My life has been committed to community building, through arts, education, service, and justice-making.  I have answered various calls to leadership in service to the needs of my communities. Prior to entering the ministry, I was a singer-songwriter, a counselor to new mothers, an editor of liturgical and musical resources for the Lutheran Church in America, a teacher and arts educator, a director of a community theatre and a large summer camp, and president of a human services organization in Fairfax County. I served as a Director of Religious Education while I  studied for the ministry. I  was ordained in 1997.

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In all my roles, I have been a supporter of families and children, and a leader for education reform, women's health rights, peace education, and sexuality education.  I was instrumental in founding and supporting the growth of a broadbased power organization working for justice for poor and immigrant people in Northern Virginia – VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement).  I worked with the UUCA leaders who support the Mayan people in Guatemala,  through visits to that country, support of “accompaniers” to keep the people there safe, and contributions to the education of youth through scholarships and mentorships. And I have been honored to lead in my professional organizations, my seminary,  and the denomination.

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The daughter of a UCC minister and chaplain, I spent a decade studying and practicing with a Buddhist teacher and sangha.  I eventually found my way to a religious home in UUism, in which my mission is “To empower all souls to be co-creators of the beloved community.”  Helping others become powerful artists of their lives is the common thread that weaves together all my interests, in art, music, education, justice-making, pastoral care, and service.  I draw inspiration from community builders who have come before us, reminding us that through connections and partnerships, we can come together to make the change we dream of.

Family is core to who I am.  Second child of four in a family raised by a UCC minister and an English teacher, in Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio; launched into teen years in the Civil rights era, living in the DC suburbs, as my dad entered mental health chaplaincy, I became a singer songwriter on the coffee-house and protest movement circuit; married at age 20 to my college sweetheart, Dale, to move to Canada during the Vietnam years (we returned to the States afterwards, to be close to family!);  lived with a grandfather as my husband got his PhD in Philadelphia, and my first two children were born;  career and extended family took us to Northern VA suburbs of DC, building strong family and friends relationships, a third child born, my music performance  turning to theater and teaching and organizing.   Now decades later, my father and mother have died, two of our children are married and given us grandchildren, and Dale and I live in a home we love.  I realize how incredibly blessed I have been - family, ministry, friends - and I want to continue to be of service to community.