Unitarian Universalist Global AIDS Coalition
http://www.uuglobalaids.org/

We were founded in response to a powerful address given by Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa , at the UUA General Assembly in 2002. He faulted those of us in the West for sitting by while the devastation of the AIDS pandemic is causing millions of deaths every year, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What later became the UU Global AIDS Coalition was originally founded as a Social Justice Action Group at First Unitarian in Portland , with three major goals: education, political advocacy and direct service. Our first major achievement was to initiate and pass an Action of Immediate Witness at GA in 2003 which commits UU’s to speak out as a voice for liberal religion and congregations to become engaged to addressing global AIDS issues. Largely as a result, the UUA Advocacy Office now has an intern working half time on global AIDS issues.

From our base in Portland we have reached out to other congregations throughout the US and Canada. We now have a national board and UUGAC leaders have visibility in several cities in the US: here in Portland through the Portland Area Global AIDS Coalition, which is composed of nearly fifty action groups and is co-chaired by the chair of UUGAC; in Carbondale Illinois where UU’s have taken a lead in several community programs; and in Newton, MA where UU congregations have formed a coalition of community groups to work mainly in Zambia. This is a powerful additional way for us to be seen as a force in the community on social and economic justice issues. Our newsletter comes out three times a year and reaches around 100 UU congregations directly and more through other distribution channels. We know of at least ten other UU congregations who are actively involved in programs to bring direct aid to those impacted by the pandemic. We are also proud that UUA President Bill Sinkford spoke out on World AIDS Day 2005 on global AIDS issues.

Our RED RIBBON CONGREGATION PROGRAM, named after the red ribbons people wear on their lapel to indicate support, was designed as a way to recognize congregations who have taken significant steps to become involved in global AIDS issues and to use their example to encourage others to follow suit.

Useful Links:

• UUGAC homepage