Community Partnerships

At the UU Congregation of Charlottesville, we believe that the best way we can be an ally for justice and equity in our local community is by partnering with local organizations who are working closely with disempowered and under-resourced individuals and communities. Our current community partnerships include:

Sin Barreras

The mission of Sin Barreras (Without Barriers) is to empower immigrants and their families in Central Virginia, focusing on the Hispanic population, by educating, advocating and supporting their needs. In 2024, UUCville and Sin Barreras formed a partnership and currently work together in two important areas.

• Pre-K English Readiness

  Responding to a need identified by Sin Barreras, UUCville volunteers teach a fun and engaging class for 3- and 4-year-old children. The class seeks to provide a space where children growing up in predominantly Spanish-speaking homes have an opportunity to learn and practice English words and phrases. Children and their parents meet twice weekly with UUCville volunteer teachers twice per week during the fall and spring semesters.

• Rides

  UUCville volunteers provide rides to Sin Barreras clients to various appointments in Central Virginia and beyond. To learn more about our rides program, contact rides@uucharlottesville.org

City of Promise

Beginning in April of 2025, teams of volunteers will be working with families in the Westhaven/10th & Page Street neighborhood as part of City of Promise’s Nurturing Neighborhood pilot program. UUCville volunteer teams will serve as an “extended family” and be present to assist with some of the challenges families with children face today, including rides to and from school, homework, after school activities, and more. Our hope is to build connections and friendships while offering a network of support and caring.

Our partnership with City of Promise began in January 2025 when Executive Director, Price Thomas, spoke at a Sunday morning service and shared just how challenging life can be for families in under-resources neighborhoods who often do not have access to the kind of support networks families in more privileged communities do. Price’s inspiring message led two dozen UUCville members and friends to volunteer for the Nurturing Neighborhood and we have created teams that will soon begin working with families.

Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR)

Through the activism of church member Edith Good, UUCville has had a long-standing relationship with PHAR. In addition to taking an annual special collection, UUCville is building a working relationship with PHAR Executive Director, Latricia Giles. We will be participating in the Westhaven Community Day and hope this will be the beginning of a long and meaningful partnership between UUCville and PHAR.