UWF Charter for Racial Justice:
United Women in Faith is deeply committed to the ongoing work for racial justice. We strive to be in right relationships with one another; we work together for the transformation of the church and the world, following the teaching and example of Jesus Christ. Our Charter for Racial Justice lists our beliefs and guidelines for living out this commitment.
Our current racial justice advocacy campaign is:
Ending Mass Incarceration and Criminalization of Communities of Color
Find information about other UWF racial justice projects here.
Local partner for racial justice: SURJ
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Santa Clara County is part of a national network of groups and individuals organizing people with racial privilege to bring about racial justice and to dismantle white supremacy. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. Several UWF women in our district participate in SURJ.
Update on Local Racial Justice Actions May 2025
Your ECRD has been active in advocating for racial justice in Santa Clara County. Several of our members went to the San Jose City Council meeting on May 12th to voice our disapproval of Mayor Matt Mahan’s proposal to arrest homeless people for trespassing if they refuse shelter 3 times. He has since backed down on this but still wants to form a new police unit that will cite people for trespassing. His plan would be for these people (who he says need mental health care) to get help through the county health department. The county is pushing back on this effort to criminalize homelessness and says that they will not have the capacity to care for this many additional people especially given cuts in federal funding.
In addition, the Mayor is gutting Measure E funds for Affordable Housing in order to balance the budget. How will we ever end homelessness if we have too few low income housing units for them?
Although we all want people to be off the streets, the Mayor’s plan would further traumatize already vulnerable people and would not get them into mental health care. Suggestions have been to use the TRUST Teams to work with shelter resistant folks in a supportive way. The additional funds needed for a new police team would be much better spent on TRUST teams and would reduce the risk of police brutality incidences as what recently happened to a homeless person in the Rose Garden area.
Anyone who is concerned about our homeless population is invited to attend the next Showing Up for Racial Justice event at City Hall on June 9th and 10th at noon This is the final budget hearing before the vote of the City Council. Please contact Debbie Ow if you have any questions.