ASSEMBLY 2014 WORKSHOPS
Workshop Leader Bios
Christine Ahn is co-founder of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI), National Campaign to End the
Korean War, and Global Campaign to Save Jeju Island. She has addressed the United
Nations, U.S. Congress and National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea and
has led peace and solidarity delegations to North and South Korea.
Catherine Akale is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary in Yaounde, Cameroon. Her
work examines gender issues in institutional structures and decision- making processes, and
women's participation in church and society and includes leadership development through
education and training and prison ministry at the Yaounde Central Prisons. She also serves as
a resource person for World Day of Prayer Cameroon National Committee. Akale's efforts
focus on women's leadership roles within the church through an analysis of constraints that
inhibit women's skills development and managerial efficiency and limits their capacity to
exercise leadership in promoting women's empowerment. She empowers United Methodist
women by emphasizing self-reliance translated into skills-building and action in all needs and
aspects of women's lives.
Donna Akuamoah is from Ghana, West Africa, and she is the youngest of six children. She
completed her primary and secondary education in Ghana, after which she received a full fouryear scholarship to attend Claflin University, a United Methodist- affiliated college in South
Carolina. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in English and a double minor in French and
history in 2008. She then went on to study law at Duke University and graduated with a juris
doctor degree in September 2011. Her career goal is to serve as an international human rights
advocate on behalf of women and children in Africa. She is currently executive for international
ministries for United Methodist Women.
Susan Amick has been witnessing the journeys of people experiencing life transition and
transformation for nearly 25 years. She teaches, listens and leads in a way that honors each
person's uniqueness and seeks to integrate mind, body and spirit. Amick has served as
chaplain in a large retirement community, as therapeutic recreation specialist in multiple health
care settings and as spiritual director for clergy and other caregivers. She also leads retreats
and spiritual practice seminars. Susan holds an master's degree in spiritual formation from
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, along with a master's in governmental
administration degree in health care administration from University of Maryland and is a
candidate for ordination as a deacon in The United Methodist Church. She currently resides in
New York with her husband and two active and creative teenagers.
Sarah Augustine is the co-director of Suriname Indigenous Health Fundand professor of
sociology at Heritage University, where she is also the director of student spirituality.
Augustine led a team of Indigenous and church leaders to draft the World Council of Churches'
statement on the doctrine of discovery and its enduring impact on Indigenous Peoples and
organized an international coalition to deepen institutional commitment to an Indigenous-led
Program at the council. She is working within an international ecumenical movement to
dismantle the doctrine of discovery and build a solidarity movement among people of faith
promoting divestment from resource-extractive industries. A trained mediator, the focus of her
practice is in group conflict transformation, community engagement and racial justice. Sarah's
traditional homeland is among the Pueblo people in northern New Mexico.
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Praveena Balasundaram is executive for mission resources for United Methodist Women. She is
also the co-editor of United Methodist Women News. Balasundaram has been a member of
United Methodist Women since 1998. She has lead in programs at local, district, cluster and
conference events. She has been a Mission u study leader and also equips women for
leadership through writers' workshops both nationally and internationally. She is a frequent
contributor to response magazine and author of two books: Border Crossing, a children's
mission study on India and Pakistan, and 300 Years of ISPCK, a study on Christian publishing
in India. Balasundaram is a member of United Methodist Women at Trinity United Methodist
Church in Lebanon, Pa., where her husband serves as minister. She and her husband have a
son and daughter in college.
Lyda Barr is excited to attend her first Assembly. After attending Limitless: Redefine Tomorrow,
she helped lead the Limitless Retreat for the Pacific Northwest Conference. She has worked in
youth ministry for several years and enjoys leading music in worship around a camp fire and in
the chapel at a women's prison in Washington State.
Stephen (Esteban) Bartlett has been the coordinator for education and advocacy with
Agricultural Missions since 2000. He learned his farming in the Dominican Republic and is
currently an urban agriculturalist and food justice advocate working in and around Louisville,
Ky., where he lives with his wife Ada and three college-aged children. His work with Ag
Missions has meant a life of adventure and struggle alongside powerful social movements in
Latin America, Africa, Asia and in the United States. His former career training as a linguist
and language teacher has found a worthy application in the food sovereignty, food justice
movement, where he often acts as an interpreter and translator.
Phyllis Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at Institute for Policy Studies. She is also
a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. She has been a writer, analyst and
activist on Middle East and United Nations (UN) issues for many years. In 2001 she helped
found and remains on the steering committee of the U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation.
She works closely with the United for Peace and Justice anti- war coalition, co-chairs the UNbased International Coordinating Network on Palestine, and since 2002 has played an active
role in the growing global peace movement. She continues to serve as an adviser to several
top UN officials on Middle East and UN democratization issues. She has authored eight books.
Chloe Breyer is executive director of the Interfaith Center of New York and also serves as an
associate priest at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Harlem. Previously, Breyer worked at
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, as chaplain to the Cathedral School and director of the
Cathedral Forums on Religion on Public Life. After 9/11, Breyer undertook an interfaith
initiative to rebuild a bombed mosque in Afghanistan and has returned four times for additional
faith-based aid projects, including a women's health clinic and a co-ed school. Breyer worked
with the U.S. Campaign for the Millennium Development Goals to raise awareness about the
goals among American religious leaders. She is author of The Close: A Young Woman's First
Year at Seminary (Basic Books, 2000) and is also a contributor to Slate. She is working on her
Ph.D. in Christian ethics at Union Theological Seminary.
Shelly Brooks-Sanford joined the United Methodist General Board of Pension and Health
Benefits Center for Health team following 20 years of service as pastor of local congregations
of all sizes in addition to serving as a district superintendent in the Central Texas Annual
Conference. Prior to entering ministry full time, Brooks-Sanford worked as a family practice
physician.
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Brenda Brown is certified lay speaker who has served in many capacities throughout The United
Methodist Church on the local, state and national level. She's served as director on the boards
of Women's Division and the General Board of Global Ministries and as vice president for
United Methodist Women, representing the national organization at various Church Women
United assemblies around the world. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and
works as a public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration in Fayetteville, N.C.,
and owns and operates a small cosmetics business. Brown is president of her local United
Methodist Women and her local church administrative council.
Carolyn Scott Brown is the director of learning and resources for FaithTrust Institute, helping
faith and community organizations work toward prevention and intervention for domestic and
sexual violence, child abuse, teen dating violence and ministerial misconduct. She was
recognized for community service by the National Council of Negro Women, Seattle Section.
