Social Action Committee Initiatives for 2026

by Brian Dugas

The Social Action Committee initiatives Meeting next Tuesday: Immigration, Voting, the Environment. Things are starting to move, people are waking up to the risks we face. Some of the things I want to share.

UU the Vote- We’re investing in the foundations of a democratic society–care, relationships, safety, and collective action. UU the Vote 2026 will feature three critical elements to advance our values:

1. Voter Contact: Scaling our impact to reach millions of voters, combat suppression, win critical ballot measures, and fortify state and local partnerships.
   
2. Community Mobilization: Organizing public actions and gathering to build relational power, and creating hubs of democratic activity that last far beyond Election Day.
   
3. Community Safety: Equipping our communities with tools, training, and strategies to stay safe—at the polls, in the streets, and wherever democracy is under threat.
   

March 25, 2026 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM ET
Our faith calls us to build a movement beyond voter turnout. It calls us to strengthen relationships, shared leadership, and durable infrastructure that build and sustain democracy. Join us for the launch of UU the Vote 2026: Ignite Solidarity, Reimagine democracy -- an expanded program to meet this moment and the next. Learn more about our collective commitment to strengthening democracy and mobilizing our communities for the season ahead. The work will require clarity, discipline, and bold public witness. But the foundation is already beneath your feet. You helped build it. And we will meet this moment — as we always have — with moral grounding, strategic focus, and love powerful enough to shape public life.

I know that many of us are asking what’s next for UU the Vote. The answer is clear: we’re going to continue to organize. In this spirit, I am excited to announce that we have signed on to participate in the April 5th “Hands Off!” day of action. On Saturday, April 5th, communities nationwide will take to the streets to deliver a clear message: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their billionaire allies must stop undermining our democracy and our rights. This mass mobilization is a collective stand against the dismantling of essential services, healthcare, jobs, and democratic structures.

Poll Working - Poll workers fill a vital role in our communities, ensuring that polling locations are sufficiently staffed and the nuts and bolts of election day go as smoothly as possible.

Letter and Postcard Writing - Writing postcards and letters are one way to make sure potential voters have timely and accurate information to make their vote count. Postcards and letters can reach voters for whom we don’t have phone numbers and/or cannot be reached through door-to-door canvassing. We partner with the Center for Common Ground and Vote Forward for this work!

Vote Forward runs numerous RCTs (randomized controlled trials) to test the effectiveness of our voter turnout programs. Then, in our continued pursuit of innovation and commitment to transparency, we share our learnings with our volunteers and supporters, peer organizations, and the public.

Since launching in 2017, Vote Forward has been committed to scale, impact, and partnership. We’ve written over 40 million letters to voters with the help of over 285,000 volunteers and numerous nonprofit, political, and corporate partners ranging from Patagonia to Daily Kos to the Milwaukee Bucks and more. Now we’re hard at work developing new and innovative tactics for the upcoming election cycle. Volunteer-powered, Evidence-driven, Collaborative and Innovative.

Singing Resistance - A choir is forming in Honesdale, and all are welcome to participate. No experience required. The choir is being organized in response and in solidarity with a national movement of citizen singers called Singing Resistance. Led by theatre artist, Tannis Kowalchuk, the choir will develop a repertoire of songs (learned by ear) that gives voice to our concerns about rising authoritarianism and threats to democracy. The intention is to develop a group of singers that can join public gatherings such as No Kings Day and other events where music can be used as a tool for positive action, community strength and connection. Practice takes place Monday nights at 6 PM at Dem Headquarters 967 Main St. Honesdale starting February 16th. Let’s join together to breathe joy and song into the resistance, and to uplift and center our message of equality. Road Trip.

The Johnson Amendment 1954 prohibited all 501c3 organizations from participating in political campaigns or endorsing /opposing candidates. Loss of tax exempt status 2025 policy shift IRS clarified that houses of worship may now endorse or oppose candidates during religious services without losing their tax exempt status. IRS now treats internal communications to a congregation during worship service as a family discussion rather than prohibited political intervention.