Janine Gelsinger was hired as the Executive Director of UUJAZ in March 2019. She also serves on the Curriculum Design Team for Beloved Conversations Virtual at Meadville Lombard, as a Beloved Conversations Coach at East Shore UU, and with the UU Religious Professionals Joint Ethics Steering Team. Previously, Janine has served the UU Congregation of Phoenix as the Director of Membership and Welcoming Ministries, and on the Board and Nominating Committee of the UU Association of Membership Professionals. Janine grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she first learned community organizing and church work from her mom, the consummate PTA president, RE teacher, and church committee volunteer, and education from her Grandmother and four of her aunts who were teachers. She holds degrees in both Psychology and Human Development/Family Studies from Arizona State University. She currently lives in Phoenix with her two children, Vivienne and Ramona. She is most passionate about working towards collective liberation through creative problem solving, strategic planning, and intentional transformation of systems. When Janine is not fighting for justice, she is most likely texting with friends, binging Netflix series, and trying on the brightest lipstick she can find.

Phoebe Dubisch is the Communications Coordinator at UUJAZ, she works with admins from our Arizona congregations and manages UUJAZ branding and advertising. Previously, Phoebe has worked with Janine Gelsinger to design a deeper and more accessible membership model at the UU Congregation of Phoenix. She has also held various staff positions for UU Senior High Camp at Camp DeBenneville Pines where she learned leadership and chaplaincy skills that she still uses today. Phoebe spent much of her life in Phoenix and attends the University of Arizona where she studies Astrophysics and Scientific Visualization. She is most passionate about maps of New York City, creating Spotify playlists, and (brace yourself) studying.

Janine Gelsinger
Executive Director
she/her
​Phoenix, AZ

Phoebe Dubisch
Senior Graphics Editor
​+ Internship Coordinator
she/her
Tucson, AZ

Thoi is the Immigration Justice and Abolition coordinator and is deeply honored to be a part of UUJAZ, working to bring legal relief to immigrants in our community. As a second-generation Asian-American whose grandmother fled Vietnam in the aftermath of US involvement in Southeast Asia, Thoi says he is excited to be working with UUJAZ to ease the difficulty in beginning a new life for people fleeing violence, persecution, and instability in search of a better life. As a grassroots organizer, Thoi has had the honor and joy to be a part of diverse communities, including a harm reduction street outreach effort, labor organizing, and immigrant justice movements. He's had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Directors for Sonoran Prevention Works, the core team of the Phoenix Restoration Project, and was part of the founding team at the International Rescue Committee’s Welcome Center under their Asylum Seekers & Families program. His professional experience also includes stints as a dishwasher, bank teller, cook, street advertiser, and freelance photographer. Thoi likes to spend his free time growing, cooking, and eating food.

Casey is a lifelong UU, as well as an attorney, high-stakes negotiator, and climate advocate. As a community organizer, Casey works to combat the climate crisis with Sunrise Movement Tempe, and serves as the Coordinator for the Sunrise Movement’s National Disability and Accessibility Team. She has spent her personal and professional life working to improve the lives of others. Casey left UUJAZ to run for Tempe City Council to pursue more equitable solutions to our modern challenges and foster healthy, sustainable communities.

Heather worked for over two decades in higher education: first at ASU, where she also earned two degrees; and then at Prescott College, where she began to awaken more fully to the environmental and social justice issues its students were passionate about. She became a congregant at Granite Peak UU in Prescott, and later began working for GPUUC, appling her creativity and technical background to church operations and worship technology while continuing to learn about justice issues from the UU perspective. Taking on a communications role with UUJAZ feels like a natural evolution for her in both her personal and professional journeys. In her free time, she loves hiking with her kids and dog.

Thoi
Congregational Organizer; Immigration Justice + Abolition Program Coordinator
he/him
​Phoenix, AZ

Casey Clowes
Congregational Organizer; Climate Justice + UU the Vote + Legislative Program Coordinator
​she/her
Tempe, AZ

Heather Knowles
Communications Specialist
​she/her
Prescott, AZ

Jamili Omar is the former Widening the Circle BIPOC Caucus Coordinator (The Hearth) with UU Justice Arizona, with a mission of connecting people from across Arizona. Jamili is also currently the Director of Lifespan Faith Development with the UU Church of Tucson and the Baja 4 (SE Arizona), where she is always learning from children, youth, and adults --especially the lesson that it is important to always keep learning. Jamili grew up in Michigan, but considers places with mountains home. Currently, she lives with her family in Tucson.

