My family is dysfunctional and fabulous and that's the best way I can describe them and me!  I was born the youngest of six children in Culver City, CA (near Santa Monica and Venice Beach).  I grew up sharing a room with my three older sisters, therefor a “personal bubble” does not exist with me.  This also explains my volume: loud, louder, or loudest.  My mother was the "hostess with the mostess" and there was always enough food and an extra seat at the dinner table for whoever wanted to stay or needed to eat; I owe all my hospitality skills to her!  Both my parents were very social people so we often had parties and family gatherings and there was rarely a quiet moment in my house.

I had the best summers growing up; we would pack up a cooler with food, drinks and snacks and spend all day body surfing, burying ourselves in the sand and digging up sand crabs.  To this day my heart and soul yearns to smell the ocean and feel hot sand in between my toes.  My parents divorced when I was nine and I moved out to Palm Desert, CA with my Mom and Stepdad for my highschool years.  I unfortunately was the only child during those years because my older siblings were out on their own or living with my Dad.  I ran Cross Country and just hung out with friends and just like many teenagers, I was insecure and lost.  The best time of year would be when I went and spent a month with my older sisters, Carrie and Emily.  Carrie was starting her family so I was fortunate enough to be around her family, while my sister Emily taught me the most valuable lesson; how to manage my curly hair!

I graduated early and did a foreign exchange program to Belgium that changed my life forever; even though I didn’t know it at the time!!  I learned some French, a whole new way of living life and fell in love with cheese and bread!!  I moved to San Luis Obispo shortly after returning from Belgium where I worked and went to school off and on and grew more fond of smaller towns.  In 2005 I moved to Utah because my oldest sister, Carrie, lived here and I needed a change.

During these past 12 years living in Utah, I earned my Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Utah, discovered my passion to serve people in need, met amazing friends and my partner, John, of 7 years.  We have 1 dog and 3 cats and are currently looking to purchase our first home together.  I am currently the Volunteer Engagement Manager at Fourth Street Clinic, a medical clinic that provides primary and urgent care to the majority of the homeless population here in Salt Lake City and County.

For fun I love to Salsa and Bachata dance, a passion that I will be do until my body doesn’t allow me to.  I love jewelry, fashion, spending all my summer days at Rock Port Reservoir, and FOOD!!!  I am a BIG FOODIE and I love making dinner for friends and family.  Someday I would like to open up a Plan B Corporation where the proceeds feed back into the business that has the mission to help people in need.  I am a quote fanatic and at the moment here are a few of my favorites: "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself", “Perhaps strength doesn't reside in having never been broken, but in the courage required to grow strong in the broken places”, and  " Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody".

I landed at the First Unitarian Church eight years ago because I felt like I needed a spiritual place to go.  I cried after the service because I felt like I could really connect to the message and I also took the Build Your Own Theology class.  I remember Rev. Tom being surprised about what I wrote at the end of the class and said I had a lot of empathy- that stuck with me.  It took me seven years to return after that class but when I did the first person who approached me was a young adult named Charlie who immediately wanted to talk about life and why I was here.  During that same conversation Rev. Matthew joined in and listened and with his amazing demeanour told me, "Welcome Home," and that moment I knew I’d found more of my tribe.

First Unitarian Church means more and more to me as I get to know the amazing people here and do service that connects me to this community.  It's the one place I can wave my freak flag and ask the hard questions that no one has answers too.  I love being a part of a spiritual community that constantly reminds me to be a better person and challenges me. I am currently the co-chair with the Hospitality & Welcoming Committee where we coordinate greeters, the Congregational Life & Welcome table, and generally try to make folks feel welcome.  I also go the Wednesday night meetings for Young Adults.  I want to do a small group ministry and host a dinner and dialogue, which will be my goals for next year.

I decided to sign the book and become a full fledged member after Trump was elected and the First Unitarian Church was the only place I felt safe to go to where I could cry and mourn for our country.  I really felt like I was part of a community and even my dance coach came to cry and mourn with me that day.  I thought to myself, "What would I have done, if I didn't have First UU?" and that’s when I realized I wanted to become a member.  I totally pledge too!  I understand that I need to pay the staff and take of care of my spiritual home and this is just part of it, period.  I love the people and conversations at First Unitarian Church and everything it stands for and am grateful and honored to be a part of this amazing community!  Thank you to everyone for showing me your love and generosity and welcoming me with open arms and hearts!!