She speaks at faith-based health ministry events and retreats. An author, psychologist and
consultant, she has an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a master's degree in
counseling psychology from Columbia University. She is the author of The Black Woman's
Guide to Menopause: Doing Menopause With Heart and Soul.
Peter Buck is a worker/owner at Equal Exchange, the country's oldest and largest 100 percent
fair trade food company. He joined Equal Exchange in 2002 and is responsible for several of
Equal Exchange's partnerships with faith-based organizations. He is a parishioner at Sacred
Heart Catholic Parish in Roslindale, Mass., where he lives with his wife and two children.
M. Garlinda Burton, Nashville, Tenn., is founder and lead trainer for MotherWit, assisting
nonprofit agencies, businesses, religious groups and schools in reducing discrimination and
discord and building civility and creativity in the workplace. Burton worked for more than 30
years as a journalist, editor and social justice advocate in The United Methodist Church, most
recently a general secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women.
Barbara E. Campbell is a retired staff member of the Women's Division who remains active in
United Methodist Women. She continues to enjoy research and writing about the predecessor
organizations of United Methodist Women and unheralded women pioneer leaders. A
deaconess, she resides at Brooks-Howell Home, Asheville, N.C.
Emma Cantor is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary in the East Asia/Pacific region
facilitating gender training and leadership development. A native of the Cagayan Valley,
Philippines, Cantor earned a bachelor's degree in Christian education from Harris Memorial
College and a master's degree in women and religion from St. Scholastica's College. She
completed further studies in feminist theology through St. Scholastica's Office of Formation
and Religious Studies.
Maurice Carney is a co-founder and executive director of the Friends of the Congo. He has
fought with Congolese for more than 15 years in their struggle for human dignity and control of
their country. Carney worked with civic associations in West Africa providing training on
research methodology and survey. He served as the interim Africa working group coordinator
for the Rev. Jesse Jackson while he was special envoy to Africa. He has provided analysis on
the Congo for Al Jazeera, ABC News, Democracy Now, Real News Network, Pambazuka
News, All Africa News, and a host of other media outlets.
Hikari Kokai Chang is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary serving as administrative
and program director of the Wesley Foundation in Tokyo, Japan, an independent organization
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engaged in activities of public benefit in Japan with ties to United Methodist Women and the
General Board of Global Ministries. The Rev. Chang was appointed in 2012 to lead the
foundation toward official recognition as a public benefit entity under Japanese law. The
foundation hosts and promotes educational and social activities in partnership with churches
and other nongovernmental organizations.
Dawn Chesser is an elder in the Holston Conference. She has an master of divinity degree from
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is completing her PhD in liturgical studies. She
served for 18 years in the Northern Illinois Conference and is currently the director of
preaching ministries for the General Board of Discipleship.
Judy Chung is an ordained elder of the California-Pacific Annual Conference and associate
general secretary of Missionary Services at the General Board of Global Ministries. In this role
the Rev. Chung oversees the missionary services unit which includes recruitment, training and
support of missionaries, the young adult missionary service and the mission volunteers.
Irma Clark is a member of Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church in Chicago and co-chair of
the church's HIV/AIDS ministry. She is director of lay servant ministries for the Chicago
Southern District, chair of the HIV/AIDS Task Force for the Northern Illinois Conference, vice
president of the Episcopacy Committee for the North Central Jurisdiction, and ambassador for
Healthy Families, Healthy Planet, a project of the General Board of Church and Society. She is
also trustee of United Methodist Higher Education Foundation a director for United Methodist
Women.
Susan Classen is director of Cedars of Peace, a retreat center on the grounds of the Sisters of
Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. When threatened by a proposed hazardous liquids
pipeline, women's religious communities in Kentucky led a faith- based response with an
energy vision that rejects the plundering of God's creation and the endangerment of people in
favor of the transition to renewable sources of energy. Classen writes for a variety of
publications and is the author of two books, Vultures and Butterflies: Living the Contradictions
and Dewdrops on Spiderwebs: Connections Made Visible .
Ebony Cody-Diaz is a seasoned business professional with more than 15 years of experience.
As an executive liaison for United Methodist Women national office, Cody- Diaz works with
United Methodist Women National Mission Institutions to monitor compliance, cross-interpret
mission work through communication and advocacy, and provide resources and training while
building relationships to help support United Methodist Women's mission focuses.
Nora Colmenares is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church and a member of the
North Georgia Conference. She currently serves as assistant general secretary of the General
Board of Global Ministries in the area of congregational development and racial ethnic
ministries. Before coming to Global Ministries she served as associate director of the Office of
New Church Development of the North Georgia Conference overseeing the development of
new ministries with various immigrant groups. Her current work includes resourcing
conferences, churches and leaders in the development of racial/ethnic and multicultural
churches. The Rev. Colmenares has graduate degrees in New Testament and in theology
focused on the area of society, personality and culture. She was born and raised in Venezuela
and lives in New York with her husband and has two daughters.
Caitlin Congdon is manager of communications training and development at United Methodist
Communications. She has a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology and
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an extensive background developing online and face-to-face training programs. She serves on
the board of the Nashville Adult Literacy Council and serving as chair of the McKendree United
Methodist Church Daycare Committee. Congdon lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband
and their three children.
J. Ann Craig is a cradle United Methodist who became a US-2 after graduating from Nebraska
Wesleyan. She attended Yale Divinity School and joined the staff of the General Board of
Global Ministries. She then joined United Methodist Women as the executive for spiritual and
theological development. After retiring early she became the first director of faith for the Gay
and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and helped Lutheran, Presbyterian and
Episcopalian faith leaders garner national media as each denomination voted to allow gay
clergy. Craig led the "Love Your Neighbor" communications campaign for the 2012 General
Conference of the United Methodist Church. As a consultant she works for the Metropolitan
Community Church and is helping found the Fellowship Global to support African faith leaders
who are working for LGBT equality. She is a member of New Paltz United Methodist Church.
Dalila Cruz grew up in the Rio Grande Conference. She has worked for the General Commission
on Religion and Race and the General Council on Ministries and has served as the Director for
MARCHA, the Hispanic Caucus of The United Methodist Church. As a Women's Division staff
member she worked out of Glide Memorial in San Francisco and in New York City. After
retiring from the Women's Division in 1996 she returned to San Antonio and became active
with her local home church of La Trinidad, working with the local Metro Alliance. She served
for two quadrennia for the National Council of Churches USA and also for the General
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns. Cruz is a 2013 recipient of the
Methodist Federation for Social Action Southwest Texas Conference Lifetime Achievement
Award.
