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JPD Staff
Jillian Conway
Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant works with the District Administrator in support of the many activities coordinated by the office. The Administrative Assistant is responsible for maintaining the JPD databases and mailing lists, overseeing all electronic publications, coordinating the logistics of JPD-sponsored trainings and workshops, and maintaining the resource library. The Administrative Assistant also serves as the registrar for all JPD trainings and workshops.
Richard Speck
District Executive
The District Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of the JPD, responsible both to the JPD Board of Directors and the UUA Department of Congregational Growth and Vitality with a mandate to accomplish the Ends of the District. He is chief of staff for all other employees and works in a collaborative manner to lead the District in all aspects of operation. He is available for consultation with individual congregations at the request of their board president and/or ministers, regarding such areas as stewardship, governance, healthy congregations, growth, long-range planning, group process, leadership skills, conflict management and related issues, conducting workshops and doing assessments on congregational health. Richard is available as a preacher or speaker for church services in conjunction with a workshop, ministers’ installation and ordinations, as well as skills conferences, retreats and other gatherings.
Joan Priest
Director of Development
The Director of Development works with the Planned Giving Team to support Chalice Keepers, the endowment for growth in the JPD. She also serves as a resource for individual congregations interested in building or improving endowments for their own churches and advises on fundraising matters.
Cristina Sanchis
District Administrator
The District Administrator works out of the JPD headquarters in Wilmington, DE and is responsible for its general administration. As a supervisor, The District Administrator works closely with the District Executive in managing the finances, coordinates the annual District Assembly, and maintains the JPD website. She is also responsible for maintaining the JPD Chalice Lighter database, recording donations, and administering grant payments to congregations. In addition, the District Administrator supervises the Administrative Assistant and is ultimately responsible for the efficient operation of the District office.
Andrew Mertz
Director for Youth and Young Adult Programs
The Director for Youth and Young Adult Programs (DYYAP) is a full-time staff person supporting the congregations in the JPD around their youth, young adult, and campus ministries. Focusing on the bridge between youth and young adulthood, the DYYAP works with district committees of both youth and young adults to help mind the gap. You can contact the DYYAP for resources around bridging, starting groups, helping groups work more effectively, and policy issues. The DYYAP also supports the growing number of paid staff working in this field and their congregations. The current DYYAP is studying for his Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School, was the Director of Youth Ministry at the UU Church of Arlington for almost 5 years, and has served several volunteer positions in the UU young adult world. He is available for preaching, workshops, trainings, and consultations. He also supports adjunct staff who are available for trainings and mission workshops.
Paula Cole Jones
Director for Racial & Social Justice
The Director for Racial and Social Justice is responsible for programs that move congregations toward health and enhance the growth of Unitarian Universalism within the district and CERG. She is responsible for providing training and resources to enable congregations to deepen their social witness in the world especially in the arena of racial justice including: leading the JPD Social Justice and Journey Toward Wholeness Committees, regional social justice empowerment workshops, congregational consultation, and assisting in congregation social and racial justice organizing.
Meredith Higgins
Adjunct Staff Coordinator
The Adjunct Staff Coordinator identifies adjunct staff to facilitate a variety of retreats or other events requested by the congregations. A team of UU leaders with experience in group facilitation who have also served as leaders in their own congregations have been selected and oriented to effectively conduct retreats and meetings.
How To Find A JPD Adjunct Staff Facilitator – 1. determine what kind of an event you would like, with general goals to be accomplished, 2. identify the best dates, 3. call or email Meredith Higgins at the above address with this information. She will determine who from the team is available and connect you with that person. Why Use A JPD Adjunct Staff Facilitator? They have useful knowledge and experience in UU settings; they are trained and comfortable working with groups; and the reasonable fee is provided with a discount for congregations which were full fair share in the past fiscal year. What Kind Of Events Do They Facilitate? Board retreats, search committee orientation retreats, congregational visioning, Religious Education committee programs, Ministerial and Religious Education start ups and other specially designed programs. The Adjunct Staff Coordinator is available to help you identify your needs and plan the event you want.