COMPASSION + ACTION Challenging Injustice. Advancing Human Rights. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 UUSC 2018 UUSC STAFF & BOARD EXECUTIVE Human Resources: Research: Quang Nguyen, Director of Human Amber Moulton, Associate Director Mary Katherine Morn, President and Resources for Research Chief Executive Officer Adelaide Vonleh, Human Resources Brittney Rose, Senior Executive UU College of Social Justice: Assistant Assistant Gina Collignon, Senior Associate for Immersion Learning Programs Operations and Facility Management: Deva Jones, Senior Associate for DEVELOPMENT Ethan Adams, Facility and Service Learning & Volunteer Cassandra Ryan, Vice President and Operations Manager Chief Development Officer Placements Elizabeth Auwood, Development PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY, AND ACTION Angela Kelly, Senior Associate for Department & Events Coordinator Justice Training Rachel Freed, Vice President and Kathleen McTigue, Director of UU Carly Cronon, Associate for Chief Programs Officer Congregational Giving Programs College of Social Justice Heather Vickery, Senior Associate Brendan Donnelly, Planned Giving Advocacy and Strategic for Outreach, Enrollment & and Major Gifts Officer Communications: Administration Katherine Friedman, Associate Michael Givens, Associate Director of Director of Development for Strategic Communications Major Gifts Hannah Hafter, Senior Grassroots UUSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES Eric Grignol, Senior Digital Organizer Rev. Dr. Lyssa Jenkens – Board Chair Fundraising & Membership Katie Ingegneri, Digital Strategist for Todd Hess – Treasurer Engagement Officer Mobilization and Engagement Rev. Brock Leach – Vice Chair Karen Klett, Associate Director of Meredith Larson, Director of Danah Fisher – Secretary Development for Membership Advocacy, Engagement & Strategic Sarah Dreier Susan Mosher, Associate for Communications Barbara Du Mond Donor Services Shayna Lewis, Senior Advocacy Hannah Moy, Associate for Advisor Peter Fenn Major Gifts Rev. Dr. Hope Johnson Partner Support, Grantmaking, and Jennifer O’Rourke, Marketing and Lydia Lopez Impact: Membership Coordinator Lynn Miyamoto Mayuri Anupindi, Senior Partnership Officer Maria Pignataro Nielsen FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Danielle Fuller-Wimbush, April Nishimura Mack Davidson, Vice President and Director of Partner Support and Joseph Parsons Chief Administration Officer Grantmaking James Smith Philip Hamilton, Partnership Officer Finance and Accounting: Cynthia Totten for Human Rights Carol Cahalane, Director of Finance Rev. Ned Wight Michael Kourabas, Associate Director Giao Doan, Accountant for Grantmaking and Impact Winnie Chau Nguyen, Accountant Josh Leach, Policy Analyst Mohamed Zine-abidine, Senior Leigh Meunier, Associate for Financial Analyst Grantmaking and Impact Salote Soqo, Senior Partnership Officer for Climate Justice & Crisis Response Unitarian Universalist Service Committee 689 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 uusc.org • 617-868-6600 • [email protected] “I believe UUSC is one of the most effective organizations of its size in leading social change.” — RAMA KUMANDURI, UUSC MEMBER GLOBAL REACH: NEARLY 80 PARTNERS IN 33 COUNTRIES. Bangladesh Kiribati Serbia Burma Macedonia Solomon Islands Croatia Marshall Islands South Africa El Salvador Mexico Tanzania Fiji Micronesia Thailand Greece Namibia Turkey Guatemala Nepal Tuvalu Haiti Nicaragua United States Honduras Palau Vanuatu Hungary Papua New Guinea Zambia Kenya Philippines Zimbabwe OUR MISSION UUSC advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies. Our work is grounded in the belief that all people have inherent power and dignity. Young girls attending the Eco-Village School in Haiti’s Central Plateau, built in part by funding from UUSC members and supporters. 4 UUSC 2018 ANNUAL REPORT “We strive every day to build upon this legacy alongside you and our partners, to put compassion into action.” 6 UUSC 2018 ANNUAL REPORT Dear Friends, It can be easy sometimes as advocates for with social change movements at the local, justice to focus on the urgent human rights regional, national, and international level. issue that confronts us in the moment and com- In these pages, you will find highlights of pels us to action here and now — and then move our eye-to-eye partnerships with communities on to the next injustice. Politics, the news cycle, around the world who are demanding human and other pressures of modern life all contribute rights, justice, and self-determination in the to this type of thinking. Though, in order to truly face of hatred, oppression, and violence. In the challenge structural oppression, we must see stories and images, you will find evidence of the the long view of history and the unique contri- power