Judith Daka is director of programs for the Ecumenical Development Foundation in Zambia. The
foundation is committed to improving the lives of women and strengthening their communities
by addressing local food needs through organic farming and helping women work to achieve
food security and learn farming and business skills. Daka engages in advocacy for local land
ownership, particularly by women. She is a mother of five children and has five grandchildren.
Daka, a farmer, still does not hold title to the land she farms.
Glory E. Dharmaraj is executive director for the Interfaith Mission Institute for the Asian
American Federation. She is retired director of spiritual formation and mission theology for
United Methodist Women and author and co-author of several books including Concepts of
Mission, Mutuality in Mission, and, most recently, A Theology of Mutuality. Dharmaraj has led
workshops, mission studies and retreats at various levels for many years.
Jacob Dharmaraj has earned master's degrees in political science and public administration as
well as divinity, sacred theology and theology in biblical studies. He also holds a PhD in
theology of mission. He has written several books and numerous articles in the areas of
Christian mission, immigration and interfaith relations. The Rev. Dharmaraj is pastor of Shrub
Oak United Methodist Church in Shrub Oak, N.Y.
Liz Dunbar has been the executive director of Tacoma Community House since April 2009. She
directs the agency's services to immigrants, refugees and low-income persons. Services
include education, employment, immigration assistance and advocacy for crime victims. She
has 35 years of experience working with immigrants, refugees and low-income families.
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Fay M. Flanary, deaconess, has served as vice president and program chair of her local United
Methodist Women and served on the Connecticut/Western Massachusetts District leadership
team both as mission education interpretation chair and as vice president and program chair.
Commissioned as a deaconess in 2004, Flanary's current deaconess assignment is
coordination of lay visitation ministry at Hope United Methodist Church in Belchertown, Mass.
Elected in 2010, she is the current president of the Northeast Jurisdiction Deaconess, Home
Missioner and Home Missionary Association.
Heather White Godfrey studied modern, ballet, African and Simonson Jazz at Barnard College,
where she earned a bachelor's degree in dance. She has performed in professional
productions of West Side Story, White Christmas, Damn Yankees, and Fiorello! as well as the
National Tour of The Will Rogers Follies. She also focuses on liturgical dance, dancing and
teaching at worship services, conferences and camps across the country, including United
Methodist Women's Assembly and National Seminar and several worship services held at the
Church Center for the United Nations. She is the co-founder of Dance Project of Washington
Heights, a donation-based dance program, and the owner of Jump Start! creative movement
for early childhood education, which provides creative movement classes for day cares and
preschools.
Melanie Gordon serves as director of ministry with children in the Leadership Ministries Division
of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. She provides nationwide
training and resources and researches and networks for leaders and teachers engaged in
ministry for children, including faith formation, weekday preschool ministries, worship, Safe
Sanctuaries and advocacy. She offers workshops, webinars, and retreats that focus on
developmentally appropriate faith formation for children. Gordon is author of What Every Child
Should Experience: A Guide for Teachers and Leaders in United Methodist Congregations and
Children's Ministry Guidelines for the 2013-16 Quadrennium and co-authored Guidelines for
Weekday Preschool Ministry Programs in United Methodist Churches. She blogs at
ministrywithchildren.com.
Gilbert C. Hanke is a lay member of the Texas Conference and general secretary for the
General Commission on United Methodist Men. He's blended his profession as a speechlanguage pathologist with passion for missions and has served United Methodist Men as a
local, district, conference and national president.
Jerry Hardt is staff of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, an organization inspired by a vision
for a better future for all people. Members have been involved in grass-roots, community
organizing for 32 years. With roots in communities exploited for coal, it is now a statewide
multi-issue organization challenging—and changing—unfair political, economic and social
systems.
Dawn Wiggins Hare is the general secretary of the General Commission on the Status and Role
of Women (COSROW). She is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and is a
licensed attorney in the states of Alabama and Florida. Prior to being elected general
secretary, she served as circuit judge for the 35th Judicial Circuit in Alabama. Hare served as
delegate General Conference in 2008 and in 2012. She has held numerous leadership
positions at Monroeville United Methodist Church, the Bay Pines District, the Alabama-West
Florida Conference, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference and the general church. In
2012 she was the recipient of the Alice Lee Award given by the Alabama West-Florida
Conference COSROW for her service to her church, community and the women of The United
Methodist Church.
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Laura Hartman is assistant professor of religion at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Her
areas of specialization include environmental, sexual, social and medical ethics. She earned
her bachelor's degree from Indiana University and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. She is
author of The Christian Consumer: Living Faithfully in a Fragile World (Oxford University
Press, 2011), which offers a view of consumption that draws on Christian thought from biblical
times to the present day. She has become an advocate for public transit and a regular shopper
at Goodwill and the farmer's market. She asks her readers to examine the often overlooked
habits, structures and choices that underlie the patterns of consumption in human lives.
Hartman also blogs for the Huffington Post.
Rachel Harvey is a deaconess serving as the program director of the Reconciling Ministries
Network where she relationally organizes, educates and advocates for the full inclusion of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Based in Chicago, Harvey is an aspiring gardener,
dedicated aunt and an ice cream enthusiast.
Cassia Herron is a community planner with expertise in engagement, development and
organizing. She has developed and managed farmers markets in low-income neighborhoods
in West Louisville, Ky. She worked as an economic development officer for Louisville Metro
Government where she conducted business retention activities, managed streetscape and
beautification projects and helped create the Louisville farm- to-gable initiative. As an
independent grant writing consultant, Herron worked with a team that applied for and was
awarded a $7.9 million obesity prevention grant. For more than 10 years, she has worked with
small farmers and others to improve food and agricultural policies in Kentucky to support local
and regional food systems. She has a master of urban planning degree from the University of
Michigan and is currently pursuing a master's degree in agricultural economics at the
University of Kentucky.
Ronald Higashi was born, raised and educated in Hawaii and received his master of social work
degree from the University of Hawaii. Higashi has been the executive director of Susannah
Wesley Community Center since 1984. He has been involved over the years in various
community organizations, planning groups and task forces both local and regional and has
extensive experience and training in program development and grantsmanship, technology,
governance, risk management, financial management, personnel and nonprofit legal
regulations, outcomes, fundraising and organizational development. He is currently a peer
reviewer with the Counsel on Accreditation.
