Born in Madison, Wisconsin, I was an unplanned “blessing” for my parents who were struggling with the challenges of a multiracial marriage at a time when such a union was not legally recognized in many state. I lived in four states before I was 10, ultimately graduating high school in New Jersey. Formative for me was my discovery of the power of writing, my love of nature and my growing sense of the joy that can be found in relationship with other people. These helped balance some of the context of my early years including my parents’ divorce, my mother’s serious and life-threatening struggles with depression and my father’s alcoholism. Writing, photography and music alone with the wonders available through learning all sustained me.
An avid student journalist in high school, I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I was an English and Journalism major and where I dabbled in campus politics. Little did I know when I moved there at age 17 that I was to spend more than two decades of my life in North Carolina, growing several statewide networks of friends and colleagues. North Carolina’s less developed environs allowed me to explore canoeing, hiking, camping and even windsurfing and hang-gliding, while providing a wonderful canvass for art, photography and the writing which remained my touchstone. Though I dabbled in journalism, I decided to redirect my interest to public policy and even before completing my dual masters’ degrees from Duke University, I was engaged in economic and educational equity issues which were the focus of my professional work until I entered theological school. I was also fortunate to gain nonprofit management experience and to travel extensively in the Caribbean and across the United States and its wildest areas. My non-ministerial professional work encompassed a decade and a half of nonprofit management experience as well as a high level state government appointment and culminated with serving as the executive director of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative which brought together a diverse group of young leaders to work to better human relations in the state.
Hello
Welcome to this virtual synopsis of my life and work as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I am glad to have the chance to share my passion for this faith, which I consider to have been life-saving in my journey. Ardent and passionate about who we are and awed by the legact of courage and innovation we inherit, I have dedicated a great portion of my life's energy to Unitarian Universalism since I found it more than 25 years ago. This site tells a little of my experience.
A Life In Brief
Unitarian Universalism entered my life in a sustained way when I was in my mid-20s and I became an enthusiastic participant in the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship during the years when the Rev. Arvid Straube led the congregation through an amazing period of growth. My first activities in the congregation were being part of the social justice committee, the finance committee and singing in the choir. I served as the youngest president in the congregation’s history at age 29 and ran a successful canvass drive the year following my presidency—always grateful for the culture of leadership in that congregation which supported lay leaders so well. As a lay leader I contributed numerous hours, started a liturgical drama group known as the Mundane Players and sang with a pick-up band.
At the Mountain, A UU camp and conference center near Atlanta, I met David Morris whom I would marry within a year. Soon after that I adopted his biological daughter and the child of my heart, Garner and within the year Liam joined our family fold. Unitarian Universalism was the constant backdrop for our family, we were at Eno River or doing something with All Souls Unitarian Universalist in Durham, a multiracial congregation we helped to found and which I served as moderator for during several challenging years. David and I were married for 14 years, separating with respect in January 2012.
In 2005, I was part of a team selected by Skinner House Books to produce a history of anti-racism efforts in the Unitarian Universalist Association which resulted in the publication in 2009 of the Arc of the Universe. This was tied to my leadership within a number of communities of UUs of color as well as consulting work done with the Unitarian Universalist Association in the areas of multiculturalism and various leadership roles.
My passion for my work is matched only by my passion for my family, especially my daughter, Garner, 25. and son, Liam, 14.