Aileen Dashurova

Caelan, Kerri and Atticus

Caelan Schrama we met while visiting the YES conference on Star Island. YES is an acronym for Youth Empowerment and Spirituality.   Kerri Bell-Delgado came up to our booth at the Unitarian Universalists General Assembly in Portland, OR in 2022. We loved the idea of getting a current young person's take on being a Unitarian Universalist. Atticus Fisher is the child of Ginger Young Fisher whose interview you will hear in a separate episode.  Atticus at the time was highly involved in YRUUP. a youth-run organization dedicated to providing fun, safe, and spiritual programs for UU youth in the Pacific Western Region of the United States.  This trio of voices lifts up the youths voices of today. YRUU may have ended nationally but the work and enthusiasm has remained in many parts of the country still.  www.whyareyouyou.org

Julia Pulver

Lindsay recently caught up with Julia Pulver who gives us a great perspective on YRUU in Michigan. www.whyareyouyou.org

Bill Sinkford

This interview with Bill Sinkford was the most anticipated interview we conducted.  The reason we wanted Bill to be interviewed was because he was the president of the Unitarian Universalists Association when the decision to defund YRUU took place. But what you will get from this interview is a deeper understanding of the life Bill had growing up and growing into leadership. We met him in Portland, Oregon where the 2022 Unitarian Universalists General Assembly was taking place. Our hotel/studio offered us a quiet place to chat.  www.whyareyouyou.org

Aileen Dashurova

Dawn connects with Aileen Dashurova for a very candid conversation about what it was like to be a youth advisor. www.whyareyouyou.org

Matt Meyer

This episode features Matt Meyer. MATT HAS LED WORSHIP FOR HUNDREDS OF CONGREGATIONS, TRAVELING THE COUNTRY SHARING A MESSAGE OF LOVE AND JUSTICE, THROUGH RHYTHM AND SONG. He is currently the Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston. One of our original ideas in making the documentary was to highlight different organizations that are continuing the ideas from the YRUU program. Either through their practices or by being led by someone who went through the program.  So, although we didn’t explicitly highlight Sanctuary Boston we used images from one of their worships in the film. Matt truly encompasses the spirit of YRUU and you will hear that through his words and singing. www.whyareyouyou.org