In 2024, UUJusticePA will continue to pay attention to legislative realities in our Commonwealth. Rev. Joan will share reflections on the important work of UUJusticePA and the upcoming work of UUtheVotePA. Our elections are no longer about a particular election, elected individual, or particular justice issue, it is all about “saving our democracy.”
Rev. Joan M. Sabatino served as Minister of the First UU Church in Indiana, PA for over fifteen years. During that time, she and the congregation worked together to change their image in the community by being a consistent legitimate voice for liberal religion in a small, conservative western PA town. Consequently, First UU grew significantly. The congregation granted her Emerita status upon her retirement in June 2019.
While in Indiana, PA Joan co-created and co-chaired the Center for Community Growth a progressive advocacy group. The Center helped elect several UUs to the Indiana Borough Council, the Indiana Area School Board, and helped to elect one County Commissioner. She has been the Director of UUJusticePA for three years and continues to work to mobilize congregations to work for justice in Harrisburg.
She is the mother of three adult daughters, has one grandson (age 12), two granddaughters (born 3 weeks apart) turning three this summer, and one grandson on the way (May). She relocated to Harrisburg to take her job with UUJusticePA and she lives in mid-town in a small row house with her dog, Lady.
