Social Justice: Education and Action
At Don Heights we have a small, dedicated Social Justice Team. We meet to talk four or five times a year to review Social Justice plans and create recommendations for Don Heights Annual General Meeting in April. Everyone is welcome to participate in these meetings to make suggestions and share ideas. We study issues, share facts and direct our annual donations to where we feel we can make some impact for justice in the world. We have been focusing on five Social Justice areas:
- International Justice and Refugee Support
- Economic Inequality: Poverty, Food Security and Homelessness
- Environment: Health and Climate Change
- Inclusion and the Celebration of Diversity: Racial, Ability, Gender & LGBTQ Rights
- THR: Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
Marching for action on Global Warming!
Groups We Currently Support
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Agincourt Community Services Association
We support ACSA and their food bank with a collection the first Sunday of every month.
Flemingdon Park Ministry
We support FPM with a collection the first Sunday of every month.
North York Women’s Shelter
Fighting against gender – based violence.
Amnesty International
Each year we send support cards to prisoners of conscience in foreign countries. Amnesty will supply us with their names and addresses. After the Services in late November and early December we will be writing cards to show our concern for their well-being.
International Food Security
Seed Change is carrying on the work started years ago by Lotta Hitschmanova with the Unitarian Service Committee in Canada, focusing on preserving natural organic seeds for farmers in a world of GMO, monoculture and Monsanto’s glyphosate.
Unicamp of Ontario
One of the best ways we can save our planet for future generations of humanity is to encourage memorable, happy experiences with nature. Unicamp is a registered charitable organization started and maintained by UU congregations in southern Ontario.
Sponsorship of Refugee Families
Partnering with First UnitarianToronto, we helped to sponsor a Syrian family to come to Toronto in 2015. Since the family lived in Scarborough, several Don Heighters helped with English classes and medical, grocery and other forays to get the family get established. Our first Syrian family left in 2021 to live in Edmonton because of family relationships there. We have continued our financial support of the Toronto First refugee committee.
Social Justice Education
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David Suzuki: 10 Ways You Can Help Fight Climate Change
Childhaven in India
We have supported the work of Fred and Bonnie Cappucino helping children in India for many years
Fred Cappucino’s 2010 talk at Don Heights – A Balloon and Baloney Index -What Flies and What Doesn’t
Dixon Hall – Out of the Cold Program
Don Heights has supported the Out Of The Cold (OOTC) program at Knox United Church in Agincourt for many years
Black Lives Matter
The 519
UUA on LGBTQ
THR: Truth, Healing and Reconciliation
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Truth, Healing & Reconciliation: CUC
Yellowhead Institute
We are on a journey of learning about our colonial past and trying to right the wrongs in Canada against indigenous peoples
UNDRIP – UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
We supported the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto with a donation in 2016 of $1,000
Indspire
We supported Indspire with a donation in 2016 of $4,000
Indigenous SNAP program
We supported the Child Development Institute to expand the SNAP Program in Indigenous Communities with a donation in 2017 of $2,500