Partnering to help UU of Cheyenne in their efforts to support families impacted by the Sheriff and ICE partnership in performing federal immigration duties

The ACLU of Wyoming, along with UU Church of Cheyenne and two other plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak, alleging he exceeded his authority by entering into agreements with U.S. ICE for the 287(g) program.  This agreement deputizes local law enforcement to perform federal immigration duties.  The lawsuit alleges that the sheriff exceeded his statutory authority by violating state laws designed to ensure democratic oversight and the separation of powers.  What is happening in Cheyenne set the template for things that happened throughout Wyoming.

The UU Church of Cheyenne has had to redirect roughly $10,000 in charity funds, food and supplies to support families impacted by the 287(g) agreements.  They formed a ministry, Friends of Immigrants Responding Ethically (FIRE) to handle the situation.  Rev.Elizabeth Barish Browne, the church’s minister shared “our congregants have been working incredibly hard to build connections and move resources so everyone who needs help is treated with kindness and dignity even as their families are losing parents, children, breadwinners and loved ones.”

Our UU fellowship reached out to the UU Church of Cheyenne to offer help.  The Board decided to circulate a basket for donations on June 28th.  We will share stories of what is happening.  Individuals can also donate by accessing the link below.  During this election season we can also ask candidates what their stand is on County agreements with ICE.  As we move forward we will continue to find other ways that we can reach out.

How to donate to FIRE

You can make donations to FIRE directly to UUCC  by following the link

https://tinyurl.com/GiveToFIRE

Social Justice Annual Report — May 2026

Committee Leadership and Membership

Laurie Goodman and Kay Wallick serve as co-chairs of the Social Justice Committee.

Committee members:

• Susie Clinch
• Michelle LaGory
• Gillian Malone
• Barbara Walter

We welcome all UU members who are interested in social justice work to join us as we continue identifying projects and opportunities for action.

Our Belief–Justice is at the core of our faith. We are called to make a positive difference in our community through social action. The work we do together to build a world in which all people are free and thriving is interconnected.

Purpose–The purpose of the Social Justice Committee is to provide opportunities for members and community friends to learn, support, and take action on justice issues that embody Unitarian Universalist values while addressing the needs of our community.

Key Themes for Social Action–Each year, the Social Justice Committee identifies justice themes that resonate within our community. We highlight organizations and initiatives working on these issues so that we can participate and offer support.

Highlights for 2025–2026

Community Outreach and Giving

• Laurie and Beverly Goodman coordinated two of our most supported projects for the second consecutive year:
  • The Christmas Giving Tree for children through Compass
  • Thanksgiving dinner donations through The Food Group

Mental Health Advocacy

• Support for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues to grow, with UU members participating in the annual walk and contributing donations. A special collection plate was also dedicated to this effort during the year.

Advocacy and Civic Engagement

• Members continued advocacy efforts through letter writing and phone calls to federal and state representatives. Many also worked alongside Better Wyoming, which provides opportunities for action and information about important issues and the voting records of elected officials.
• Committee members participated in community demonstrations supporting democracy and human rights, including the No Kings event and a No ICE event.

Global and Community Service

• Special thanks to Victor Ashear for continuing to facilitate the Guest at Your Table program, a Unitarian Universalist Service Committee initiative supporting human rights efforts around the world.
• Thanks to Susan Roberts for coordinating Lunch Together, held every sixth Monday at the Congregational Church.  Additional volunteers are needed.
• Thanks to Rosemary Rieder for coordinating volunteers for Opening Minds through Art, a program that empowers elders through creative engagement. Sessions continue monthly at either The Hub or the Green House.

New and Developing Projects

Immigration Education and Support

• Members participated in educational opportunities to better understand the complex and changing issues surrounding immigration, including online trainings and a session hosted by the Episcopal Church. A donation collection was also organized to support immigration-related efforts in Minnesota.

Braver Angels Program

• Braver Angels session with the Quakers will be held on Saturday, June 6th from 8:30am to 11am.   Participants will learn skills for communicating across political and social divides. This session will be hosted by the Quakers.

Solar Energy Exploration

• The committee continues to explore the possibility of installing solar panels on the UU Fellowship of Sheridan property. At present, the project is on hold due to uncertainty regarding energy policy and the lack of incentives. A proposal for plug-in solar was voted down, but the topic will be revisited next year.

Voter Engagement

• Members have participated in community voter registration efforts with Civics 307 and have helped remind community members about important voting deadlines. UU members have also been active in campaigns and in providing opportunities for citizens to learn about candidates, voting records, and policy positions.

Pride Participation

• Plans are underway for UU participation in the upcoming Pride Parade. Once the parade date is announced, members will coordinate participation and prepare rainbow cookies for the event.

Glass Recycling Initiative

• We are developing plans to work with community partners transporting glass to Powell for crushing and recycling. Once a collection schedule and process are established, details will be shared with the congregation.

Closing

Please let us know if you have ideas about additional issues or projects the Social Justice Committee should become involved in. We welcome your participation, support, and suggestions as we continue this important work together.