Mission
It has always been the UUWF’s wish to join wholeheartedly with people everywhere in striving for universal human dignity, freedom, and peace. We are proud to have historically been the voice for women+ as an affiliate of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Today, the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation is building on the legacy of our past, the achievements of the present, and our ambitions for the future. We recognize that, at times in our history, the UUWF advanced harmful white feminist practices that excluded and oppressed women+ of color. We are committed to the work that’s required both as individuals and as an institution to fully embody the justice we want to see in the world. With these truths in mind, we have crafted a vision for our future:
The UUWF builds covenantal relationships amongst UU women that equip us all to be better co-conspirators and allies in the movement for collective liberation.
This vision centers relationships and community-building as our primary work. We do this by offering programs that connect us with one another, teach us new perspectives and skills, and propel us to take meaningful action. We seek to support, illuminate, and build on the work and wisdom already active in congregations and communities across the country. We hope you’ll join us so that we can build a more just world, together.
UUWF Covenant
We, the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation, build relationships and community among UU women+ for the purpose of mutually supporting, uplifting, and inspiring action in the movement for collective liberation. This covenant means that we will:
- Center relationships and be expansive in the ways we engage in justice work;
- Hold ourselves and one another in wonder, humility, and mutual accountability;
- Seek the greater good with curiosity, vulnerability, and joy;
- Commit to accessible, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, pro-earth and spiritually grounding practices;
- Disrupt the characteristics of white supremacist patriarchy, especially sexism and misogyny, and communicate with bravery and honesty;
- Own the impact of our actions, regardless of intention, and seek to repair or heal missteps or harm we have caused; and
- Work for collective liberation with an assumption of abundance and an ethos of mutual support.
We pledge to engage proactively in justice work with one another; to prioritize action and impact; to use our hands, hearts, and minds in service of justice for all, grounded in anti-racism; to embrace gender expansiveness and recognize the unique oppressions that trans women and gender-expansive people experience; and to continuously build capacity, trust, and interdependence.
Staff
Communications and Community Engagement Specialist
Candace Hasan
(she/her)
Atlanta, GA
Candace is primarily responsible for our communications and social media management. This includes ongoing support for developing programming and creating digital content, such as the newsletters and infographics we share with our larger community. She is a native of New Orleans, has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Xavier University of Louisiana, and has recently earned her Master’s in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Georgia State University. Outside of work, Candace supports people accessing abortion and centers her work on the nuances of Black womanhood and strategies of anti-misogynoir.
Membership and Community Engagement Specialist
Antoinette Scully
(they/them)
Los Angeles, CA
Antoinette is primarily responsible for relationship-building, both within and outside of our UU universe. This includes ongoing program development and supporting resources we create. Outside of work, they support local activist projects in the Los Angeles area. They have a background in racial justice facilitation, as well as conflict mediation, and are a mother of two. They hold a Master’s in Teaching from the University of Southern California and a dual Bachelor’s in Humanities and Philosophy from Stetson University in DeLand, FL. Antoinette likes to read and kayak in their free time.
Director
Ann Wiesner
(she/her)
Minnetonka, MN
Ann’s work with UUWF started in 2020, when she joined as interim director, charged with helping the Board develop their vision and strategy for the future. From there, Ann guided the hiring of the UUWF’s national organizers and continues to oversee strategy for the organization as the permanent Director. Ann’s your go-to for the Affiiliate Program, strategic questions, partnerships and collaborations, programming ideas, and Board of Directors support.
Fundraising & HR Administrator
Jennifer Williams
(she/her)
Las Vegas, NV
Jennifer has been working with churches and other non-profit organizations for the past 25 years. Her specialties include human resources and non-profit bookkeeping. Although she has periodically returned to private sector employment, her passion is working for organizations, like UUWF, where she can support civil and justice projects and programs. She moved to Las Vegas two years ago from Eugene, Oregon, where she served as the Human Resource Director for the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene. Jennifer loves the sunshine and warm temperatures of Nevada and enjoys hikes in the Red Rock National Park and experiencing all that Las Vegas has to offer.
Board of Trustees
Interim President
Rev. Denise L. Graves
(she/her)
New Orleans, LA
Denise is a womanist committed to the shalom/peace in self, with others, and with the universe utilizing Peace Ministry LLC & Institute as a medium. She is a community pastor, culture bearer, educator, healer, author, consultant, parent, and friend. Her sheroes include Paula Giddings, bell hooks, presidential candidate Shirley Chisolm, Rep. Barbara Jordon, Dr. Gloria Scott, and Pixie Lighthorse. Denise loves culture exploration and immersion, roller skating, preaching, and playing board games. At one point in life, she wanted to sing like Diana Ross.
Treasurer
Courtney McKenny
(she/her)
Birmingham, AL
Courtney is a lifelong UU. She currently serves the UU Church of Birmingham & Tuscaloosa, Alabama as their Director of Lifespan Faith Development. She has been a religious educator for over 18 years. She is the mom of three young adults – James, Katherine and Finn. Courtney is also a dog lover and is currently the dog mom of Waffles and Otto.
Courtney is a member of the UUA Nominating committee and the LREDA Board holding the portfolio of Continental Events. Previously she has served on the Mid South District Religious Education Committee as well as the Southeast Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association as vice president and then president. She is also an Our Whole Lives Facilitator Junior and Senior High.
Member at Large
Carrie L. Stewart, M.C.I.S
(she/her)
Philadelphia, PA
As the Owner and Principal of One World Consulting, Carrie has served various communities and organizations in their quest for greater understanding, inclusion and appreciation of diverse individuals and groups. She brings over three decades of experience in equity, inclusion and diversity through training, facilitation, coaching, dialogue convening and leadership development. Additionally, Carrie is an advanced trained Mediator, and works in conflict transformation, and community and family engagement to find common ground. As an Intercultural Communication Consultant, she is a knowledge expert on navigating through cultures and for the last decade, applied this to the Global Mobility Industry supporting relocating employees. A lifelong UU, Carrie has been a child, youth, member, and friend of 14 congregations in 7 districts/4 regions. She served as a SWUUC and Southern Region Consultant specializing in anti-racism, anti-oppression and multiculturalism, conflict transformation, leadership, Compassionate Communication and Healthy Congregations, and was awarded the James T. Brown Antiracism Award. Additionally, she served on the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee of the UUA (garnered the President’s Award for Volunteer Service 2021), UU Allies for Racial Equality Steering Committee, SWUUC Board, and was a Dwight Brown Leadership Experience (SWUUC) Staff member for several years. She most recently served as Chair of the UUA Nominating Committee, UUA Mosaic Hub Skill Up Group Facilitator, Vice-Chair of the Racial Equity Task Force and Adult Ministries Council of First Unitarian Church of Dallas, and Advisory Council member of the Texas UU Justice Ministry through the First Dallas Social Action Council. Currently, Carrie serves as Co-chair of the ARAOMC Working Group and member of the Decarceration Team of the First Unitarian church of Philadelphia, and a Board member of the UU women’s Federation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Smith College, and a master’s in Communication from Rutgers University. Carrie and her spouse, Fred Ditmars raised two, third generation UUs, now a medical doctor and a professional artist and are transitioning to retirement in Philadelphia where they enjoy community activism, books, movies, theater, music, hiking and travel.
Interested in serving on our Board of Directors?
We are looking for new Board members! If you’re interested, contact ann@uuwf.org.