We are proud to announce that the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson has been named as the 2010 winner of the prestigious Bennett Social Justice Award by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). The news came via a letter from the UUA dated April 2, according to Leila Pine, chair of the UUCT Immigrant Rights Working Group.

The award, which is presented to only one congregation in the United States each year, is for outstanding social justice work through its No More Deaths humanitarian aid ministry, and immigrant rights advocacy by its Immigrant Rights Working Group through educational forums and social witness at rallies and marches.

The UUA will present the Bennett Award to the Rev. Diane Dowgiert at the national General Assembly (GA) in late June in Minneapolis. The framed award certificate also comes with a $500 check for social justice work.

"[The] UUCT has been nationally recognized for your advocacy to end the human rights crisis at the border-from leaving water in the desert for border crossers, to documenting Border Patrol abuses, to crafting legislation on humane border enforcement, and advocating for immigration reform," said Susan Leslie, Director of the UUA Office for Congregational Advocacy and Witness.