Each year, our Board of Trustees renews three out of a total of nine positions. We are so grateful to our candidates this year: Frank Adams, Jill McKenzie, and Jabbar Stroud.
Frank Adams Bio: Maureen and I moved here from Austin almost ten years ago when our oldest son and his wife had our first grandchild. We both loved caring for patients and continued to practice medicine until the recent past when the pandemic made it difficult to continue. While organized religion has not played a significant role in our lives, we found the UU principles to align perfectly with our own world views. Over the past three years we have felt a growing sense of community with the interesting, informed and compassionate members of the Pacific Unitarian congregation and are also grateful to Rev. Steve for the energy he brings and his thoughtful, inspiring sermons.
Maureen and I are both looking forward to being of service to the Pacific Unitarian community in whatever way we can.
Jill McKenzie Bio: I was born in Fargo, ND and lived there until I graduated college. I took a teaching job here in Norwalk, CA since I wanted to try this state and get away from the frozen north and its seemingly endless winters. My job was teaching Kindergarten in the barrio of Norwalk and that was a real education for me. I was unfamiliar with Hispanic culture and found I really enjoyed it and my students. I stayed with Norwalk for my entire teaching career and found it satisfying and full of surprises.
I came to Pacific Unitarian about twelve years ago. I was looking for a spiritual home and community without all the dogma I had experienced from other religions, and I found that home here. I also am a music lover and joined the choir pretty quickly and have never been sorry. This church has a gem in Severin Behnen .
Even though we will be saying good-bye to our lovely Reverend Steve, I am prepared to meet the challenges associated with a new interim minister and a church that has much to offer to new members as well as those who have been here for many years. We are a special group of people who care about each other and that is very apparent. I hope to get to know many more of you than I do now although your names and faces are familiar.
Jabbar Stroud Bio: I was born in Chicago, where I grew up my first seven years before migrating with my dad and two siblings to California. We stayed with grandma in Los Angeles, which didn’t take much adapting for this great change being that we came from the south side of Chicago where you have no choice growing up quick. I always loved school math being my favorite topic and was a very active and athletic child enjoying all sports. I had my fair share of troubles as a young teenager and adult but managed to redirect myself upon doing some deep soul-searching and self-reflecting plus support. I managed to gain my sensibility to live out a greater truth.
I have worked in many jobs over the years from sales clerk at Sears to security and secretary (go figure!) to now owning my own small cleaning business in commercial and residential for disinfecting and sanitizing. Nothing has brought me more satisfaction or given me a sense of direction than social justice work I’m involved in. It continues to be a humbling experience and has led me in my journey to connect with Pacific Unitarian from a good friend doing the work of healing and wellness for all. Pacific Unitarian is the ultimate channel for belonging as I continue to challenge myself as an open-minded person to embrace one another as humans first. I have this wild and optimistic vision to see the world and its inhabitants to be more than what we see and leave behind a legacy that footprints humanity as a whole. Becoming a member of Pacific Unitarian I can feel the synergy to “Become the need instead of being in need.“ I think becoming a board member for more outreach and diversity would bring my gifts and talents to uplift our shared interest to see each other’s value. Although I’m very active and energetic and want to do all things, I can commit fellowship in a role to light a torch and let Pacific Unitarian maintain its beacon in this world …. So let’s jazz up this place and make the world a dance floor!