Anne Hillman is currently a doctor of theology candidate at the School of Theology of Boston
University. She received her master's degree in ecumenical studies from Union Theological
Seminary in 2009 and her bachelor's degree in religion from St. Olaf College in 2007. Hillman's
academic and research interests include the impact of interreligious dialogue on Christian
theology, women's participation in interreligious dialogue and interreligious social action. She
is also in the candidacy process for commissioning as a deaconess in The United Methodist
Church.
Michael Hiser is a professional and adjunct instructor working at Jefferson Community and
Technical College in Louisville, Ky. He is also the vice president of the board of directors of
Mission Behind Bars and Beyond, a licensed minister, father and volunteer chaplain to those in
prison and to individuals who are reentering the community after incarceration. He is a
member of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, a grass-roots social justice organization.
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Stephanie Hixon is a trained consultant and facilitator in severely conflicted situations and has
extensive experience with strategies and processes to help institutions and communities foster
environments of mutual respect and regard for all persons. Serving as executive eirector for
JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation in The United Methodist Church
provides an opportunity for Hixon to embrace her passion for justice, peacemaking and conflict
transformation. In addition to training, teaching and consulting, she has facilitated mediations
and circles of accountability and healing within the Church. She believes that local churches
can be centers of relational healing and peacebuilding for their members as well as the
neighborhoods in which they reside.
Pat Hoerth is a United Methodist deaconess serving in the ministries of eco-spirituality and
environmental justice at Turtle Rock Farm: A Center for Sustainability, Spirituality and Healing
in north central Oklahoma. A trained spiritual director, Hoerth leads retreats that help people
connect with God's revelation in creation and learn to live so that all life can thrive.
Gladys Hubbard is a member of the United Methodist Women at Tioga United Methodist Church
in Philadelphia and a member of United Methodist Women's Program Advisory Group from the
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Jeanette Huezo is educational coordinator for United for a Fair Economy. She coordinates the
organization's education work and facilitates workshops, particularly for Latino groups, and is
co-author of several of the organization's State of the Dream reports. Huezo has empowered
women, immigrants and others facing injustice to participate in the decision-making process
around issues that affect their lives. She has worked with the Latino Parents Association, the
Coalition for Basic Human Needs and the Women's Institute for Leadership Development. She
has also worked as a union organizer for Service Employees International Union Local 254,
organizing immigrant workers like herself to find their voice as members of the labor
movement. Huezo is an advisory board member of the Center to Support Immigrant
Organizing. She is the mother of nine children, two of whom still live in El Salvador.
Alicia Hurle is originally from Louisville, Ky., and holds a master of public administration degree
from the University of Louisville with a concentration in nonprofit management and a graduate
certificate in Pan-African Studies. She spent most of her career in social services and youth
development before joining the staff of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth in January 2013.
Cari Jackson is the founding director of Center of Spiritual Light, which provides holistic spiritual
resources to support individuals and organizations in reenvisioning and reinventing. She
serves as leadership coach and consultant to faith-based organizations, community service
agencies and academic institutions. An ordained United Church of Christ minister, Jackson
has served as pastor of congregations in three different denominations. She holds a Ph.D. in
Christian Social Ethics, MDiv, JD, and BA in Psychology and Sociology. She is the author four
books including Love Like You've Never Been Hurt and For the Souls of Black Folks.
Maggie Jackson is a former director of United Methodist Women from the East Ohio
Conference. She served as director of the department of social work at Cleveland State
University for 18 years and is the former vice president for Christian Social Action for United
Methodist Women's national policymaking body.
Saru Jayaraman is the co-founder and co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers
United (ROC-United) and director of the Food Labor Research Center at University of
California, Berkeley. ROC organizes restaurant workers to win workplace justice campaigns,
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conduct research and policy work, partner with responsible restaurants and launch
cooperatively owned restaurants. She is a graduate of Yale Law School and the Harvard
Kennedy School of Government. She was profiled in the New York Times and was named one
of Crain's "40 Under 40" in 2008, 1010 Wins' "Newsmaker of the Year," and one of New York
Magazine's "Influentials" of New York City. She authored Behind the Kitchen Door (Cornell
University Press, 2013), co-edited The New Urban Immigrant Workforce (ME Sharpe, 2005)
and has appeared on CNN, Bill Moyers Journal, Melissa Harris-Perry, Up With Chris Hayes,
Real Time With Bill Maher, Today Show and NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
Jennifer Jewell is with Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice, in Louisville, Ky.
Ashley Johnson is the United Methodist Women's Inelda Gonzalez Domestic Violence Initiative
Intern. She works to promote resources and training and advocacy opportunities and to
connect to local United Methodist Women for action. She has a bachelor's degree in family
and consumer sciences education from Virginia Tech and has been a United Methodist
Women unit president and coordinated the social media program for her church. Johnson was
part of the 2011 Ubuntu Journey in Brazil focusing on human trafficking and domestic violence.
She lives in Miami, Fla., with her husband.
Cindy Andrade Johnson, a deaconess, was born and lives in Brownsville, Texas. She worked
as a teacher for 30 years. She has served in her local, district, Rio Grande Conference and
South Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Women mission teams. She served as a Yim
Intern for the United Methodist Women Immigrant and Civil Rights initiative, on the board of
the Good Neighbor Settlement House National Mission Institution and as a volunteer with
Justice for Our Neighbors.
Erin Kane is director of research and monitoring with the General Commission on the Status and
Role of Women of The United Methodist Church, based in Chicago, Ill.
Carol Kraemer is a member of Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice (L-SURJ), based in
Louisville, Ky.
Mary Ellen Kris, a deaconess candidate, earned a master of divinity degree with a focus on
poverty and justice from Union Theological Seminary. She is involved with the Poverty
Initiative and provides leadership, coordination and promotion of Ministry With the Poor, an
area of focus of The United Methodist Church for Global Ministries. For more than 20 years
she was a civil, criminal and administrative litigator and environmental lawyer. Kris is a
member of United Methodist Women, the mission church and society committee, and the
board of trustees of St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Manhattan. She is
chair of the New York Annual Conference Board of Church and Society, member of the
conference disaster response committee and director of the United Methodist City Society.
Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee currently serves as the executive for young adult mission service for
the General Board of Global Ministries, offering young adults two-year, justice-focused mission
service opportunities around the world through Global Mission Fellows, US-2 and Mission
Intern programs. Born in South Korea,,raised in Flushing, Queens, and having grown up in
Presbyterian and Methodist Korean American churches that emphasized mission, Lee is
passionate about the integration of faith and justice. She has studied at Williams College in
Massachusetts, Oxford University in Oxford, England, and at Regent College in Vancouver,
Canada. She has engaged in te human rights work with organizations around the world and
has worked with the World Council of Churches United Nations Liaison Office, has served as
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Advocacy Chairperson for Ecumenical Women at the United Nation, and currently serves on
the board of Nexus UMC.
Betty J. Letzig, a deaconess, served for 33 years as staff liaison for National Mission Institutions
including executive for the Deaconess Program Office. In retirement she served for 10 years
as consultant for the Global Ministries Current and Deferred Giving Program. She is an active
member of United Methodist Women, Church Women United, American Association of
University Women and United Nations Association.
Gary W. Locklear is a church and community worker and home missioner currently assigned to
the North Carolina Annual Conference working with the Native American Cooperative Ministry.
His work focuses on leadership development within the 13 Native American congregations and
communities in the North Carolina Conference. He also engages in mission outreach,
recruiting teams and individuals from the Native American community to make life better for
the poor. Locklear is a certified Christian coach, working with laity in the conference. He is the
father of three children and grandfather of four. He is a lifelong member at Sandy Plains United
Methodist Church in Pembroke, N.Ca., where he has served on numerous church, district and
conference committees as well as the general church. He was the recipient of the Harry
Denman Award in 2006.
Diana Loomis is director of development/church relations for McCurdy Ministries, a United
Methodist Women National Mission Institution in Espanola, N.M.
Becky Dodson Louter, a deaconess serving since 2003 as executive for the Office of
Deaconess and Home Missioner. Raised in Columbus, Ga., where her mother was a
deaconess, Louter attended Young Harris College and Columbus State University earning,
respectively, an associate of science in business and bachelor of business administration
degrees. She earned a master of business administration and masters of public health
degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, and studied for deaconess at Brevard
College and Drew Seminary. Prior to her current position, Louter coordinated a recruitment,
education and crisis support network for foster and adoptive families in Kentucky. This position
came after service with a United Methodist retirement community and a United Methodist
affiliated college. She and her husband live near Johnson City, Tenn., with their four children.
Beth Ludlum is the director of college student faith and leadership formation for the General
Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church. A farm girl from
Kansas, she studied agricultural communications at Kansas State University, worked in China,
on Capitol Hill, and at a national nonprofit, and then served as director of recruitment at
Wesley Theological Seminary while completing a master of divinity degree. She's a
commissioned elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church.
In her free time, she loves to run, bike, bake, learn and celebrate life as much as possible.
Karon Mann is a United Methodist Women Director from the Arkansas Conference. She has
served since 1991 as vice president of finance and administration for Mangan Holcomb
Partners, a marketing/advertising/public relations firm in Little Rock, Ark. She earned bachelor
of science degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas.
Alice Mar is executive for world hunger/poverty and sustainable agriculture and development for
the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). She formerly served on the national staff
of Justice for Our Neighbors.
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Jeanne Martin is a haiku poet who incorporates haiku into her expressive arts and social work
practice. Commissioned a deaconess in October 1999, she served in the area of health
education and wellness. Martin has led many retreats and workshops on haiku and is an active
member of the Haiku Society of America and co-founder of the Alewife Brook Haiku Group in
Cambridge, Mass. She teaches haiku at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and in
many community and institutional settings. She also works with formerly homeless older men
and is a faculty field advisor at Smith College School of Social Work. Joan M. Maruskin is the
national administrator of the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program's
Religious Services Program. In this position, she is monitor and provides and guidance and
supervision to the Religious Services staff in Department of Homeland Security detention
centers located in six facilities throughout the country. She and is also the liaison with U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement on religious services. Maruskin is an ordained elder in
The United Methodist Church, an immigration advocate, and a holds masters of divinity and
doctor of ministry degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary. She wrote United Methodist
Women's 2012 spiritual growth study Immigration and the Bible: A Guide to Radical Welcome.
Renée Maas is with Food and Water Watch, a national grass-roots advocacy organization
working with communities to hold government accountable to ensure that food is safe, water is
clean, and broad prosperity is protected from corporate interests seeking private gain at the
expense of the health and welfare of our communities.
Sharon McCart grew up knowing people with disabilities and became a special education
teacher. At the age of 50 she was called to ministry, rounding out her preparation for disability
ministries. Her passion is to bring people of all ages and all types of disabilities to be full
participants in church congregations, believing that the Realm of God will not be accomplished
until everyone is serving God together.
Bill McKibben is the author of a dozen books about the environment, beginning with The End of
Nature in 1989, which is regarded as the first book for a general audience on climate change.
He is a founder of the grass-roots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000
rallies in 189 countries since 2009. Time Magazine called him "the planet's best green
journalist," and the Boston Globe said in 2010 that he was "probably the country's most
important environmentalist."
Bromleigh McCleneghan is the associate for congregational life at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
at the University of Chicago. She is co-author, with Lee Hull Moses, of Hopes and Fears:
Everyday Theology for New Parents and Other Tired, Anxious People (The Alban Institute,
2012). She is a United Methodist elder who earned dual master's degrees in divinity and public
policy from the University of Chicago 2005. She is wife to Josh, mom to Fiona and Calliope,
and is hard at work on her next book, Like Nitroglycerin: Sex, Love and Faith, which will be
published by Abingdon Press.
Juliana Mecera is executive for the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and
Related Violence (SPSARV) at Global Ministries. She has an ecumenical theological
education from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and Union Theological
Seminary. She holds a master's degree from St. Vladmir's and a master of sacred theology
degree from Union. She is passionate about chaplaincy and breaking the silence surrounding
addiction in our churches so that we might lead whole, hope- filled lives. Art Mellor is executive
director of the United Methodist Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence
(SPSARV). Under his direction, SPSARV is renewing its mission to develop effective recovery
ministries in United Methodist congregations throughout the world. He has 20 years of
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experience in addiction treatment. Likewise, he has been a professional educator for more
than years, providing a variety of training experiences related to addiction treatment and
prevention.
