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 Universalist (YRUU) and Unitarian Universalist Youth Programming.
Meet Beth
Dana!
Greetings, Synapse readers! My name is Beth Dana, and I am one of
the Youth Ministry Associates (YMA). I’m in the middle of a two year position
at the Youth Office, where I’m focusing on an exciting revisioning and
youth-ministry-deepening process called the Consultation on Ministry To and With
Youth. I also work on Synapse, resource development, and
anti-racism/anti-oppression work.
A bit about myself—I’m twenty-two, a lifelong
Unitarian Universalist (UU), and a former YRUUer from the St. Lawrence District (Albany, NY). I’m taking
time off from school in NYC, where I’m studying urban studies and religion. Just
like the rest of the Youth Office, I’m here to serve YOU. Please give us a call
or send us an email if you have questions or need youth programs support. We’re
friendly people!
Meet Jesse Jaeger!
Hi
All, I am Jesse Jaeger, the Youth Programs Director at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). That means I get
to work with all the Youth Ministry Associates as they provide services to your
youth programs. Besides supporting them with their work I also support the Our
Whole Lives sexuality education curriculum, keep an eye on UU Scouting issues,
manage the Youth Offices budget, and advocate for Youth Programs through out the
Association. I spend a lot of time helping youth and adults who work with youth
figure out what they can do in their congregation. For the past two years I have
also been spending a fair amount of time working on the Consultation on Ministry
to and with Youth. More is being said about that in this edition of Synapse so
if you do not know what I am talking about you should check out the articles
about it. It is a really important that as many people take part as
possible.
When I am not working I am hanging out at my house in Lynn, MA(home of the first Unitarian Youth Group ever). My wife Natalie and I have been married for five years and we have a three-year-old son named Lorn. We like going to the ocean, working in our garden and fixing up our really old house. Hopefully I will have a chance to meet you at your congregation, district, or possibly at some continental event. I look forward to seeing you.
Meet Kat
Manker-Seale!
I’m the incoming Youth Ministry Associate that works on the
Chrysalis Trainings, General Assembly Youth Caucus, and anti-racism and
anti-oppression work. Yep, I’m taking over Marissa Gutierrez’s job and I’m
really excited to work for all of you this year! Hello readers of
Synapse!
Meet Laura Manning!
Hi
ya'll! I am one of the new Youth Ministry Associates in the Youth Office. I am a
nineteen year old queer white womyn from New Orleans. For fun I like to dance, swim,
spend time outside when it's pretty, read, and listen to good music. My focuses
in the youth office are supporting the YRUU Steering Committee and other leaders
in YRUU, planning the Youth Social Justice Training (YSJT), and Youth Council.
AR/AO Support
Together
Kat and Laura will be working with anti-racism and anti-oppression programming
for UU youth. We are both really excited to support youth all over the continent
in beginning and continuing anti-racism work and racial identity development.
Kat will also specifically support youth of color in this journey and Laura is
here to support white youth. We love to chat! Call us! You can reach Kat at
(617)-948-4351 and Laura at (617)-948-4353.
Meet Rek Kwawer!
Hi, I'm
Rek Kwawer, your Youth Office Assistant. I handle many of the day-to-day
administrative tasks at the Youth Office. I answer the phones, and the
yruu @ uua.org email address, help register people for events, handle the details
of the Youth Office finances, and work with the wonderful Youth Office
Volunteers! When I'm not at the Youth Office, I enjoy cooking vegan food, going
to bed early, and taking classes in improvisational dance and
Spanish.
Meet Zoe Engberg!
Hey
everyone! I’m the Summer 2006 Synapse intern. My job, which is now ending with
the completion of this issue, was to lay out the magazine that you are about to
read, as well as do other random tasks around the Youth Office. When I’m not
working I like to explore and discover new places, eat food and food-like
things, make big messes that I don’t have to clean up and discover new and
interesting textures.
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
