by Aisha Hauser, Director of Lifelong Learning
Amanda Alice
Youth Programs Coordinator Amanda Alice will have been with us one year in November. Amanda has brought enthusiasm and a love of our UU faith to her role. As a result of a request I made, the Board approved a change to make it possible to increase Amanda’s hours. In addition to working with the youth, she will take on the added responsibility of helping the larger RE program with volunteers and scheduling. I am thrilled that Amanda is willing and able to take on these added responsibilities and help continue making the RE program at East Shore wonderful.
The request to increase Amanda’s hours comes as a result of my national work for the denomination. In the past few months, I have been working with a large team of about 25 people from all over the country to curate and develop resources for UUs to use as part of learning how white supremacy is the “water we swim in.” In order for us to make meaningful and impactful change in our world, we must first understand what the underlying root problem is and how we have been part of it, and by acknowledging we have been operating in a system that has been hurting us all, most especially and explicitly black and brown people. I have been receiving emails and requests for consulting from UUs all over the country, and have been trying to help in any way possible. This national work is a positive way to increase the visibility of East Shore within the Unitarian Universalist Association.
With this great opportunity to be more involved in the UUA, I requested ten paid hours of my time be allocated to Amanda Alice to assist with my DLL responsibilities at East Shore. Financially, this proposal would save the church money. My current salary will be prorated to receive 30 of the 40 hours and Amanda would continue to receive her current hourly wage, increased by 10 hours.
The Lifelong Learning program is served by a strong team: Felice Nightengale, Amanda, and me as staff and the many members who volunteer and assist each week. This mutually beneficial arrangement will make the program stronger and more vibrant. Please do not hesitate contacting me if you have any questions. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Board of Trustees who were supportive of this plan.