United Pastors for Social Empowerment

Welcome to United Pastors for Social Empowerment!

UPSE is a collaboration of Pastors, institutions and community members that come together to address the issues that disproportionately affect poor and marginalized populations living in our local post-industrial context. We feel that the most effective way to address these issues is from a faith based-community collaboration and by utilizing a solution-centered approach.

Building upon the strengths of community institutions, human services organizations and the faith based communities we are committed to obtaining positive outcomes in the following focus areas:

- Community Health

- Community Education (education equity, success, and retention)

- Community Development (closing the wealth gap)

- Community Justice

Obviously, we feel that this is a new approach to address urban problems and meet the needs of the community. The group meets at 5:30 PM the 2nd Monday of each month at The Croxton Auditorium at the Toledo Hospital just off the lobby in the older "Legacy" building.

Here is our vision and mission:

Vision

The United Pastors for Social Empowerment, a coalition of pastors, is committed to using its collective power to effectively empower communities of color and marginalized populations economically, socially, politically, and spiritually.

Mission

The United Pastors for Social Empowerment is an independent ecumenical group of senior pastors working in collaboration with community leaders and institutions to challenge the crises and disparities affecting the poor, marginalized, and communities of color through public policy advocacy, community development and through political empowerment and coalition building.

Access to Justice Awards Dinner & Celebration

Join us on Thursday, June 20th at the Pinnacle in Maumee for the 2024 Access to Justice Awards Dinner & Ceremony where we will be honoring extraordinary service in the public interest by individuals and organizations in northwest Ohio. All proceeds benefit Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. (LAWO), and the Toledo Bar Association (TBA) Pro Bono Legal Services Program. A VIP reception will kick off the festivities at 6:00 p.m., followed by a public reception at 6:30 p.m., with the dinner and awards ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Those looking to be inspired by this year’s keynote speaker and award recipients can purchase individual tickets or sponsorships online at ablelaw.org/A2J-support.

From The Toledo Blade (click photo to go to full article):