Creating Hubs of Climate Resilience and Community Care: Recording & Resources

Trainings & Webinars
Written By Side With Love

Climate disasters are only getting worse and more frequent. Creating hubs of climate resilience is a critical way our congregations can keep our communities safe. UUs everywhere are rising to the challenge. As part of our Climate Resilience Peer Learning Circle, UUs collaboratively explored possibilities for creating hubs that center love & prioritize justice. These congregations are creating hubs that are “not a bunker, a beacon” grounded in UU values & responsive to their community’s needs.  During our September 2026 Green Sanctuary 2030 Community meeting, we learned how and why these congregations are doing this important work.  

Here’s what folks thought about the meeting

  • “Wonderful to hear about your engagement and attention to climate justice - stories like this keep us going!” Elizabeth M. 

  • “Thanks for sharing the concept of not coming in thinking you have or need all the answers, rather expect help from community members in coming to answers.” John K.

  • “I so appreciated all of the presentations because all of them were focused on a solution & strength-based approach of working together to create safe places to be part of a safe community that works well together and trusts each other.  Thank you!  All of you are an inspiration.” Linda L.

  • “I want to express appreciation for the creative ways in which you are building relationships with community members throughout your environmental justice actions, my favorite was the mobile unit! So much to do and so many opportunities to put these values into practice! 🙏💗” Carolina R.

And the commitments we made together:

  • “I’m going to share this information with others in my congregation.” Grace H.

  • “I will discuss disaster preparedness with our green team.” Maryann D.

  • “I’m going to start organizing an outreach to organizations that deal with public safety and communities most in need.” Gary A.

There are as many ways to become a Hub of Climate Resilience as there are UU congregations!  Eight Peer Learning Circle participants gave elevator pitches on why our congregations should be Hubs of Climate Resilience then we learned more about the unique ways each congregation is approaching becoming a Hub.

You don’t have to go big or go home!  You can - and should - start small, start with a conversation.  Watch the recording, then write your own short elevator pitch!  Here’s the prompt: You’re visiting with folks at coffee hour and someone mentions that they heard you were part of a group that is working on how congregations can become “hubs of climate resilience”.  They ask, Why would we want to do that?  All eyes turn to you…how do you respond?  Share your pitch here!

Materials to support your work!

The UUA has been building on this work for the last four years.  Peer Learning Circle members have helped us create new resources to help you to meet this moment.  

Resources to Create Hubs of Climate Resilience for Disaster Preparedness and Response

Share YOUR progress on creating hubs of climate resilience.  

Go here to:

  • Make your Elevator Pitch on why UU Congregations should become hubs of climate resilience

  • Share a description of how your congregation is thinking about becoming a climate resilience hub - we’ll add it to the case studies!

  • Add to the Resource Base

  • Contribute to the Climate Resilience Worship Materials.  We’re collecting worship resources and also collecting reflections from folks who have lived through a disaster to create liturgical elements for a full worship service. 

We’re still adding things every day, so check that document regularly.  There will soon be a page on the SideWithLove.org website with all of these materials, too.

Support UU the Green Sanctuary 2030 Community! 

If you appreciate this conversation, the Green Sanctuary process, and the way our community comes together, please consider supporting this important work with an individual donation or by organizing a pass-the -plate to make sure all UUs have the support they need to transform our communities through climate justice.  You can make a donation by going to bit.ly/SupportUUClimateJustice. 

Exploring the Essentials

This year, our community meetings are organized to explore one Essential.  This meeting focused on Community Resilience, last month was Justice, next month is on Mitigation, and so on.  Of course, the Essentials are intersectional, so the others will show up, too.  Side With Love is strengthening these explorations with a monthly email including congregational examples, videos, toolkits, and more to support you to take action on the Four Essentials in your community.  Watch for that email the first week of each month!

If you haven’t already, take a moment to sign up for all of the Community Meetings this year.  All are welcome to join these virtual meetings to explore the Four Essentials of Climate Action and find ways we can create climate justice in our communities.  

Recordings

Love is the Framework for Climate Justice - Elio Farley, Climate Justice Fellow

Guided by UU values, the Green Sanctuary community nurtures resilient, thriving communities through climate actions that prioritize justice. All are invited to join our monthly community meetings to learn together, support each other, and celebrate progress.  

Side With Love
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