Good Trouble Congregations

The late Congressman John Lewis reminded us, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” In that spirit, we are proud to continue the Good Trouble Congregations program. This initiative invites congregations to faithfully stretch their organizing and take bold action that not only makes a meaningful impact in the election, but also strengthens their long-term capacity for justice work. 

Each year, we adjust the criteria to focus on the needs of the moment and to build skills and power collectively. Since its launch in 2022, we have recognized over 50 Good Trouble Congregations across diverse states and congregation sizes, all united by a shared commitment that continues to be the heartbeat of UU the Vote: showing up, speaking out, and building power together.

2026 Good Trouble Congregations Criteria

This year, the Good Trouble recognition will be given to congregations who reach a certain number of goals in each of the 3 core areas. 

Voter Engagement:

(achieve 2 of the 7 criteria)

  1. Average 20 postcards or letters per member 

  2. Average 200 text messages per member

  3. Average 20 calls per member 

  4. Average 20 doorknocks per member

  5. Average 10 ballot petition signatures per member

  6. Average 5 voter registration sign ups per member

  7. REACH : Host 2 REACH trainings*

All voter contact numbers are based on congregation’s member size as reported in the 2025 certification survey. e.g. If a congregation has 100 members, they would need to do 2,000 postcards to meet that goal

Community Safety & Defense:

(achieve 2 of the 4 criteria) 

  1. At least 2 congregants are poll workers, non-partisan poll observers, or Election Defenders

  2. 5 percent of the congregation attends Community Safety & Defense training series* 

  3. At least 5 shifts serving on a safety team in coordination with State Action Network or local partner (Roles include: marshals, street medics, de-escalator, etc.) 

  4. Facilitating a Safety and Wellness Planning session with a group of 5 or more (MUST attend Safety & Wellness Planning Training and use Safety & Wellness Planning Tools) - Coming Soon!

Community Building & Mobilizations:

(achieve 2 of the 5 criteria) 

  1. Hosting a Congregational Solidarity Summit (MUST attend Solidarity Summit Interest Meeting) - Coming soon! *

  2. 5 percent of the congregation attends a Solidarity Summit*

  3. Act as Ballot Initiative Petition Hub or dropoff site  

  4. Reach 20 percent volunteer engagement in UU the Vote programming (national, state, and/or local) 

*HAT TRICK: Reach these specific goals and automatically become a Good Trouble Congregation for 2026. We know that our congregations and communities are engaged in many different and critical ways. All that we do with and for our neighbors is the faithful work of building a democracy where we all thrive. We wanted to offer a pathway to Good Trouble that honors the work we do in partnership and community, the need to build skills to keep one another safe, and the need to be connected and share information. 

So here’s how to do the Hat Trick. 

  • 2 REACH Trainings AND any other criteria from the Voter Engagement section

  • 5 percent of the congregation must attend the Community Safety & Defense training series

  • Use the Solidarity Summit toolkit (Coming Soon!) to host a Congregational Solidarity Summit  OR 5 percent of your congregation attends a Solidarity Summit 

Need Help?

Join us at Office Hour. We will hold Office Hours twice per month for folks working on any UU the Vote programming to answer questions and check in about your program. Office Hours begin on April 15. Check out the events page to sign up for Office Hours.

Good Trouble Congregations

  • AZ - Amado - Borderlands UU (2022)

  • AZ - Chandler - Valley UU Congregation (2022, 2024)

  • AZ - Paradise Valley - UU Congregation of Phoenix (2022)

  • AZ - Surprise - UU Congregation of Surprise (2022, 2024)

  • CA - Grass Valley - UU Community of the Mountains (2022, 2024)

  • CA - Kensington - UU Church of Berkeley (2024)

  • CA - Newbury Park - Chalice - UU Fellowship of the Conejo Valley (2022, 2024)

  • CA - Redwood City - UU Fellowship of Redwood City (2024)

  • CA - San Francisco - First UU Society of San Francisco (2024)

  • CA - San Rafael - UU Congregation of Marin (2024)

  • CA - Santa Monica - UU Community Church of Santa Monica (2022)

  • CO - Colorado Springs - All Souls UU Church (2022, 2024)

  • CO - Colorado Springs - High Plains Church UU (2022)

  • CO - Longmont - The Longmont UU Presence (2024)

  • CT - New London - All Souls UU Congregation of New London (2024)

  • CT - New Haven - First Universalist Society in New Haven (2022, 2024)

  • CT - Westport - UU Congregation in Westport (2022)

  • CT - Woodbury - Mattatuck UU Society (2024)

  • DC - Washington - All Souls Church Unitarian (2022, 2024)

  • DE - Wilmington - First Unitarian Church of Wilmington Del. (2024)

  • FL - North Palm Beach - First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches (2024)

  • FL - Sarasota - UU Church of Sarasota Inc. (2024)

  • GA - Athens - UU Fellowship of Athens Inc. (2024)

  • GA - Dahlonega - Georgia Mountains UU Church (2022, 2024)

  • GA - Roswell - UU Metro Atlanta North Congregation (2024)

  • ID - Boise - Boise UU Fellowship (2024)

  • IL - Bloomington - UU Church of Bloomington Normal (2024)

  • IL - Evanston - Unitarian Church of Evanston (2024)

  • IL - Naperville - Dupage UU Church (2024)

  • IN - Indianapolis - UU Church of Indianapolis (2024)

  • MA - Billerica - The First Parish Church in Billerica (2024)

  • MA - Concord - First Parish in Concord (2024)

  • MA - Worcester - UU Church of Worcester (2022, 2024)

  • MD - Frederick - UU Congregation of Frederick (2022, 2024)

  • MI - Escanaba - UU Bay de Noc Fellowship (2022, 2024)

  • MI - Farmington Hills - Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington (2022, 2024)

  • MI - Grand Rapids - All Souls Community Church of West Michigan (2024)

  • MI - Mt Pleasant - UU Fellowship of Central Michigan (2024)

  • MI - Traverse City - UU Congregation of Grand Traverse (2024)

  • MN - Inver Grove - Dakota UU Church (2024)

  • MN - Mankato - UU Fellowship of Mankato (2024)

  • NC - Lenoir - UU Congregation of Caldwell County (2022, 2024)

  • NE - Omaha - Second Unitarian Church of Omaha (2024)

  • NJ - Cherry Hill - UU Church in Cherry Hill (2024)

  • NM - Santa Fe - The UU Congregation of Santa Fe NM (2024)

  • NM - Rio Rancho - UU Westside Congregation (2022, 2024)

  • NY - Freeport - South Nassau UU Congregation (2024)

  • NY - Schenectady - UU Society of Schenectady (2022, 2024)

  • OH - Toledo - First Unitarian Church of Toledo (2024)

  • OR - Portland - First Unitarian Church (2024)

  • SC - Aiken - Aiken UU Church (2022, 2024)

  • SC - Charleston - Unitarian Church in Charleston (2024)

  • SC - Spartanburg - UU Church of Spartanburg (2022, 2024)

  • TX - Houston - First UU Church of Houston (2024)

  • WI - Ephraim - UU Fellowship of Door County (2024)

  • WI - Hartland - Lake Country UU Church (2024)

  • WI - Marshfield - UU Fellowship of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Inc. (2022)

  • WI - Milwaukee - First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee (2024)

  • WI - Racine - Olympia Brown UU Church (2022, 2024)