Georgette Miller is founder of Georgette Miller and Associates, P.C. A native of Jamaica, she is
a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Rutgers School of Law. Having built a
career in a leading law firm, she left to follow a faith calling to help people file for bankruptcy,
deal with foreclosure and get out of debt. Miller's law firm helps consumers small and large get
out of debt and back on the road to recovery. Miller leads seminars on managing personal
finance and can be heard weekly on a number of radio stations around the country, such as
WLIB-AM (New York), WHUR-FM (Washington, D.C.), WPPZ-FM (Philadelphia) and WFAIAM (Delaware). She is the author of Living Debt Free: What Credit Score, Fear Mongers and
Debt Peddlers Don't Want You To Know.
Elaine Moy is assistant general secretary for finance and administration for the General
Commission on the Status and Role of Women. She has lead the monitoring and research
ministry of the agency, which includes starting the "Women by the Numbers" article in the
commission's newsletter, training monitors for General Conferences, conducting monitoring
training for annual conferences and overseeing denominational research projects regarding
the status and role of women.
FIVE Mualimm-AK was released/exonerated in 2012 since then has worked with the American
Friends Service Committee doing Prison Watch, reentry for those coming home from
incarceration and monitoring of those incarcerated in solitary and population. He is a member
of the Campaign to End the New Jim Crow and the Jails Action Coalition, which monitors the
New York City jail system and recently enforced a system of rule-making for the first time in
New York City jails. He is a core member of the New York and New Jersey Campaign for
Alternatives to Isolated Confinement, a community organizer, and part of the New Jim Crow
network speakers bureau. He travels to colleges and universities to speak around the issues of
mass incarceration and the components of the prison industrial complex.
Ariel Murphy is a high school junior whose first United Methodist Women's meeting was at 6
weeks old and attended the 1998 United Methodist Women Assembly as a baby. She always
felt welcomed into United Methodist Women. Her mother served as a district and conference
president, and Murphy has attended meetings, participated in skits, assisted the registrar,
attended Schools of Christian Mission and is on planning team of Limitless: Redefine
Tomorrow.
Tonya Murphy is a United Methodist Women director based in Atlanta, Ga. She served North
two terms on the United Methodist Women Board of Directors, is a three-time delegate to
General Conference and a former conference and district president. She is mother to a
teenage daughter and wife to a pastor and is proud to be in a family now three generations
into United Methodist Women.
Grace Musuka is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary serving as coordinator of
women's work in Central Africa. She engages in leadership training for women in Cameroon,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Zimbabwe, where she is based in the city of
Harare. Her objective is to empower women as peacebuilders, healers and economic
developers in their communities and as leaders in their churches. Many of the areas served by
regional missionaries are recovering from the trauma and devastation of warfare. This work
also promotes ecumenical collaboration.
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Anissa New-Walker is an award-winning and seasoned integrated marketing strategist and
United Methodist Women consultant. She develops compelling communication messages that
raise the awareness of nonprofit organizations. The messages she creates span all areas of
social media and traditional media. Before working with nonprofits, she worked for Fortune 500
advertising agencies BBDO New York and Bates Worldwide.
Vickie Newkirk is blessed to serve Christ through the organization of United Methodist Women.
She currently serves as a director on the United Methodist Women Board of Directors and as
team leader for the Ubuntu Journey to Sierra Leone, a silent retreat facilitator, and as director
of Lucille Raines Residence.
MaryJane Pierce Norton serves as the associate general secretary in leadership ministries at
the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn. She is an ordained deacon and a
member of the North Carolina Annual Conference. Norton is the author of several books,
including Credo: Confirmation Guide for Parents, Mentors, and Adult Leaders and Making God
Real for a New Generation (with Craig Kennet Miller). She's a member of the Tabitha Circle of
the United Methodist Women at Belle Meade United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn.
Dale Patterson has worked on the staff of the General Commission on Archives and History of
The United Methodist church since 1994. The commission is the archival depository and
historical agency for The United Methodist Church. His tasks include preserving and making
accessible the records of the General Conference, the general agencies and episcopal offices.
Jacqueline Patterson is the director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice and has
worked on women's rights, HIV and AIDS, violence against women, racial justice, economic
justice and environmental and climate justice domestically and internationally with the Center
on Budget and Policy Priorities, IMA World Health, ActionAid, etc. She holds master's degrees
in social work and public health and serves on the U.S. Climate Action Network Board of
Directors and Interfaith Moral Action on Climate Change Steering Committee
Priscilla Pope-Levison teaches theology and women's studies at Seattle Pacific University. She
recently completed her sixth book, Building the Old Time Religion: Women Evangelists in the
Progressive Era (New York University Press, 2014). She is an ordained United Methodist
minister and has served as a local church pastor and as a college chaplain.
Nicole D. Porter is the director of advocacy for the Sentencing Project and manages the project's
state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights and eliminating racial
disparities in the criminal justice system. She works closely with advocates at the state and
local level in planning their media and advocacy strategies to advance criminal justice reforms.
Porter is the former director of the ACLU's Prison and Jail Accountability Project and she has
also worked for the Appleseed Foundation, National Women's Political Caucus and the
American Prospect Magazine. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a
master's degree in public affairs. She received her bachelor's degree in international affairs
from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. She also studied African politics at the
University of Ghana, West Africa.
Rebecca Proctor, originally from Knoxville, Tenn., graduated from the University of Alabama in
2013. She is currently a first year medical student at Quillen College of Medicine. She hopes to
be an OB/GYN after graduation.
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Finda Quiwa is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary serving in her home country of
Sierra Leone. Based in Freetown, she is coordinator for the Global Justice Volunteer, Africa
Pilot Program through the General Board of Globa Ministries. She also works through The
United Methodist Church with youth and young adult programs in Africa.
Jennifer Rodia is director of communications and brand strategy for United Methodist
Communications, where she oversees The United Methodist Church's national advertising and
engagement campaign Rethink Church. She has worked in multiple aspects of film, television
and commercial production and was a producer for NFL Films, producing kickoff,
Thanksgiving, and playoff campaigns, with two spots airing during Super Bowls. Some of her
other clients included Nike, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, Harley-Davidson and Partnership for a
Drug-free America. Her present position at United Methodist Communications allows her to
marry her gifts and work experience with service to the church she has been engaged with for
most of her adult life. The story she now shares is that of the church at work in the world. She
lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and sone.
