UUANI 2026 Action Strategy Agenda

The Agenda:

In 2026, UUANI will connect Unitarian Universalists and network members with values-aligned resources and opportunities that support...

Collective action against authoritarian abuses of power
Access to safe and informed voting
Legal protections for people targeted by local and federal policing

UUANI is a network of Unitarian Universalists in Illinois committed to activating our UU values in solidarity with people directly impacted by injustice and systemic marginalization. Following the lead of our partner organizations and utilizing our faith-based GRACE framework for values-aligned priorities, our Action Strategy Team is committed to demonstrating love through strategic, accountable actions that will counter the chaos and cruelty of the current moment and unite community members in solidarity, care, and meaningful social change.

In 2026 we are mobilizing a spiritually grounded defense of voting rights, policy protections for targeted communities, and the integrity of our democracy. UUANI will leverage our resources and partnerships to bolster existing ‘get out the vote’ projects and resist disenfranchisement; advocate for policies that strengthen protections for people and communities targeted by policing, and mobilize our base to participate in mass movements that resist authoritarian abuses of power.

To consolidate and amplify UUANI’s collective power, we have strategically narrowed the scope of our justice work in 2026 to include four areas of strategic focus that our members and partners have named as priorities: anti-authoritarianism, justice for targeted immigrant and migrant community members, economic justice and abolition, and climate/environmental justice.

STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS

Anti-authoritarianism

Justice for Targeted Immigrant and Migrant Communities

Economic Justice and Abolition

Climate/Environmental Justice

SOLIDARITY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS

UUANI’S mission is to build power among UU congregations in Illinois to accountably advocate with those who have been historically marginalized. That advocacy is led by the work of our community partners, accountable to the communities they serve who have historically been subject to systemic, oppressive violence.

We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

Learn more about our community partners here

UUANI Action Strategy

Creating change in the current socio-political moment means finding as many ways as we can to build power: not to abuse it, but to harness it to bend the arc toward justice and liberation. We need power to make progress in our Strategic Focus areas.

UUANI’s Action Strategy work involves amplifying the influence of our base, and amplifying the work of our partners through a variety of opportunities, including volunteering with an Action Strategy Team focused on one of three pillars: Resistance, Electoral, and Legislative. There may be opportunities to work on any of the Strategic Focus areas within any of the three pillars. To assist our volunteers, members, and partners in staying connected with current opportunities to get involved in social justice work, we have created several pathways to action, based on the following opportunities to build power:

Taking Action, Building Power

Action Strategy Teams

Community Partners

How to Get Involved

TAKING ACTION, BUILDING POWER

Collective Action is Power!

Strategy Agenda Support Actions: Promote gatherings where our network members engage with values-aligned collective actions; increase our capacity to mobilize by expanding our EveryAction network signups and activate our volunteer network by sharing our values-aligned social action agenda with a wider audience via in-person actions, social media, and partner engagement.

Community is Power!

Social Power Building/Political Education: Meet people where they are and host gatherings where people have the opportunity to learn about the issues and ways to get involved, utilizing resources provided by our partners.

Knowledge is Power!

Building Skills, Confidence and Leadership: Share training and learning resources within the UUANI network to build capacity and power; share info with member congregations that may support Religious Education/Faith Development, Catalyst action, social justice engagement, or that will help them take informed action related to the current Strategic Focus Areas.

ACTION STRATEGY TEAMS

Our Action Strategy Agenda has right-sized opportunities for volunteers at multiple levels of experience and capacity. We operate under three pillars of action: Resistance, Electoral and Legislative. Some activities are simple opportunities to show up and help out. Others are about building relationships and committing to a longer-term campaign. Consider your passions, your skills and your available time and when you are ready, fill out our Volunteer Interest Form.

RESISTANCE ACTION TEAM AGENDA

Act collectively against authoritarian abuses of power.

Grounded in GENEROSITY, we covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. We will use mass mobilizations to build community and connect like-minded people in defiance of actors who work to discourage and disempower people of conscience with isolation and overwhelm. Our resource sharing will expand our network's access to political education and grow the capacity of our base to interrupt injustice.

Examples of Volunteer Opportunities:

Attend a rally at Cook County Jail alongside UU Prison Ministry of IL
Form a team to support your community in becoming a Good Trouble Congregation

ELECTORAL ACTION TEAM AGENDA

Protect access to safe and informed voting.

Grounded in JUSTICE, we covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large. We will fortify democratic elections in solidarity with communities whose voting rights are unjustly threatened, using our power and privilege to thwart policies of disenfranchisement. Our leaders will be better equipped to identify and disrupt threats to electoral integrity.

Examples of Volunteer Opportunities:

Use UU the Vote resources (training, easy-to-follow toolkits, etc,) to get people registered and protect election integrity.
Coordinate with local chapters of organization like Indivisible or Reclaim Our Vote in your congregation.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM AGENDA

Advocate for legal protections for people targeted by local and federal policing

Grounded in INTERDEPENDENCE, We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will use our resources to support protection and healing for communities experiencing the terror of state-sanctioned or unaccountable police violence, whether local, federal or military. As our volunteers deepen their knowledge of how policing marginalizes and harms certain communities, we can better advocate for informed action that uses public resources for the protection and healing of people harmed by organized enforcement of state violence.

Examples of Volunteer Opportunities:

Support ICIRR or LIVEFREE during advocacy days at the State Capitol.
Make (non-partisan) phone calls in support of values-aligned legislation that protects targeted communities and supports their needs.

READY TO TAKE ACTION? WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

Whether you’re just getting started or an experienced organizer, we have ways for your to plug into current struggles for justice that meet you where you are:

Want to get started right now, no sign-up required?