FIRST UNITARIAN PORTLAND - Key Persons

Dana joined staff as the Social Justice Director in the Summer of 2017. She's attended First Unitarian Church since 2003 and was drawn to our faith community because of its commitment to social and racial justice. Over the last couple of years, Dana has led workshops on understanding white racial identity and challenging patterns of privilege. She's also co-facilitated discussions of race with Parents Talk Racial Equity at her daughter's school. In her new role, Dana draws on her experience as Program Coordinator and Director of the Legal Resources Project of the International Human Rights Internship Program. In that position, she co-authored a book on economic, social and cultural rights as human rights that synthesized the essential learning of front-line activists from countries of the South. Dana holds a Masters of International Administration with a focus on Training and Intercultural Communication from the School for International Training. Her B.A. in Sociology and Afro-American Studies is from Wesleyan University. She has also been practicing as a Licensed Massage Therapist in Portland since 2001.

Danielle Garrett

dg..@firstunitarianportland.org

Job Titles:

Intern
Intern Minister

Danielle Garrett (she/her) is the ministerial intern for the 2023-2024 church year and a candidate for the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Danielle feels called to ground her work for justice in the rich fabric of congregational life and believes in a God of liberation and the transformative power of a good church potluck. Before following a call to ministry, Danielle spent ten years working in health care policy and advocacy in Washington D.C. While living in D.C, she discovered Unitarian Universalism at All Souls Church and was an active lay leader-teaching children's religious education, chairing the adult spiritual development committee, and serving on the leadership team for the Reproductive Justice Initiative. Danielle is also a pilgrimage enthusiast who has accompanied UU congregations on spiritual treks through Spain and Scotland. She graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School, where she received the Founder's Medal for first honors. She also holds a B.A. from The College of William and Mary and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas. Her wife Mari and dog Jo March accompanied her to Portland for the year, and they are looking forward to exploring the trails and waterways of the Pacific Northwest.

DeReau Farrar

df..@firstunitarianportland.org

Job Titles:

Director of Music Music Ministry

DeReau joined First Unitarian Church of Portland in July of 2016 as Acting Music Director. He was named our permanent Director of Music in March of 2017. He is also Artistic Director for Portland's queer and allied youth choir, Bridging Voices, and President for the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries. He also served for a year on the Unitarian Universalist Association's Commission on Institutional Change. Additionally, he sings with Resonance Ensemble and served on its Artistic Advisory Team for the 2022 premiere of Damien Geter's An African American Requiem with the Oregon Symphony. DeReau was Musical Director for the 2022 Portland Revels Spring Production of Un Pajarito Canto and the 2023 Portland Center Stage Production of Choir Boy. Prior to moving to Portland, he served as Director of Music for Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica, Choir Director for First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles, Artistic Director of Selah Gospel Choir - an interfaith community gospel choir (Coachella, RuPaul's DragCon), Voice and Choir Teacher for New Roads High School, and Musical Director for classic theater company, A Noise Within (The Threepenny Opera, A Christmas Carol). Additionally, DeReau worked in Los Angeles as a freelance music director, vocal contractor, consultant, and arranger. He has worked with the DC6 Singers (SxSW, Jessye Norman's Stand Up Straight and Sing! Tour, Sundance, Norman Lear, Jerry Kohl), Monkeypaw Productions (Get Out), HBO (All the Way), University of California Los Angeles (The First Lady), California State University Los Angeles (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum), The Verdi Chorus, The RED Stamp (The Wiz, Ragtime, Songs for a New World), MUSE/IQUE Symphony Orchestra, and others.

Erin Tafuri

et..@firstunitarianportland.org

Job Titles:

Stewardship & Database Manager Church Administration 503 - 228 - 6389 Ext. 312

Jason Chapman

jc..@firstunitarianportland.org

Job Titles:

Facilities Manager
Facilities Manager Facilities, Event Production & Technical Services

Facilities Manager Facilities, Event Production & Technical Services 503-228-6389 ext. 192 jchapman@firstunitarianportland.org

Jen Thomas

jt..@firstunitarianportland.org

Job Titles:

Member Engagement Coordinator

Jennifer (Jen) Thomas: Native Oregonian with a Heart for Unitarian Universalism As a true native Oregonian at heart, I've had the privilege of living in various corners of the United States and the world. Still, my journey always led me back to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Now, I'm thrilled to call Oregon my full-time home, and I'm honored to join the First Unitarian community as the Member Engagement Coordinator.