and impact of hand-to-hand connection. bution each of us can make toward it. And through all of our work, please know that We are very pleased to share this annual you are generating enduring hope with the report with you, our closest supporters. It is one heart-to-heart commitment we share. way for us all to take a moment to reflect upon For nearly 80 years, this partnership, the progress we have witnessed and to affirm connection, and commitment have made the difference we have made for those living in UUSC’s remarkable legacy of justice-building affected communities around the world. possible. We strive every day to build upon this As we shepherd UUSC’s work each day, we are legacy alongside you and our partners, to put mindful of our great privilege to serve as torch compassion into action. bearers for those who have come before us, and for those who will carry the work forward after. With deep gratitude, We form an unbroken line of advocates, urged to action by shared values of compassion and MARY KATHERINE MORN interconnectedness, aspiring to realize justice MACK DAVIDSON and dignity for every member of our human family. RACHEL FREED Throughout this journey, you have shown CASSANDRA RYAN your commitment to these efforts. This report illustrates just how integral to our success UUSC members have been this past year, and we thank you for all that you do. We hope that the programmatic highlights included here will fuel the flame that inspires you to engage more deeply UUSC’s Executive Team, L-R: Rachel Freed, Vice President and CPO; Cassandra Ryan, Vice President and CDO; Mary Katherine Morn, President and CEO; Mack Davidson, Vice President and CAO. For those who choose to make the perilous journey north. Upon reaching the United States border, they can be detained, prosecuted, or have their family members taken from them. The Theis sisters were among those rescued from Nazi persecution by UUSC founders Martha and Waitstill Sharp. GRASSROOTS PARTNERSHIPS ALONG THE CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRATION ROUTE UUSC was founded at a time when isolationist haven, and to fight against policies and practic- policies in Europe and the U.S. left many victims es — at home and abroad — that created and of the Holocaust with nowhere to turn for safety. perpetuate this crisis. Whether choosing to stay Now, as then, we are witnessing a similar trend in-country or find asylum elsewhere, every per- at our southern border where migrants are arriv- son has the right of self-determination and free- ing seeking asylum from violence and persecu- dom from harm. This work is grounded in the tion in their home countries. For those who choose to make the perilous journey north — even when choosing to band together in a caravan to provide a measure of protection — migrants face further dangers and abuses designed to deter them. Upon reaching the United States border, they can be detained, prosecuted, or have their family members taken from them. Many others who already reside in the U.S. may be at risk of de- portation. We are compelled to respond to the plight of Central American families looking for safe UUSC 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 9 rights of people, not borders. sis in Honduras. To spur international action, Last year, UUSC partnered with 30 grassroots delegation staff accompanied Ely Castro Rosales organizations along the migration trail, working and other members of our partner, Radio Progre- together to reduce state-sanctioned violence in so, an independent radio station and outspoken Central America, ensure safe passage to the U.S. critic of the Honduran government, as they vis- and Mexico, and combat the criminalization of ited a number of U.S. cities to raise awareness immigrants in the U.S. about Honduran civil rights abuses. These ef- forts culminated in testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the U.S. RIGHT TO SAFETY IN CENTRAL House of Representatives, requesting the U.S. AMERICA end its support of the Honduran government and military, which is further fueling the crisis. Honduras El Salvador Following disputed elections in November 2017, country-wide protests and peaceful demonstra- Through our partnership with Fundación Cris- tions were met with state-sanctioned violence tosal in El Salvador, we are supporting the devel- and human rights abuses meant to stifle the re- opment of a pilot model for emergency resettle- sistance. This continued violence, including high ment of people displaced by violence. Last year rates of femicide, are a key contributor to the alone, Cristosal successfully relocated nineteen forced migration of Hondurans. Shortly after the people using this model. Also, through its strate- violent crackdown, UUSC began sending inter- gic litigation efforts, our partner recently won a