The Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist
c3hoffice@gmail.com
(919) 942-2050
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Immigrant Justice Initiative

How to stay informed: Click here to sign up for our emailed newsletter!

Questions? ​You can reach us by emailing c3himmigrant@gmail.com
Donate here to support the work of the Immigrant Justice Initiative

News​

September 2020: Yeimy, the asylum seeker who has been with us for the past 16 months, has moved  out of the Manse to live with a mentor as she transitions to independent living. She will be working on numerous life skills including cooking, budgeting, English  and employment strategies under the guidance of her mentor to prepare her for success. Our church continues to support Yeimy both financially and as her friend. She has made a great deal of progress in the last year toward her goals of achieving asylum status and living independently. We wish the amazing and resilient Yeimy well as she continues her journey.

July 2020: The Immigrant Justice Initiative are excited to welcome a family of four asylum seekers, Gaby, Oscar, Jeziel, and Angelina! The family moved into the Manse with Yeimy, who has been living there for over a year. 

December 2020: We've recently put together a video interview in which Gaby and Oscar tell their story. If you're interested in holding a screening, please contact us at c3himmigrant@gmail.com
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Previous Newsletters

​December 2020 Newsletter
August 2020 Newsletter

July 2020 Newsletter
June 2020 Newsletter

Our commitment

On February 18, 2018, Community Church of Chapel Hill voted to become a sanctuary congregation by passing the following motion:
"Be it resolved that we, the members of The Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist, publicly declare our intent to be a Sanctuary Church.  Before officially hosting someone in our space, we will seek to build a relationship with the sanctuary guest so that each party feels comfortable that this would be a fruitful and safe undertaking, respecting the needs and boundaries of both the individual and the congregation. Further, we dedicate ourselves to educate and activate our congregation and community, to amplify and respond to the voices of immigrant leaders, and to speak out against discrimination towards marginalized people. The Sanctuary and Immigrant Support Ministry, with and through the Minister, will provide periodic reports to the Board of Trustees regarding actions taken pursuant to this resolution."

Our Work

In accordance with our commitment, the Immigrant Justice Initiative has taken the following actions:
  • The Manse has been renovated and outfitted by volunteers to create a welcoming space for immigrants in need of housing and support.
  • Some 74 individuals participated in a two-hour training session geared towards understanding the history of the sanctuary movement and the needs of those agreeing to take up sanctuary.
  • Congregation members have regularly volunteered to support Rosa del Carmen Ortez-Cruz, who is currently in sanctuary at the Church of Reconciliation.
  • We hosted a dinner and awareness night in support of Syrian refugees.
  • Temporary housing was provided for Dayana, a refugee from Cuba.
  • Two separate trips were made to the Stewart Detention Center in rural Georgia, where we could witness the inhumane conditions and talk directly to a few of those incarcerated there.
  • We are sponsoring Yeimy, an asylum seeker from El Salvador, which has enabled her to be released to us after six months in detention. Housing, logistic support, language services, and arrangements for medical/mental health are also being provided.
  • Financial assistance was also given on behalf of this asylum seeker, by paying a portion of her bond release and providing airfare from the detention center to NC.
  • Support (including transportation) was provided to a family of asylum seekers residing in Chatham County.
  • Some members attended The Gathering: Sanctuary and Immigration on August 6, 2017 led by Rev. William Barber and Repairers of the Breach.
  • We sent  a team to the Sanctuary Matters: Testimony and Best Practices conference at United UCC on September 16, 2017.
  • Members volunteered as tutors in immigrant communities through the Chatham Literacy Council.
  • A special “Bountiful Bags” food drive was held in June 2017 in response to a growing need expressed by the Interfaith Council for Social Services.
  • Members volunteered as drivers for Syrian refugees to a picnic held in Carrboro in May 2017.
  • We donated church space for a meeting of Movement to End Racism and Islamophobia (MERI).
  • We contacted local congregations and organizations to find out about opportunities for partnership and collaboration and established a shared covenant with our neighboring UU congregations (Eno River UU Fellowship, UU Fellowship of Hillsborough, UU Fellowship of Raleigh, Mutual Aid Carrboro) to promise financial support, volunteer support, and moral support for Sanctuary efforts.


