2023 Impact President and UUCville member Kelsey Cowger at the 2023 IMPACT Nehemiah Action
Our UU Congregation of Charlottesville (UUCville) has been a part of the inter-denominational organization IMPACT from its’ beginning in 2006.
The name “IMPACT” stands for “Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together.”
Consisting of over 30 congregations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, IMPACT members identify important community problems and pursue solutions based on analysis of problems and solutions, to promote justice for all members of our community, particularly the underserved.
The group believes that tackling problems that have become rooted at the systemic level still requires bringing large numbers of people together, so that we can engage those in local positions of power to make changes. They call their events “Nehemiah Assemblies” because in the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to help rebuild the ruined city walls, and he finds that the people are being taken advantage of by lenders who are charging heavy interest and who are making them sell their sons and daughters into slavery to make debt payments. In response, Nehemiah calls together a large public assembly to call the moneylenders to account and to demand that they change their ways. In response to Nehemiah’s challenge, the moneylenders do change their ways.
Consisting of over 30 congregations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, IMPACT members identify important community problems and pursue solutions based on analysis of problems and solutions, to promote justice for all members of our community, particularly the underserved.
The 2025 social justice priorities are affordable housing and public transportation.
IMPACT Nehemiah April 8, 2025, 6:30
at MLK, Jr. Performing Arts Center @ Charlottesville High School
President Pam McIntire’s Report to the Board: March 2024
UUCville Turns out for IMPACT! There is so much going on at UUCville that it is hard to keep up and so I greatly appreciate the weekly emails and our excellent website. Many thanks to our phenomenal Communications Committee! There are so many opportunities to volunteer and make a difference...
IMPACT Nehemiah Action March 18 2024
The Nehemiah Action is the largest interfaith gathering in Charlottesville, organized by the group IMPACT that UUCville helped to establish. This year’s social justice priorities are affordable housing and public transportation. Local politicians will attend and will be amazed at how many of us gather. At UUCville, Kelsey Cowger is...
Join IMPACT for 2023!
Come join in on a small group conversation to connect with others and share about important community issues impacting each of us like housing, childcare and climate change. These conversations are the foundation of IMPACT’s work by building relationships and shaping how we will advocate for justice in our beloved...
Will You Help to Make an IMPACT?
Several members of the UU Congregation of Charlottesville met recently to plan actions to address problems in our community – specifically the needs for affordable housing, preschool childcare, and healthier, more convenient mass transit. These three problem areas are the focus for this years’ UU Charlottesville Network Members who are...
IMPACT Nehemiah Action Meeting March 21
The name “IMPACT” stands for “Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together.” Consisting of 26 congregations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, including ours, IMPACT members identify important community problems and pursue solutions to promote justice for all members of our community. In October, Network Members met to decide which problems to...
IMPACT is tackling community problems!
Our UU Congregation of Charlottesville (UUCville) has been a part of the inter-denominal organization IMPACT from its’ beginning in 2006. The name “IMPACT” stands for “Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together”. Consisting of 26 congregations in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, IMPACT members identify important community problems and pursue solutions...
IMPACT house meetings!
Hayley Owens and Kelsey Cowger want to invite you to join us for one of four IMPACT house meetings! IMPACT is the largest interfaith organization in Virginia, and is one of the most important ways that UU Cville pursues justice in the community. If you’d like to learn more about...
IMPACT UPDATE! ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 26TH, 6:30-8:00pm (online)
Please join 27 other member congregations and your fellow UUCville-ers on Zoom as we kick off IMPACT’s new year of action for social justice in our community! You’ll hear updates on IMPACT’s continuing advocacy for childcare and affordable housing, and testimonies on new issues that surfaced at this year’s house...
UPDATE! UVa’s IMPACT on Affordable Housing
Our own relentless housing-justice hero, Greta Dersheimer, was one of two IMPACT reps at UVa’s affordable housing (“AH” in this update) planning meeting on June 25th. She reports that UVa’s progress is “better than we expected and their consultant appears to be a really strong choice.” Dr Gina Merritt of...
Stand Up for Affordable Housing
Spring is finally here, many masks are off, and there’s joy in every flower. But the need to make an IMPACT doesn’t change with the seasons. Whether it’s cold or hot outside, too many of our neighbors still don’t have safe and affordable shelter. And your voice is vital. IT’S...
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