Be a part of All Souls' Social Justice program
All Souls has a long history and proud tradition of working for social justice and fighting against oppression of all kinds.
Our congregation has been working for more than a century to make our city a more just and compassionate community through direct public service. All Souls is also called to action on issues of national and international concern. All Souls’ tradition of public witness here in the nation’s capital dates back to standing against slavery, and continues to this day.
We welcome everyone to be a part of the social justice ministry of All Souls. This page provides more information on our activities and how to get involved.
Contact Rev. Susan Newman, Interim Associate Minister for Congregational Life and Social Justice (snewman [@] allsouls.ws; 202-332-5266 ext. 106) for more information.
All Souls Social Justice Ministries
Primary lens: Building a multicultural, multiracial congregation
Four categories of action in the current framework
- Direct service
- Education and advocacy
- Funding
- Organizing
Current Social Justice Ministries (with mode of action)
- English as a Second Language program (direct service). The All Souls ESL program organizes and runs classes in English for speakers of other languages from the neighborhood and around the metro area. Contact Shirley Thompson (shirl.thom [@] gmail.com).
- The All Souls-New Orleans Connection (direct service, education and advocacy). This group organizes annual spring service trips to New Orleans, where congregants, both adults and children, help rebuild that unique, priceless American city. It also organizes fundraisers throughout the year, often concerts at the church with distinguished New Orleans jazz musicians.
- Global Souls (direct service, education and advocacy). This group has its eyes on international and supra-national issues. It will build a relationship with an African partner church, address the ongoing strife in Haiti, witness the struggles at the Mexican border, and support the Ugandan LGBT population in its fight against punitive oppression. Contact Fred Tipson (frederick.tipson [@] undp.org).
- All Souls Housing Taskforce (direct service, education, funding). Affordable housing is diminishing in the All Souls neighborhood, forcing out low- and middle-income residents. The housing taskforce supoorts the fight for affordable housing through established groups with All Souls (All Souls Housing Corporation, UU Affordable Housing Corporation), as well as by building partnerships with community groups (Washington Interfaith Network and Habitat for Humanity). The taskforce also educates itself and the congregation about the demographics of the church and its neighborhood. Contact Jacqui Cosgrove (jacquicosgrove [@] gmail.com).
- Beckner Fund Internal and External Social Justice Grants (funding)
- KUUMBA Players (education and advocacy). This social justice theater company presents ongoing programs and an annual spring production. Contact Anna Hargrave (annaharg [@] aol.com) or Elizabeth Andrews (elizabeth.andrewsdc [@] gmail.com).
- Hiroshima Children’s Drawings Committee (education and advocacy)
- Green Souls/7th Principle (education and advocacy). This group's mission is to educate, inspire, and organize members of the church to lead more environmentally sustainable, just, and spirit-filled lives, individually and collectively. It successfully guided the church through the Green Sanctuary application and sponsors trash-free Sundays, fair-trade product sales, recycling of church bulletins and other paper, and children's programs in cooperation with the Religious Education Committee. Contact Alex Hirtle (ajhirtle [@] co.pg.md.us). Sign up for the listserv by emailing lina7p [@] gmail.com.
- All Souls—Washington Interfaith Network Action Team (multi-issue, broad-based community organizing). The ASC WIN Action Team works on affordable housing and equitable development issues in Ward 1, participates in the WIN Neighborhood Investment Fund, and joins the other 40 WIN congregations in this citywide network to organize communities on an array of issues. Contact Amy Vruno (vrunoiaf [@] gmail.com), Allison Forbes (allison.forbes [@] gmail.com), or Kyla Dixon (kyla.bollenslund [@] gmail.com).
- Thanksgiving Collection (direct service)
- La Posada (direct service)
- Christ House Fourth Saturday Lunches (direct service)