​We are most appreciative of the hours of volunteer service so graciously given by 90 members of our Congregation (and 25 volunteers from other organizations), and we gratefully acknowledge the financial support that has been received to support the above efforts.

More opportunities

Click here to download a list of some of the tutoring and other volunteer opportunities with immigrants in our area.  It includes contact information.

our Team

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  • Home
  • Virtual Worship
    • Wednesday Night Vespers
    • This Week's Service
    • Virtual Worship Archive
  • Worship and Arts
    • Upcoming Services & Schedule
    • Music Ministry >
      • Community Church Choir
      • Virtual Music Gala
      • Gala Donations Page
      • Virtual Worship Music
      • Music Program
      • Shrek the Musical
      • Community Church Singers
      • Children's Choir
      • Youth Music Ensemble
      • UUkes
      • Instrumentalists
      • Music Team
      • Music Gala
      • Musicals
      • Pageants
      • Choir Sundays
      • Concert Series
    • Art at Community Church >
      • Art in the Sanctuary >
        • Upcoming Art Exhibits
      • Art in the Commons
      • Past Art Exhibits
    • Sermon Archive
  • Newcomers
    • Welcome
    • What to Expect When You Visit
    • Visiting with Children and Youth
    • Map and Directions
    • The Path to Membership
    • How to Connect
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Minister
    • Our Staff
    • Our Governance >
      • Our Board of Trustees
      • Board Nominees 2020
      • Congregational Meeting Documents 2019
      • Our Covenant
      • Our Mission and Vision
      • Our Strategic Plan
      • Our Bylaws
      • More About Our Governance
    • Committees and Ministries >
      • Caring Ministry
      • Living Our Covenant with Intention
      • Committee on Ministry
      • Communications Committee
      • Endowment Committee
      • Finance Committee >
        • Sunday Counters
      • Worship Ministry
    • Community Church in Action >
      • Community Day of Service 2020 Photos
      • Community Day of Service 2019 Photos
    • Our History >
      • Timeline
      • Congregational Award Recipients
    • About Unitarian Universalism >
      • The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
      • Our Beliefs
      • Unitarian Universalist History
      • Southeast District of the UUA
    • Making a Financial Commitment >
      • Annual Pledge Drive
      • Building On Our Legacy Capital Fund
      • The Endowment Fund: Supporting the Future of Our Congregational Mission >
        • Proposing a Project
        • FY2018 Annual Pledge
        • Contribute to the Fund
        • Past Projects
        • What is the Fund
      • Qualified Charitable Distributions
  • Youth and Children
    • Virtual Offerings for Children and Youth
    • Ready for RE, a visual guide
    • About Youth and Children's Ministry At The Community Church >
      • Program Philosophy
      • Helping Children and Youth Connect at Church
      • Parent Expectations
      • Program Leadership
    • Sarah Elizabeth Insch Church Youth Leadership Program >
      • Insch Program Description
      • Insch Associates
      • Insch Program History
      • Insch Program Application
    • Youth Staff Internship Program
    • Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education
    • 2020 Hogwarts on the Hill
    • Chalice Camp 2020
  • Justice and Service
    • Racial Equity Challenges
    • Charles M. Jones Peace & Justice Committee
    • Community Service Ministry
    • ECO
    • Habitat For Humanity Outreach
    • Immigrant Justice Initiative
    • Share the Plate
    • Side with Love Ministry >
      • Side with Love Spotlight
      • Side with Love Concerts
  • Learning and Fellowship
    • Welcoming Ministry
    • 20s and 30s Group
    • Annual Fall Auction >
      • Auction Resources
    • Community Clickers >
      • 2020 Finished Projects
      • Patterns and Instructions
      • Community Clickers - 2019 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2018 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2017 Projects
      • Community Clickers - 2016 Projects
    • Covenant Groups
    • Flaming Chalices Softball
    • Outdoor Connections
    • Rare Women >
      • Housing Options as We Age
      • Resources for Rare Women
    • Sanctuary for Dialogue
    • Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) >
      • SEA Pilgrimage Class
    • UNC Campus Fellowship
    • UU Non-Fiction Readers
    • WomenCircle
  • Donate Now