The Organizers |
We are organizing a New York UU State Advocacy Network |
Kamila Jacob (she/her) is the NYUUJ organizer. Kamila is a lifelong UU who has coordinated outreach and events for the UU UN Office and led youth and religious education programs for All Souls NYC. Her experience includes work as a political field organizer and virtual events tech consultant. She earned a BA in Sociology at Muhlenberg College and a Masters in Human Rights and Democratization from the European Inter-University Centre. Kamila brings her passion for social justice and her strong support for NYUUJ and belief in its power as a catalyst for individual and community development. Kamila's position is funded in part by the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility.
The current board members of the NYUUJ Organizing Team, listed below, are leaders with experience in faith-based social action, community organizing, religious education, long-range planning, and fundraising and growth:
Rev. Peggy Clarke (Chair) began her ministry at Community Church of New York the summer of 2019. Previously she served as solo minister at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings on Hudson for eight years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Peace Studies and a Masters in Historical Theology from Boston College. Her doctoral work was in American Religious History. Rev. Clarke has served on the board of the UUA’s climate justice initiative Commit2Respond, the UU Environmental Justice Collaboratory and as chair of the UU Food Justice Ministry. She was one of the denomination's Observer Delegates at the 2015 United Nations Climate Summit in Paris, represented our denomination at Standing Rock and most recently at the Mexican American border, calling attention to the crisis of separated families.
Claire Deroche (Secretary) is the Social Justice Coordinator for the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset. Claire supports congregational justice initiatives and collaborates with local faith communities and grassroots organizations to involve UUCSR in the concerns of the wider community. For the last eight years, with members of the congregation, she has worked with the Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC) to advocate for the passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. Previously, Claire worked as a teacher, religious education professional, and volunteer director at Catholic parishes and non-profits in Maine and New York. While teaching in Maine in the 1980s, she was state coordinator for NETWORK, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby. From 1986 to 1992 she served with the Maryknoll Sisters in La Paz, Bolivia. Claire has an MA in Biblical Studies from Providence College.
Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson serves as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, on Long Island in Bridgehampton. Kimberly serves on the Organizing Collective Board for BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism). Kimberly also serves as co-chair of the UUA Appointments Committee and is a member of the Steering Committee for UU Class Conversations, and the Board of Trustees of the UU Women's Federation. She gets to work at the nexus of faith formation, youth ministry, and racial justice as a Program Leader with the UU College of Social Justice. And she's likely to be spending her summer working with youth through UU Summer Seminary, FaithLab, or Thrive, leadership experiences for youth of color.
Peggy Sherman is a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany and a past board member of Interfaith Impact of New York State. She served as president of the Albany congregation from 2013-16, led the team responsible for the congregation’s 2009 strategic plan, and currently serves on the Ministries and Operations Team. After earning an MBA at Cornell University, Peggy held senior level public policy and financial management positions in several New York State agencies as well as the State Assembly.
Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan (she/they) is the lead minister of First Unitarian Church of Rochester.
Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright is the Associate Minister of All Souls New York City.
The current board members of the NYUUJ Organizing Team, listed below, are leaders with experience in faith-based social action, community organizing, religious education, long-range planning, and fundraising and growth:
Rev. Peggy Clarke (Chair) began her ministry at Community Church of New York the summer of 2019. Previously she served as solo minister at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings on Hudson for eight years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Peace Studies and a Masters in Historical Theology from Boston College. Her doctoral work was in American Religious History. Rev. Clarke has served on the board of the UUA’s climate justice initiative Commit2Respond, the UU Environmental Justice Collaboratory and as chair of the UU Food Justice Ministry. She was one of the denomination's Observer Delegates at the 2015 United Nations Climate Summit in Paris, represented our denomination at Standing Rock and most recently at the Mexican American border, calling attention to the crisis of separated families.
Claire Deroche (Secretary) is the Social Justice Coordinator for the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset. Claire supports congregational justice initiatives and collaborates with local faith communities and grassroots organizations to involve UUCSR in the concerns of the wider community. For the last eight years, with members of the congregation, she has worked with the Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC) to advocate for the passage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. Previously, Claire worked as a teacher, religious education professional, and volunteer director at Catholic parishes and non-profits in Maine and New York. While teaching in Maine in the 1980s, she was state coordinator for NETWORK, the Catholic Social Justice Lobby. From 1986 to 1992 she served with the Maryknoll Sisters in La Paz, Bolivia. Claire has an MA in Biblical Studies from Providence College.
Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson serves as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, on Long Island in Bridgehampton. Kimberly serves on the Organizing Collective Board for BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism). Kimberly also serves as co-chair of the UUA Appointments Committee and is a member of the Steering Committee for UU Class Conversations, and the Board of Trustees of the UU Women's Federation. She gets to work at the nexus of faith formation, youth ministry, and racial justice as a Program Leader with the UU College of Social Justice. And she's likely to be spending her summer working with youth through UU Summer Seminary, FaithLab, or Thrive, leadership experiences for youth of color.
Peggy Sherman is a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany and a past board member of Interfaith Impact of New York State. She served as president of the Albany congregation from 2013-16, led the team responsible for the congregation’s 2009 strategic plan, and currently serves on the Ministries and Operations Team. After earning an MBA at Cornell University, Peggy held senior level public policy and financial management positions in several New York State agencies as well as the State Assembly.
Rev. Shari Halliday-Quan (she/they) is the lead minister of First Unitarian Church of Rochester.
Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright is the Associate Minister of All Souls New York City.