Act for the Earth

The Act for the Earth Ministry Team’s mission is to engage the Unity Church-Unitarian community to act to stop climate change, species extinction, and environmental injustice by practical and systemic solutions while grounding this work in our own spiritual and antiracist/justice stance.

Although this is a thriving 20-25 member team, the issues of climate, environmental injustice, and environmental degradation are vast and urgent -- your help is needed!  
 
In general, the Act for the Earth Team meets on the fourth Sunday of each month, 12:45-2:00 p.m., at Unity Church. The November/December Act for the Earth Team meeting will be held on Sunday, December 10, 12:45-2:45 p.m., in the Foote Room. This is a great way to get to know the team, the work, and where you might fit in. Come have fun, be part of a community, and support others in this important work!

For more information about the Act for the Earth Team email UnityActfortheEarth@gmail.com.

While  the Act for the Earth Team meets monthly as a whole team, most work is done through projects. Please send us an email to inquire about engaging with a specific project: 

• Indigenous and climate justice series​
• Canopy Connectors (tree planting Project to increase canopy in neighborhoods with less trees.)
• Church building environmental improvements (solar, EV charging, parking lot)
• Engage with ongoing antiracist and spiritual practices including IDI work, ritual for meetings, nature walks, and more 
• Active Hope /The Work that Reconnects Workshops
  (Based on Joanna Macy’s work)
• Pollinators (pollinator gardens, pollinator friendly lawns, park restoration, pollinator friendly farms
• Plastics Crisis campaign (legislation, incinerator project)   
• Food systems (food campaign, Farm Bill) 
• Policy campaign (Minnesota 2023 climate justice legislative agenda) 

Food Conversations

The Gift of Food: Resources and Recipes

Truth Telling and Healing:
Indigenous and Environmental Justice Series

September 2022 – April 2023
Access all of the materials from this series

Canopy Connectors 

​Unity Church-Unitarian’s Canopy Connectors offers trees, for free, to homeowners in the Summit-University-Rondo neighborhood. The area is defined as that within the boundaries of University and Summit Avenues to the north and south, and Lexington Parkway and Marion Street to the west and east. We will help those adopting trees every step of the way, from arranging for utility lines to be marked in your yard, to planting your tree in the fall. Interested in caring for a free tree? Learn more about our trees and this annual project that will return for another season in 2024.

Plastic Crisis Challenge

What was once a futuristic, affordable product for the post WWII generation, has become a global pollution catastrophe. The United States comprises just 4% of the world's population, yet we use 24% of the Earth’s resources and have the highest rate of plastic waste (300 pounds annually) per person in the world. Join Unity’s Act for the Earth Team as we explore the devastating effects our plastic use has on oceans, ecosystems, wildlife, and the people who live near plastic production plants. Watch for weekly updates over the next two months — including a Plastic Crisis Challenge — as we invite you to join us in assessing our individual and collective potential for change!

Learn About Pollinator Gardens

The Pollinator Garden at Unity Church with Kathy Sidles
Unity Pollinator Team members growing, planting and maintaining the Unity pollinator gardens in summer 2021.

Pollinators 101 with Barbara Porwit
A review of native plants, pollinators, and gardens, with University of Minnesota Master Gardener slides.

​Pollinators in my Garden!
A short slideshow of Cathy Peterson's home gardens.