UU Prison Ministry Team

Mission and Goals

The UCE Prison Ministry Team works with the larger Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI) mission "to transform institutions and support people harmed by the prison industrial complex." Our group focuses on working directly with those currently incarcerated and awaiting trial, those imprisoned, and those recently released. We also advocate for policy changes to reform the Illinois criminal justice system, such as the recently passed HB3653, making Illinois the first state to end cash bail starting in 2023. We strive to provide a nurturing space for our beloved UCE congregants who engage in these life-changing conversations to learn more about institutional racism, grow in cultural humility, and live our Principles.

We have a long-term goal to develop a culture of accountability without punishment for our faith community and beyond, bringing us closer to the abolition of prisons and policing, which impose physical, mental, and community harm.

Programs of the UU Prison Ministry Team

Penpals – People in prison often identify isolation as the most debilitating part of a prison sentence and consistent correspondence can offer much more than emotional support. When an incarcerated person receives mail, it indicates to the guards and other people in custody that someone outside is paying attention and cares about that person. It has a tangible impact on reducing violence and harassment. Through correspondence, you are able to connect the person inside with the world outside and help link them to resources, education and community support not accessible in prison.

Training and continued support is provided by UUPMI. The recommended level of commitment is sending a letter bi-weekly for a minimum of one year.
Solidarity Circles – Patterned after indigenous Indian Council Circles and similar indigenous practices worldwide, Solidarity Circles provide a space for our congregants to engage in a community of commitment and support with someone returning from prison.  The concept of Solidarity Circles is borne of experience and research affirming that individuals returning from being locked up in prison or jail know best what they need and that they benefit from having several communities of support through the arduous process of putting their lives back together, often with very limited resources and within a system that all but ensures recidivism.

A Solidarity Circle is a community of support of 4-8 people, typically meeting once or twice per month. The returning individual knows best what they need, thus they are the leader of their Solidarity Circle. Walking in solidarity with individuals recently returning from prison is a powerful form of engagement and growth for all involved.

UUPMI offers training, orientation, continued education, and support to all circle members.

UUPMI has adopted a Memorandum of Understanding with Safer Foundation in which UUPMI will refer returning people to the Safer Foundation's training, employment and legal services, and Safer Foundation will offer the Solidarity Circles program to their clients as congregations have sufficient volunteers to support new Solidarity Circles.
Talking Circles – Before the pandemic, our UU Prison Ministry Team members served as circle keepers and circle members in Cook County Jail and Logan Correctional Center using a curriculum designed by UUPMI ministers with substantial support from individuals where were formerly incarcerated. These Talking Circles are on hiatus until correctional centers re-open to programs from the community.
Legislative Advocacy – We work with UU Prison Ministry of Illinois to advocate for policy changes in Illinois related to prisons. This includes setting strict limits on the use of solitary confinement, reforming bail/bond system, and allowing those recently released more access to job and housing opportunities.
Housing Advocacy through Connections for the Homeless – Our UU Prison Ministry Team is working with Connections for the Homeless to lead and provide space for a talking circle for clients of Connections. See other opportunities for volunteering with Connections in the News & Updates section below.

Resources

Connect with Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois (UUPMI) on Facebook.
Learn more about UUPMI from their website.

News & Updates UU Prison Ministry Team

Update from the UCE-Connections Partnership: December 18, 2020

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO, LATELY?

1,025 tasty, healthy sack lunches, that’s what!

Bravo! to the volunteers who shopped, made sandwiches, packed and delivered them! Many hungry people had a meal instead of an empty stomach.

Last October an article in our Newsletter gave details of our new partnership with Connections for the Homeless. Connections is a long-standing non-profit in Evanston with the goal of finding permanent housing for all, with supportive resources all along the way. UCE has had a relationship with Connections for many years, through our Giving House, Mitten Tree, and volunteer work of many of our members.

The UCE Endowment Fund and the Board of Trustees approved a grant of $40,000 to fund a Housing Specialist position for Connections for the Homeless. We also wanted to find volunteer opportunities for our members to assist in the effort to change lives, one person at a time.

One of the areas we decided to focus on, as a start, is the sack lunch program run by Connections at three locations in Evanston. We worked out a plan where we would supply each volunteer lunch-maker with a bag of non-perishables needed for 25-30 lunches, (granola bars, juice boxes, mustard/mayo packets, bags). Volunteers signed up online for the day they wanted, packed the lunches, and delivered them to their chosen location. They were responsible for providing the fresh components of the lunches – bread, lunch meat, cheese and fresh fruit.

Many people found this to be easy enough that they contributed lunches on several days. Some folks found it was fun to do with a partner to share the task and the costs. Through December, we will have provided over 1,000 lunches – all through generous volunteer efforts. Many thanks to everyone who participated in making such a success of this undertaking.

In case you missed out on this opportunity, or just want to do more, we have good news. We have received generous funding from Martha Holman and Faith in Place to keep our lunches-for-hungry-people going. After a break in January, we will resume sign-ups starting Monday February 1.

This is a chance to volunteer with the safety of physical distancing, in a way that produces immediate, concrete, satisfying results. Give it a go!

Carol Nielsen, Maggie Weiss, Sheila Holder

By UCE UCE|December 16th, 2020|Categories: food and shelter team, Prison Ministry|0 Comments

Serving Connections in the Season of Giving: November 13, 2020

Try on one of these ideas and find a fit – Serving Connections for the Homeless in the Season of Giving

As the winter holiday season approaches, have you wondered how you and your family could tangibly help other community members? Do you find yourself torn between feeding the hungry or advocating to build affordable housing in Evanston?

UCE has started a partnership with Connections for the Homeless and their housing advocacy group, Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. You can work with UCE friends to do some task from a wide range of service work from making lunches, collecting specific clothing, working at Hilda’s place or working on a myriad of housing advocacy projects including advocacy work with our local and state governments. Whether your passion is food, housing, children’s issues, legal justice reform, mental health, or equity, there is a role for you in this project.

Below are two links that will give you background on volunteering efforts you can participate in – one link to advocacy tasks that you can do from home and one to more direct service tasks, like providing sack lunches or volunteering in the clothing closet. Some of these tasks are family friendly and some can be done comfortably by one adult alone at home. Some are easy (join an email list), and some are harder (attend a monthly meeting and report what happened).

Ways to Participate in Joining Forces Advocacy for Affordable Housing

Ways to Volunteer with Connections for the Homeless

Find one thing on these lists you can do before the year end and make your contribution to our UCE partners in justice and to the people they serve. Guaranteed to make your holiday brighter!

To explore where to begin with your preferred volunteer efforts, contact Carol Nielsen (carolnielsen2100@gmail.com) for direct service opportunities, Dale Griffin (dalecgriffin@comcast.net), Les Butler (wb1630@hotmail.com), or Judy LeFevour (judy.m.lefevour@gmail.com) for prison ministry support or Sarah Vanderwicken (vanderesq@mindspring.com) to discuss housing advocacy.