Over the past few years, I have deeply appreciated my time as the Middle School Friends Co-facilitator, and I am excited to enter more fully into this work. I am especially looking forward to finding creative ways to connect with young people, providing spaces where youth can discover and grow in their spiritual selves, and considering new ways to move forward with yearly-meeting wide youth programming.
Kristin and her family are members of Old Haverford Meeting. Her professional career illustrates her deep care for children in the life of communities. She earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Kristin has been a Group Therapist for Child Guidance Resource Centers since 2018, facilitating social skills groups for children on the autism spectrum. Her previous positions include teaching a wide range of ages from preschool to high school, and supporting youth and volunteers in church and camp settings. From 1995-97, she worked for St. Michaels Association for Special Education, living on the Navajo Nation in Arizona and working with children. She often speaks about this as a formative experience for her as a teacher and in her witness for antiracism and justice.
When Youth staff developed five areas of focus for their program work, they could not have better described Kristin, who is deeply committed to Quaker community and building relationships (beginning with her own meeting, where she is a co-clerk), seeks creative ways to explore spirituality with young people that center play and joy, and is always finding new areas of interest and learning for herself. Kristin is a member of the local support team for Quaker Voluntary Service in Philadelphia (since 2018), and she holds a Certificate in Mercy Spirituality. Additionally, she has served on the staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee during her time with PYM and her voice helps to center DEI and belonging to our program work.
While she is taking on the administrative tasks of the YEC role, Kristin is also happy to be continuing to plan and facilitate programs with youth! Kristin’s colleagues know her to be a creative planner, warm and fun presence, and grounded spirit. Please join us in welcoming her to this new role!
