Great story about activism #uu #socialjustice
Yesterday in our sermon, there was a true story about something that happened in Rochester, NY, where we lived for 4 yrs. in the '70s, though this happen in the late '60s and was a new one to me.
Matt Meyer told us a story of successful activism. When there was an unemployment problem there and the churches from the area came together to try to solve the problem for the out of work residents. They decided that the largest employer should help - Kodak. They couldn't get Kodak to talk to them, so they decided to try to get seats on their stock-holders board so they could get their attention. They were having trouble getting them, but then the Unitarian Universalists joined their group and asked the UUA to help. UUs from all over the country sent people in Rochester their proxy votes and that encouraged people of other faith traditions to do the same. Finally they had enough seats to get plenty of attention and finally Kodak gave training and jobs to local people and they also became advocates for other companies to do the same.
It was a really hopeful story. Apparently the whole service with interactive and improvisational music was posted on our podcast, so you can listen to it here.
Matt Meyer told us a story of successful activism. When there was an unemployment problem there and the churches from the area came together to try to solve the problem for the out of work residents. They decided that the largest employer should help - Kodak. They couldn't get Kodak to talk to them, so they decided to try to get seats on their stock-holders board so they could get their attention. They were having trouble getting them, but then the Unitarian Universalists joined their group and asked the UUA to help. UUs from all over the country sent people in Rochester their proxy votes and that encouraged people of other faith traditions to do the same. Finally they had enough seats to get plenty of attention and finally Kodak gave training and jobs to local people and they also became advocates for other companies to do the same.
It was a really hopeful story. Apparently the whole service with interactive and improvisational music was posted on our podcast, so you can listen to it here.