Our Youth Ed Staff & Volunteers
Kate
Unity Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
youthed@unityofmadison.org
Kate is honored to share Sunday mornings with Unity Youth & Family Ministry! With degrees in Electron Microscopy and Journalism, Kate loves incorporating science, poetry, or storytelling into spiritual lessons. She also studies mindfulness and enjoys offering a divergent learning space where there is no single correct answer, allowing the children to explore their feelings. She helps them become aware of the present moment without judgment.
Passionately involved in Madison’s zero-waste community, Kate finds joy in inspiring children with a sustainable lifestyle. She strives to incorporate Unity Worldwide Ministries’ EarthCare Curriculum, which aims to foster awareness of our spiritual oneness with the Earth, promote active care of all creation, and assist congregations in integrating an Earth-oriented spirituality into their ministries.
Kate’s history with Unity spans almost her entire life. Introduced to the Unity Church by her grandmother at the age of 13, she learned that through prayer, she could speak to God and her true self. She is grateful for her grandmother’s teachings and feels blessed to help children find their own strength.
In her free time, Kate enjoys camping with her husband and two kids in the summer, attending fall festivals, writing, cooking, and reading cozy mysteries. Currently, Kate is studying to be a Certified Spiritual Educator through Unity Worldwide Ministries and is certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR with the American Red Cross.
Her mission statement as your child’s teacher is: "I did not come to teach you. I came to love you. Love will teach you."
Contact Kate at youthed@unityofmadison.org.
Jan
Volunteer
Coming soon!
Silvia
Volunteer
Unity of Madison is graced with the presence of Silvia, who cherishes the connection to our community of beautiful souls. Alongside her children, Silvia embarks on daily adventures, fostering spirit of togetherness and spiritual growth. As a volunteer at her children's school and here at Unity, Silvia is involved in creating nurturing spaces for all children. Her efforts ensure that every child has a place to flourish.
Musically, Silvia embraces everything from jazz to classical, and Latin music. Recent books she has read include Grow a New Body, The Body Keeps the Score, Think and Grow Rich, and It Didn’t Start with You. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Silvia believes in making the impossible possible. She finds inner peace through mindful breathing, connecting with her heart, and expressing joy through dance.
Devil’s/Spirit Lake holds a special place in Silvia’s heart. It’s her sanctuary for community with nature, hiking, swimming, and sharing these moments with her children!
Ellen
Volunteer
Ellen has been a member of Unity since about 1996. She has served in several capacities, including the bookstore, flower team, Green Team, and Social Justice Team. She volunteered in the nursery with very young children when there were older and younger groups. Unity services, book groups, and principles sustain her spiritual development. Ellen has a master’s in social work.
She often spends time with her 9-year-old granddaughter. She used to be a nanny two days a week with young children before the pandemic. She misses young kids, which is one reason she decided to volunteer with the youth.
Her favorite books are historical novels and detective novels. She also reads non-fiction about spirituality, world issues such as climate change, and getting beyond wars. She loves gospel music and R&B. She has been watching mostly documentaries about the Middle East. Recently she saw a wonderful documentary about Costa Rica and how the country did away with its army to find peace. She and her granddaughter recently enjoyed watching Upside Down 2.
Ellen is passionate about keeping our planet habitable. She is active in 350.org and especially enjoys doing creative, sometimes silly street theater to make people think. She volunteered at Willy St. Fair for 350, writing spontaneous poetry for people—mostly about nature. Last year, she was arrested for trespassing at Chase Bank to bring attention to its investments in fossil fuel infrastructure. She also works for peace in various ways and is heading up the upcoming program at Unity with Rafah Sister City members.
Visiting places in Dane County usually involves either a dog park, kayaking the Yahara River system, or biking in the country. She also enjoys visiting friends who might need cheering up or support. Occasionally, she goes to Holy Wisdom Monastery for a day or two to recharge her batteries.
Her travels usually involve visiting friends or family. She takes occasional road trips to her hometown, Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Kay
Volunteer
Kay has been a part of our congregation since 2009, serving in roles that span from the hands-on to the heartful.
Kay mentored and tutored at the Madison School District, and currently tutors at the Children’s Dyslexia Center. She loves seeing children light up: their energy, creativity, and individuality. Kay doesn’t just teach; she celebrates each child!
Her favorite books are Talking to Dragons and Aunt Dimity and the Duke. Some favorite films are Frozen, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Spaceballs, and Galaxy Quest.
Kay loves Lake Kegonsa, Devil's Lake, the Glacial Drumlin Trail, and the St. Vincent de Paul Store in Sun Prairie.
Mary-Claire
Volunteer
Mary-Claire, her partner, and two children moved from Chicago in 2020 where she worked at the Morton Arboretum for six years as a research assistant. In Chicago, she dreamed of creating a communal outdoor space, connecting with the land, which led her to Madison where she got a full scholarship for a master's degree at the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies. After moving, she and her family began creating a co-housing-like home and a "food forest” property, increasing the number of trees that provide sustenance for them and other creatures. She brings that knowledge and passion to Unity Youth & Family Ministry!
Mary-Claire encourages the kids to connect with the earth and the oneness of each other. Though Unity started under a Christian philosophy, she sees it as part of a universal tradition, and interacts with the kids from that idea. She accepts all developing beliefs, including druids, witches, pagans, disenchanted Christians, and bodhisattva walking alone who don't have a spiritual home. No matter where they are from or what they are going through, Mary-Claire accepts the Unity YED kids the same way, encouraging them to live in their truth.
She loves being with the kids and the people in the Namaste café in the basement of Unity, encouraging and learning others' beliefs. She'd love to participate in classes and book groups, learning and stretching and challenging herself.