After the January Pathway to Membership class, we are overjoyed to welcome EIGHT new members into our congregation. Meet Nick, Natalie, Mike, Pamela, Erin, Nancy, Amber, and Ryan, and send your messages of welcome their way in the coming days.
Nick Pettey Nick (he/him) is a caretaker, homemaker, former attorney, former Victorian literature dissertator, intermittent poet, and restless soul. A lifelong reader and searcher, he looks forward to joining a community devoted so passionately to seeking and striving. Nick, his spouse Cheri, and his 19-year-old son Jonas moved to Urbana from Chicago at the end of 2021 (21-year-old daughter Olivia is away at Soka University of America), and he looks forward to becoming more involved with the UUCUC community. nick.pettey(at)gmail.com
Natalie Danner Natalie (she/her/hers) is originally from New York State. She came to Champaign-Urbana for Ph.D. studies and after graduation worked in Connecticut, Oregon, and Nebraska. She returned to CU in 2020 to work at the university on a grant-funded project: Illinois Early Learning. Natalie has experience as an early childhood teacher, school director, teacher educator, and student teacher supervisor, but some of her favorite work is supporting and advocating for and with young children with disabilities in early childhood classrooms. She grew up Catholic, and after some time as an agnostic, is now exploring her faith in new directions. Natalie started attending (virtual) UUCUC services in early 2021 and is happy to be involved in RE&E, the All We Can Save book group, and Soul Matters. She is learning more about gardening through the Champaign County Master Gardener program, is a big solar energy and electric car fan, and lives with her Dutch Shepherd, Luna, in Urbana. dannernatalie(at)gmail.com
Mike Sabacinski Originally from Chicago, Mike moved to the area a year ago from Madison, Wisconsin, where he was a member of First Unitarian Society of Madison. His undergrad studies were at UIUC, studying biology and psychology; grad school at UW Madison in engineering (operations research). But he also loves the arts! Mike is single, with no kids. He enjoys walks in all kinds of weather and bike rides and loves to travel. He has been to the Virgin Islands nine times and Mexico a few times. Besides volunteering for Planned Parenthood for several years, Mike has also done some voter registration, get-out-the-vote, and door-to-door canvassing. mikesabacinski(at)gmail.com
Pamela Soper Pamela is very new to UU. She started attending just before the pandemic and has met hardly anyone from the church although she’s been listening to the services online. Pamela is 72 years old and has lived in Champaign Urbana for 40 years although she is originally from western Illinois. She is a psychotherapist in private practice and is still working because she loves it so much. She lives with April, her partner of 25 years, and their dog Lola and cat Sophie. Pamela’s favorite pastime is reading, as well as spending time at the dog park with Lola. Pksoper(at)aol.com
Erin Preslar Erin was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. She is an avid coffee drinker, a lover of musicals, and the owner of a very pretentious Yorkie named Prince. She looks forward to getting to know people in this community as time moves forward.
Nancy Parker Nancy is a longtime resident of Champaign, originally from the Chicago area. She retired from a career as a special education teacher 8 years ago, and now privately teaches individuals with dyslexia, and presents workshops to teachers and administrators to help them understand dyslexia. Nancy and her spouse, Jim, have been married 30 years and enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren in NYC and Minneapolis. They enjoy being active outdoors and hiking with whatever dogs are in their life. Nancy especially enjoys long distance cycling, hiking and swimming and just about anything outside. As an off and on attendee of services at UUCUC, Nancy has become far more regular since services have gone online. Currently she is in a Soul Matters group and looks forward to participating in other UU activities. parkerna(at)comcast.net
Amber Dewey Schultz Amber(she/her) has lived in Champaign for a little over five years, moving here from Chicago with her husband, Ryan, and children, Vivienne (11) and Milo (9). She enjoys the arts, games, reading, visiting museums, and volunteering as the co-leader of Navigators Chapter 278. When she’s not working at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts or going on adventures with her family, Amber is working towards an MFA in Experience Design. She and her family have been attending UUCUC services for over four years now and are so happy to finally be members of this congregation. amberdeweyschultz(at)gmail.com
Ryan Schultz Ryan (he/him) has been a member of the Champaign Urbana community for 5 and a half years. He relocated from the Chicago area with his wife Amber, daughter Vivienne, and son Milo. Ryan is employed at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as the Technical Director for the facility and also chairs the Scenic Technology program for the Department of Theatre. When Ryan is not at work, he enjoys spending relaxed time at home with his family, working on projects around the house, and taking excursions to explore the region. ryanschultz5(at)gmail.com