Janis Rosheuvel is executive for racial justice for United Methodist Women. Born in Guyana,
South America, she has worked in the fields of international development and gender rights at
the Tahirih Justice Center, Women for Women International and Episcopal Relief and
Development and has served as executive director/organizer at Families for Freedom, a New
York-based network of immigrants resisting mass incarceration and deportation. She was
awarded a Fulbright Scholarship fulfilled in South Africa where Rosheuvel documented the
work of social movements organized by migrants, shack dwellers and other working class
activists. She lectures on migration and crime at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and
serves on the boards of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (and the
Black Alliance for Just Immigration. She holds a bachelor's degree in international studies from
American University and a master's degree in conflict resolution from the University of
Bradford in West Yorkshire, England.
Sandra Ruby is a former Women's Division staff member, now retired. She served as mission
interpreter, teacher in Schools of Christian Mission, speaker, trainer, writer of curriculum and
retreat leader. She led Bible Women workshops in several Asian countries. She is currently
serving on the Major and Planned Consultative Committee, developing plans for the 150th
Anniversary Legacy Giving Campaign (2014-2019) for the national office and creating and
piloting a workshop, "Leaving a Legacy," for conferences.
Serna Samuel is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary working with women and youth
in English- and French-speaking areas of the Caribbean. Commissioned in October 2009, she
is working to upgrade organizational development and the infrastructure of the Methodist
Church in the Caribbean and Americas relating to ministries with women and youth. The work
is collaborative and ecumenical and deals with such specifics as HIV and AIDS, violence
against women and youth opportunities.
Steve Schnapp is senior education coordinator for United for a Fair Economy. He is a lifelong
community-based organizer, educator and activist for economic and racial justice. Since 1998
he has designed and led the organization's economics education workshops and training of
trainer events around the country and has also taught community organizing at Boston
University and Springfield College/School of Human Services.
Elmira I. Sellu is a United Methodist Women Regional Missionary based in Sierra Leone serving
as coordinator for the United Methodist Women's leadership development for women's
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programs in the West Africa Central Conference and the East Africa Annual Conference. Sellu
works with women and children in the East Africa Annual Conference, which comprises Kenya,
Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Sudan. She holds workshops on leadership development and
on current issues that affect the lives of women and children, such as HIV and AIDS, women
and children's health, child survival and development, violence against women, the girl child in
Africa, environmental issues and peace education. She also works in the area of poverty
alleviation for women through the initiating of and the ensuring of effective management and
sustainability of income generating projects.
Silky Shah works with the Detention Watch Network, a national coalition of organizations and
individuals working to expose and challenge the injustices of the U.S. immigration detention
and deportation system and advocating for profound change that promotes the rights and
dignity of all persons. She has worked as an organizer on issues related to detention, mass
incarceration, racial justice and immigrants' rights for more than a decade. Before joining
Detention Watch Network in 2009, she worked with Grassroots Leadership fighting the
expansion of for-profit private prisons on the U.S.- Mexico border and with Democracy Now as
an outreach organizer.
Evelene Tweedy Navarrete Sombrero is senior pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in
Yuma, Ariz. Tweedy is a full-blooded Dine' (Navajo) from Inscription House, Ariz., born to the
Kinyaa' 'aanii clan for the Tliz'ila'ni clan. After college she worked for her tribe in Gallup, N.M.
She later moved to Shiprock, N.M., where became Christian education director for Shiprock
United Methodist Church. From there she moved to Kansas City, Mo., to work at St. Paul's
School of Theology in their new program, International School for Native American Ministries
(now the National Center for Native American Ministries at Claremont School of Theology.).
She also worked for the Reorganized Latter Day Saints in Independence, Mo., and for the
Disciples of Christ and the Presbyterian Church as their youth director. Tweedy entered
Seminary at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo., and was ordained deacon in 1988 in the
New Mexico Annual Conference and in 1992 was ordained elder in the Desert Southwest
Annual Conference.
Jeanne Roe Smith, deaconess, has 15 years of experience in campus ministry and currently is
the chaplain and executive director at Wesley Foundation Serving UCLA since 2009.
Previously she served at the Wesley Foundation in Cincinnati. Campus ministry engages
university and congregations in developing strong spiritual leaders who are formed, informed
and transformed by faith and education.
Pamela Sparr is a professional educator and economist. She runs her own consulting business
that focuses on promoting social and personal change in the direction of liberating the human
spirit and on sustainable development. Much of her client work involves bringing a race, class,
and gender focus to addressing poverty and environmental justice. Her particular passion is
working with non-profits to create transformative educational experiences and tools as a
foundation for organizing and advocacy campaigns. Clients have included foundations, U.N.
agencies, labor unions and religious organizations as well as relief and development
agencies.. Earlier in her career, she established and led the office of environmental justice for
the Women's Division of The United Methodist Church. Her advocacy work for the division won
an international award by World Wildlife Fund International and the Alliance of Religions and
Conservation.
Myka Kennedy Stephens, deaconess, is public communications consultant with the Office of
Deaconess and Home Missioner at United Methodist Women. She is a librarian by training and
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is developing information ministries by empowering church leaders to engage growing social
concerns like digital literacy and Internet access for all.
Kathleen Stone is an ordained elder in The United Methodist church who currently serves in the
United Methodist Women Office of Environmental and Economic Justice. Previously she
served as chaplain of the Church Center for the United Nations, as program director for the
General Board of Church and Society's United Nations Ministry, and has served both as
associate pastor and senior pastor in local churches in the Greater New Jersey Annual
conference. She is a proud mom to two grown sons.
Lynn Swedberg is a practicing occupational therapist who also serves as disability consultant
through Global Ministries/UMCOR Health. Her passion is facilitating accessibility and inclusion
in churches and church agencies, especially United Methodist camps and retreat centers. She
is active in her congregation as lay servant (speaker) and in the Pacific Northwest Conference
as accessibility coordinator. She is the author of the 2014-2015 Mission u leader's guide for
the study The Church and People With Disabilities.
Suzuyo Takazato grew up in Okinawa, in southern Japan, where the U.S. military has been
stationed for more than 68 years. She has worked as a social worker for women for 11 years,
then served as an elected member of the city assembly of Naha for four terms. She is co-chair
of Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence and Chair of the Rape Emergency
Intervention Counseling Center, Okinawa.
Julie Taylor is executive for spiritual growth for United Methodist Women. She previously served
as executive for women, youth and child advocacy, leading initiatives on public education,
domestic violence, farm worker living conditions, getting mercury out of child vaccines,
addressing violent video games and ending child labor. She is a native of Alabama and
resides in New York City.
