First Parish Church in Dorchester
Unitarian Universalist

Service and Social Justice

First Parish Church's annual food and clothing drive

Sunday, November 20

Our annual winter food drive is a great act of service and generosity to the local community. Everything that we donate is given to the Dotwell food pantry located at Dorchester House. Look for great sales in the grocery stores and stock up on items that some needy family can appreciate. Warm winter outerwear is also welcome.

We will once again be kicking this drive off on Sunday, November 20.

Social Justic Committee Activities

Past events, 2010-11

Justice Speaks, filim & speaker series

On Feb. 18 we showed the film "Squeeze." A real-life Dorchester urban drama about three youths struggling with the pull of gang life. The movie was written and starred in by members of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative. Director: Emmet Folgert, director of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative. [Film is Rated R: Violence, Language, Drug Content] Flyer (PDF file)

The Visitor “deals with human relationships and discusses post-9/11 America socio-political issues (the plight of immigrants, xenophobia, etc.) with no hidden agendas.” (Aluisio Parondi review). The film was shown on Dec. 17 and was followed by discussion. The film and lead actor Richard Jenkins were both nominated for Oscars the year of release, and both won several other awards.

On Nov. 12, “The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Realities and Prospects, a Personal View from Dorchester” was the title of a presentation given by Jeff Klein who recently returned from his fifth trip to the Occupied West Bank and Israel (as well as Lebanon and Jordan nearby). Jeff shared his personal observations—and wide reading—about the situation on the ground, the effects of occupation and how to promote a peaceful, just outcome.

The first event of the Justice Speaks series was the screening of the movie "Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood" followed by a discussion. About 20 adults and children attended on October 8.
Summary: We want our children to be healthy and happy. But companies spend billions training your kids to buy, buy, buy. This new and critically acclaimed film throws desperately needed light on the practices of a relentless multibillion- dollar marketing machine to sell kids everything from junk food to sexualized clothing to violent video games. Consuming Kids will change the way you think about childhood in the 21st century. See flyer. (PDF)