Meet the Youth Office
The Youth Office, or YO for short, is part of the Lifespan Faith Development staff group at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston, MA. Aside from arguing who gets to ride shotgun in rental cars and having dance parties in the hall, we serve all of Young Religious Unitarian Universalism (YRUU) and Unitarian Universalist Youth Programming. Just a small task for four dedicated folks.Betty Jeanne Rueters-Ward serves as the June YRUU Program Specialist (YPS) and focuses on Youth Office trainings, social justice organizing (like the YRUU Social Justice Conference), and supporting queer and questioning Unitarian Universalist (UU) youth. She also collaborates with other Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff and volunteers on all the Anti-Racism work going on in our communities. Originally from Arlington, MA, she graduated from Ithaca College and enjoys such fine things as eating, sleeping, and subjecting her office-mates to the "Love Actually" soundtrack over and over. Contrary to rumors you may have heard, she is not vegan, though she may well be in the future.
Brian Kuzma, the September YRUU Programs Specialist, focuses on Anti-Racism programming, supporting Youth of Color, coordinating the YRUU Continental Conference, and helping plan General Assembly. He hails from outside Ann Arbor, MI, was active in Heartland District YRUU programmming, and is currently taking time off from studying at Earlham College in Indiana. Curious about chaplain trainings? Talk to Brian! When he's not in the office you can find him climbing rocks and hanging from ropes (intentionally).
Jesse Jaeger, who hails from Madison, WI, is the Youth Programs Director. He is just starting his third year in the office and is having tons of fun. Feel free to contact him if you have any question or need help with your youth program. His son Lorn is just starting to walk which is good because Jesse and his wife Natalie just bought a house so he has all sorts of new places to explore. Give Jesse a call or email him. He would love to hear from you!
Ethan Field, the Youth Office Assistant is the mysterious voice on the Youth Office answering machine, and the main person behind yruu @ uuaorg. Originally from the Ohio Meadville District, Ethan has been active in youth and young adult communites for years. He is hyped to have finally seen the Beastie Boys live, and is responsible for conference registrations, all sorts of logistical and administrative support and providing the Youth Office with funky and groovy tunes. Fun fact: Ethan lived and worked in Tanzania for three years.
Chuck Sokol is temporarily playing the role of Youth Office Intern. Filling the role of Synapse Layout/ Typography Editor, his term will be ending upon the release of this issue. Originally from the green hills of Vermont, he now attends Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA. Chuck became involved in YRUU in his late teens, and as such has made it his goal to ease the bridge between youth and young adulthood for everyone in YRUU.
The Youth Office would love to hear from you! Our contact information is below.
Trivia question: Which two members of the Youth Office staff graduated high school the same year as the gang on “Saved by the Bell?"
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