Steve Taylor serves on staff in the North Carolina Conference as outreach team coordinator. He
helps local churches serve their communities, build ecumenical and cross-racial
collaborations, and live as the Body of Christ. He challenges believers to ask, "Where do we
see Jesus?" and he brings a passion for justice and discovering the heart of God in our
relationships with those relegated to the margins of our world.
Opal Tometi is the Co-Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) an organization
that educates and advocates for immigrant rights and racial justice with African-Americans,
Afro-Latinos, African and Caribbean immigrant communities. Opal resides in New York City,
where she also supports BAJI’s flagship program the Black Immigration Network (BIN), a
nationwide network of Black-led organizations, programs and individuals uniting for racial
justice and migrant rights.
Debra Tyree has been actively involved in church music all of her life. Her current ministry is as
executive for Global Praise with the General Board of Global Ministries. Prior appointments
include serving the United Methodist Publishing House as music resources development editor
and serving as the minister of music for Shady Grove United Methodist Church in
Mechanicsville, Va. Her secondary appointment is to minister of music at Bellevue United
Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn., where she oversees the worship and music ministry of
the church. Tyree's passion for engaging everyone in God's songs that are sung throughout
the world is evident in her teaching and worship ministry. She has become known nationally
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for her workshops helping participants develop a sense of the wideness and beauty of worship
that can be created if we learn to pray with one another's songs.
Marva Usher-Kerr is executive for membership for United Methodist Women. She led the team
that organized the Limitless event for young women in 2012 and has been a faithful member of
The United Methodist Church for 30 years. She has been an active on every level of the
church, including serving as General Conference and jurisdictional delegate. Usher-Kerr was
an active officer in United Methodist Women for 15 years, including conference president in
the New York conference. She led studies on Sudan in the Schools of Christian Mission
around the country and has since visited Yei, Republic of South Sudan, working with the
Sudanese United Methodist Women on organizational and literary issues. She is a candidate
for a doctor of ministry degree at New York Theological Seminary.
Nichea Ver Veer Guy is the director of the National Board, West Michigan Conference, and chair
of the finance committee of the United Methodist Women Board of Directors. She also serves
as director of children and family ministries, Grand Rapids Trinity United Methodist Church.
Scott Vickery, home missioner is the executive for community relations in the United Methodist
Women Office of the Offices of Deaconess and Home Missioner. He has been working since
November 2010 with the administrative office as a consultant focusing on the inquiry and
application process. His former ministry appointment was as a high school special education
instructor working with those with severe and profound disabilities. Prior to this ministry he
worked in marketing. He also founded and served as chairman of the Open Door Recovery
Center that ministered to individuals and families suffering from chemical addictions. He has
earned bachelor's and master's degrees respectively in business with an emphasis in
marketing and education. Vickery is married to a deaconess and is a father of three.
Meghan Waddle serves on the United Methodist Women Program Advisory Group, Young
Women's Consultative Group, and as a United Methodist Women agency representative for
the Division of Young Peoples Ministries. She received her undergraduate degrees in
sociology and leadership and professional studies at Washington State University and her
master's degree in executive nonprofit leadership at Seattle University. She works with young
adults as an athletic director, advisor and coach. Waddle is a proud young United Methodist
Women member that fully believes that young women have strong convictions, leadership
potential and energy and that we need to harness young adult's capacity and see them as
leaders today, not just in the future.
Carla F. Wallace grew up on a farm in Oldham County, Ky., and in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
where her grandmother had hidden people resisting the Nazis under her floorboards during
World War II. She has been engaged in social justice work since she was a child, joining her
father in efforts to end racial segregation in Louisville's theaters. Her work as an adult has
included international human rights, affordable housing and police misconduct. She is a
founder of Louisville's Fairness Campaign, which has been honored locally and nationally for
its inclusive justice framework and for winning some of the most inclusive protections for
LGBTQ people in the country. Wallace is a founding member of the national network Showing
Up for Racial Justice, which was organized in the wake of the racial backlash to the election of
the first black U.S. president. She helped establish the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class,
Gender and Sexuality at the University of Louisville and co-chairs the Community Council of
the University's Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research. Her work has recently been
included in a new book, Towards Collective Liberation, by Chris Crass.
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Chia-Chia Wang is the civic participation coordinator with the American Friends Service
Committee Immigrant Rights Program in New Jersey. She supervises community organizers
and oversees advocacy projects in support of immigrant rights. Prior to joining program in
2005, Wang worked for the Children's Defense Fund New York for nearly four years on various
public benefit programs to help lift low-income children and families out of poverty. She has a
graduate degree in international relations.
Sandy Wilder is a consultant for United Methodist Women, coordinating the Major and Planned
Giving Program. She served as a director for the General Board of Global Ministries and as
executive for financial interpretation with the former Women's Division. She has taught in many
conference and regional Schools of Christian Mission (now Mission u), was a volunteer worker
with the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista en Bolivia, and is a former television show host. She
lives in Austin, Texas, where she is active in local, district and conference United Methodist
Women member.
David Wildman is executive for human rights and racial justice with the General Board of Global
Ministries. He relates with partners in the Middle East, Afghanistan and Nepal, and since 2001
he has helped mobilize United Methodists in education and advocacy for just and lasting
peace in Palestine/Israel. He serves on the steering committee for the U.S. Campaign to End
Israeli Occupation and writes and speaks on a wide range of human rights, racial justice and
economic justice struggles. He works with grass-roots and ecumenical human rights groups
and with nongovernmental organizations active at the United Nations. Wildman was previously
a seminar designer at the Church Center for the United Nations leading seminars on a wide
range of peace and justice issues. He holds both master of divinity and a master of philosophy
degrees in Christian social ethics from Union Theological Seminary. He is active in St. Paul's
and St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in New York City and is a father to two.
Lisa C. Williams is founder and CEO of Circle of Friends Celebrating Life and Living Water for
Girls in Atlanta, Ga. Living Water for Girls is a residential and therapeutic program for young
American girls victimized by human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Williams is
author of Beautiful Layers: Stories From Those Who Survived the Life of Prostitution and Child
Sexual Exploitation. She leads a staff of eight and team of 60 volunteers to address the crisis
of trafficked girls.
Katey Zeh is the project director of the Healthy Families, Healthy Planet initiative of the United
Methodist General Board of Church and Society. A graduate of Yale Divinity School, she is a
contributor to the Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches and the newly published anthology
Talking Taboo: American Christian Women Get Frank About Faith.
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