News Release
ONEJUSTWORLD.ORG ASSEMBLING COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCILS AND VOICES WITH IMPACT
The Institute for Social Justice
OneJustWorld.org, an online community that seeks to mobilize individual and group action for measurable impact, is creating Community Action Councils across the country, starting in four cities: Cincinnati, Ohio; Hollywood, Florida; Los Angeles, California; and Sacramento, California. These regional groups will help their own communities tap into OneJustWorld ‘s resources to address their unique needs. Union Institute & University’s (UI&U) The Institute for Social Justice (TISJ), OneJustWorld.org’s interactive platform was created to encourage and facilitate community dialogue, learning, and action around the pursuit of social justice and a more just world. “We know social justice must be enacted for the community, by the community,” said Betsy Martin, Executive Director, TISJ. “We’re starting with the four communities where UI&U already has a strong physical presence and then will encourage other cities to create their own Community Action Councils to guide and inspire local citizens to take action. We are calling on community leaders in Cincinnati, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Sacramento to sign up on our website to help us launch the Councils in these initial cities. We can all agree that change is needed. OneJustWorld is committed to providing the resources, connections, and support to take the intent for social justice into action.” Community Action Councils are being organized in regions. The first four cities will be the launching point for their region and anyone interested in becoming a council member outside of the city, but within the region are also invited to join in on the city’s initial meeting which will be offered both in-person and on Zoom. The first meeting will be on October 12 in Cincinnati Ohio for the Midwest and Northeast regions. Hollywood Florida will kick off the South and Southeast regions. Los Angeles California will host the Southwest and Sacramento California, the Northwest. These meeting dates are listed on the website. The first step in developing understanding is to get people talking and listening to each other. OneJustWorld recently launched the “Share My Voice” campaign. Community members are invited to listen to and share the stories and voices regarding all aspects of social justice: education, economic, environment, health, safety, and social. One of the primary goals of the Community Action Councils will be to help amplify these “Voices with Impact.” The council voices will be captured at these meetings and added to the many voices of the community that are already featured on OneJustWorld.org including: our own Dr. Karen Schuster Webb, President of UI&U; Dr. Hassana Alidou, Niger’s former Ambassador to the U.S. and Canada, Richard Blanco, the fifth poet to read at a U.S. inauguration; Paul Taylor, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Vanderbuilt; and Norman Sylvester, an R&B musician who not only added his voice to the discussion, but also wrote a song. Voices with Impact can and should include your voice as well. What have been your challenges or how have you put social justice into action? Who has inspired you or what have you done to inspire others? What does one just world look like to you? OneJustWorld would like everyone to “Share Your Voice.” Adding your voice via “Share Your Voice” is quick and easy. Simply go to the website and set up an account using your email address. Once you’re logged in, add your voice by entering your response in the box below “What Does One Just World Look Like to You?” You can type in a response and also share images or video. OneJustWorld has identified 5 Steps Toward a Socially Just World: Listen, Learn, Engage, Act, Reflect. Listen to others, then Learn by gathering information from various sources about the groups of individuals impacted by structural injustice. Engage communities in a social approach to addressing social injustice. Act by taking informed and intentional action with no action too small to begin to address injustice Reflect on your personal motivations for taking action. OneJustWorld offers multiple access points to information and engagement, including: Resource Center: Project, contract, supplier, and employment matching Digital Library: Videos, podcasts, webinars, articles, papers, and research Coffee Chat: Online coffee, conversations, and networking Virtual Community: Physical and digital work and meeting spaces Book Circle: Social justice book sharing, discussions, and author events OneJustWorld is committed to sharing an abundance of opportunities to hear Voices with Impact. All of the upcoming events can be found on the OneJustWorld Events page and links for registration can be found there as well. About TISJ The Institute for Social Justice exists to impact society through participatory and democratic work with individuals and organizations. Beginning with reflective abilities and systemic awareness, it creates organizational and social structures that no longer perpetuate injustice in society. TISJ applies theory to practice through a coalition of thought leaders who are scholar-practitioners, philanthropists, policymakers, community advocates, and others committed to promoting social justice and equity in the U.S. and globally through research, education, and policy. Since its founding in 1964, UI&U has focused on academic excellence, creativity, diversity, and integrity. TISJ aims to reach significant and clear progress toward social justice by advocating for equality, valuing diversity, and committing to an innovative teaching and learning environment that shrinks economic disparities and eliminates racism. TISJ connects programs and individuals that are committed to providing "innovative and pragmatic solutions" globally. To learn more about The Institute for Social Justice, visit tisj.myunion.edu. About Union Institute & University Founded in 1964, Union Institute & University has been a nonprofit pioneer in educating adults through distance learning. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Union Institute & University offers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs, as well as certificates designed for those seeking to make a difference in their own lives and within their communities. The university offers specialized online and low residency degree programs with high-touch faculty attention, designed for students regardless of where they live and work. Union's flexible delivery models emphasize relevant and transformative coursework taught by a national faculty of scholar-practitioners. Union graduates – including two dozen college presidents, leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, members of the United States Congress, and the first female prime minister of Jamaica – promote Union's legacy of utilizing education to transform lives and communities. Based in Cincinnati, UI&U has additional Academic Centers in California (Los Angeles and Sacramento) and Florida (Hollywood). To learn more about Union Institute & University, visit www.myunion.edu or call 1-800-861-6400. For media inquiries regarding The Institute for Social Justice, please contact Rita Tennyson at (310) 779-9747 or rita.tennyson@orcapr.com. About TISJ The Institute for Social Justice exists to impact society through participatory and democratic work with individuals and organizations. Beginning with reflective abilities and systemic awareness, it creates organizational and social structures that no longer perpetuate injustice in society. TISJ applies theory to practice through a coalition of thought leaders who are scholar-practitioners, philanthropists, policymakers, community advocates, and others committed to promoting social justice and equity in the U.S. and globally through research, education, and policy. Since its founding in 1964, UI&U has focused on academic excellence, creativity, diversity, and integrity. TISJ aims to reach significant and clear progress toward social justice by advocating for equality, valuing diversity, and committing to an innovative teaching and learning environment that shrinks economic disparities and eliminates racism. TISJ connects programs and individuals that are committed to providing "innovative and pragmatic solutions" globally. To learn more about The Institute for Social Justice, visit tisj.myunion.edu. Contact Details Rita Tennyson +1 310-779-9747 rita.tennyson@orcapr.com Company Website https://tisj.myunion.edu/
August 22, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time
News Release