Sky Williams-Tao is the former Queer Faith Worship Coordinator at UUJAZ, with a mission of helping to create queer-centering worship services in partnership with Equality Arizona. Previously, Sky has worked as a Ministerial Intern at the First UU Society of Syracuse, NY and on Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray's campaign for UUA President. Sky grew up in Arizona and considers it home. They currently live in Scottsdale with their husband Andrew. They left UUJAZ to serve West Valley UU Congregation. They are passionate about UU ministry, justice and healing for survivors of sexual/domestic violence, and watching cartoons.

CB Beal M.Div specializes in facilitating learning experiences that involve issues of marginalization, oppression, and privilege, helping participants hold the complexities of our lives in perspective, to co-create a safe[r] brave[r] space within which people can be challenged to learn and grow. They are a dynamic and humorous speaker and frequent presenter and consultant in congregations and schools in the northeast in Preemptive Radical Inclusion, safer communities/congregations, and supporting gender creative and transgender/non-binary children and youth in schools and youth-serving organizations. They are an Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education trainer and trainer of trainers nationally and teach sexuality and consent education to elementary and middle schoolers and parents around Massachusetts. They also support organizations, groups and individuals doing change work with Justice and Peace consulting

Jamili Omar
Former "Widening the Circle" BIPOC Caucus Coordinator (The Hearth) 2021
she/her
Tucson, AZ

Sky Williams
Former "Queer Faith" Worship Coordinator 2021
they/them
Scottsdale, AZ

CB Beal
Former Trans/Non-binary/Genderqueer Small Group Facilitator 2020
they/them
Western Massachusetts

Chloe Stephenson-Brown is the UUJAZ summer intern for both 2020 and 2021, she does everything from learning organizing strategies to taking on projects that help UUJAZ run smoothly. She has also held staff positions at UU Senior High Camp and a board position at UUCP where she learned skills still relevant to her today. She grew up in both Providence, Rhode Island and Tempe, Arizona. Chloe is taking a gap year to live in Finland with her family before studying Urban and Environmental Studies at Bryn Mawr College. She is most passionate about YA LGBTQ+ novels, Taylor Swift, and baking.

Marianne Rotchford is one of the 2022 interns at UUJAZ. She’s conducting a research project on the Young Adult Programs within the UU Faith. This is her first internship, which she is taking on as she works at a local store, which has reinforced her values of integrity and responsibility. Marianne grew up in Arizona and still resides there with her immediate family. She is most passionate about soccer, baking, and school.

Sophie Schroer served as an intern at UUJAZ in June 2021, with a mission to learn how she could be more effective in her desire to make the world a better place. Previously, she has served as Youth Chaplain at Camp de Benneville Pines, where she learned skills that will carry with her in her professional career as well as in her daily life in general. Sophie grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona but now she attends Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where she is majoring in Psychological Sciences with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology. She is most passionate about mental health, being a bit of a theatre kid, and watching youtube videos all day.

Chloe Stephenson-Brown
Summer Intern 2020/2021/2022
she/her
​Bryn Mawr, PA

Marianne Rotchford
Summer Intern 2022
she/her
Arizona

Sophie Schroer
​Summer Intern 2021
she/her
Flagstaff, AZ

Hana is a Fellow with Community Resource Hub and supports the Defund Phoenix Police Coalition with a mission of building otherwise worlds, holding herself accountable in all of her relationships and practicing transformative justice with her communities. Hana grew up in Arizona and considers Phoenix home. She is dedicated to Black Liberation and seeks to learn more about Disability Justice and Transformative Justice. In her free time, Hana is passionate about movies and creating playlists to share with friends.

Miriam Araya
​Organizing Fellow 2020
​She/Her
Phoenix, AZ

Hana Hehman
Organizing Fellow 2021
​She/Her
Phoenix, AZ

Rev. Anthony Johnson
Former "Multikulti" Racial Justice Group Facilitator 2021
he/him
​Sedona, AZ

Rev. Tina Squire
Former Book Group Facilitator 2020/2021
she/her
Sierra Vista, AZ​

Emrys Staton
Former Movie Night Facilitator 2020
he/him
​Phoenix, AZ