All Souls Church, Unitarian

Since the Supreme Court's ruling in June 2013 eviscerating the Voting Rights Act, a rising tide of voter suppression is restricting voting access for students, immigrants, the working poor, people of color, and the formerly incarcerated. Even as recent court rulings provide glimmers of hope and resistance, our work continues. We kicked off our campaign in August 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Since then, we have registered hundreds of voters and made thousands of phone calls to voters in North Carolina in partnership with local UU congregations and Democracy North Carolina. We have engaged in public witness in support of democracy in the nation's capital -- from a flashmob on the Supreme Court steps to nonviolent civil disobedience at the Capitol. We have marched with the NC NAACP and the UUA. Join us this fall as we carry out Rev. William Barber's call to "revive the heart of our democracy" by mobilizing people of faith to defend the right to vote at the most basic level.

A non-profit corporation composed of All Souls members, ASHC seeks to build a healthy, diverse community in our neighborhoods by developing and maintaining affordable housing and services to residents. In 1971, as Change-All Souls Housing Corporation, we helped build Columbia Heights Village on 14th Street, for which we have continuing responsibility. We work with community partners to build and rehab affordable housing units, sponsor information forums, and advocate for the community. Our board meetings are open for all All Souls members periodically after church.

Established in 1973 through a generous donation from Earl and Meta Beckner, the All Souls/Beckner Advancement Fund helps make the community around the church more cohesive, attractive, and forward-looking, while fostering human rights and dignity. The Fund supports efforts to advance social justice, distributing over $100,000 in grants annually.

Formerly known as the Hiroshima Children’s Drawing Committee, the Heiwa Peace Project carries out All Souls Peace and Reconciliation Ministry. We develop a program of peace activities (e.g., nuclear non-proliferation, refugee assistance) for the congregation that carries forward Rev. Dr. A. Powell Davies' commitment to and philosophy of peacemaking into the present. We create educational resources and opportunities to share the story of the Hiroshima Children’s Drawings and its contemporary meaning beyond All Souls.

We commemorate the annual August anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb with events and exhibits of the All Souls Hiroshima Children’s Drawings. We carry forward a unique interfaith multicultural partnership with Japanese Buddhist Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK) Hiroshima Dharma Center known as the Heiwa Peace Exchange.

LGBTQIA Souls is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, agender, and allies who are a part of the All Souls community.

We are committed to:
•Creating a safe, welcoming and engaging environment for LGBTQIA members, significant others, families, guests, and all who enter our doors or engage with All Souls in the community.
•Supporting issues of equity, equality and justice impacting LGBTQIA people within the congregation, the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, and nationally-- especially those issues impacting the most marginalized.
•Strengthening the bonds of the Beloved Community within and beyond All Souls by hosting fun and educational events.

We are committed to building a community where people can be their full selves by recognizing and honoring the fullness and complexity of identity as it exists at the intersections of racism, homophobia, misogyny, transphobia, ableism, classism and other oppressions.

We educate, inspire and create opportunities for All Souls community to lead more environmentally sustainable, just and spirit-filled lives. Environmental and Climate Justice: Activities and issues include participation in rallies/marches and petitions to address global warming, Adult Spirituality Classes exploring ways to protect our planet, supporting DC divestment from fossil fuels, greening our church, zero-trash lunches, fair trade sales, ethical eating, Earth Day events, addressing environmental racism, films, outdoor hikes and kayaking and social activities. We always seek volunteers for activities and leadership roles.