin Nicks, Parents Advocating for Children Together, Lisa Williams, Pine Knolls Neighborhood Association and Kelly Dunlop, Catholic Newman Student Center & Parish. The focus of the evening was to educate people and have a call to action. The call to action included written action items for each of the social justice concerns outlined above. With the help of team members, the group will continue to explore these issues in the coming years and make a call for change. If you have a passion to learn more about the social justice issues that face our community, you can get involved. To learn more about Justice United, go to the website: http://sites.google.com/site/ocociaf/home

The time for change is now. You can be part of this change in Orange County. As always, you can email me at volunteer@ifcmailbox.org or call for more information on volunteer opportunities. Until next time…Peace.

Karen