ORANGE — The National Association of Social Workers defines social justice as the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. And social workers, according to the NASW, should “aim to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need.”
One such social worker, Laura Wagner, has been invited to Orange on Feb. 12 to share her thoughts on how to build the social justice movement. Wagner is the executive director of UU Mass Action, a state advocacy group that mobilizes Unitarian Universalists around social issues in Massachusetts.
Wagner was invited by area churches to deliver a sermon as part of a non-denominational worship service at First Universalist Church at 31 North Main St., and she plans to touch on topics like economic justice and immigrant rights, saying Latinos and Muslims are particularly chastised.
“The message is really about creating a just world. It’s really important, especially during these times, to a vision for justice, creating a world where all people are honored and valued,” she said. “That’s sort of the overarching theme.”
The times Wagner refers to are the days under the Trump administration, which she said is working diligently to roll back the civil rights protections won by previous generations. Her talk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. After a coffee hour and light refreshments from 11:15 until noon, she will participate in a moderated question-and-answer session with discussion on social justice.
“I weave together where we come from — where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re going,” she said.
Wagner said she will talk about environmental justice, LGBT rights, hunger and economic justice. She said anyone working full-time should never live in poverty.
“This is a moral movement, not an issues movement,” she said.
Diane Nassif, a parishioner at The Community Church of North Orange and Tully, said she has heard Wagner speak in the past and discussion of inviting her occurred before the Nov. 8 election.
“The motivation was not so much the election, just the general sense that we need to pull people together around various issues in the community and to get people thinking,” she said.
She said First Universalist Church was selected because it is centrally located in Orange.