Hi my name is Dan and I am the founder/director of Banner Blue and its offshoot, Brick Base. We make art and innovative resources for ministry and have helped hundreds of congregations do the same. My role is to come up with new projects, like our Divine Dash video game, and pull together artists to make them a reality.

My wife, Ellen, and I live on a small farm in Ohio where we raise sheep, alpaca, ducks, and rabbits. We also have indoor and barn carts. Right now we have five boy lambs who are really rambunctious. My wife and I are also in the process of becoming foster parents.

In my free time, I like to sit beneath our big oak tree with a barn cart in my lap and a sheep sitting next to me where I can read up on science and art and all the amazing things that people are creating.

My name is Darlisa Ware, and I am from Little Rock, Arkansas. I am the founder of World Changers of America Advocacy Group and Phi Mu Xi Nu Traveling Social Club, where I focus on advocacy, community service, leadership development, and creating meaningful opportunities for connection and growth. I hold an associate degree in Religious Studies, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and I am currently finishing my master’s degree in Teaching.

Family is very important to me as I've foster parented 11 of my nieces and nephews since last December. In my free time, I enjoy community outreach, traveling, faith based activities, and developing programs that uplift, educate, and empower others. 

My personal journey has inspired a deep commitment to helping underserved populations and creating spaces where everyone feels valued, included, and supported.

One of my long term goals is to develop a traveling Bible Story Ministry Experience that brings scripture to life through interactive, engaging presentations designed to reach people of all ages and abilities, including individuals with disabilities and those who are neurodiverse. I am excited to be part of the Age to Age Initiative and look forward to learning from fellow participants as we explore innovative ways to foster inclusion, belonging, and intergenerational connection within our communities.

My name is Hunter Morrison and I'm passionate about disability inclusion, accessibility, and helping faith communities become places where everyone can fully belong. I serve as an Academic Accommodations Specialist at the University of Toledo and am active in leadership within my local ELCA congregation. Combining professional expertise with lived experience as a disabled person, I enjoy creating space for honest conversations about faith, disability, and the ways congregations can embody Christ’s welcome for all people. 

I am the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, MN. I love that I get to lead and support an amazing team of directors and the awesome families we serve. I'm passionate about empowering leaders and finding creative solutions. When I'm not working, I'm usually playing board games, camping, knitting, or watching movies from the 80s and 90s.

I am the pastor of St. Mark UCC and Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA, of Terre Haute, Indiana as of nine months ago. My family and I moved here from Northern Kentucky. My husband David and I have two children: Katie (11) and Alex (13). We are all neurodivergent in various ways. In my free time, I love being with my friends and family watching sports like my Bengals or doing crafts like painting and crocheting.  

My family includes my husband Leo, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, Junia, a brand new high school graduate preparing to start college in the fall and Daniel, 16 year old beam of light. We enjoy hiking at national parks as a family and my hobby is being an elected official for my city and running for mayor. 

Hello everyone! My name is Rachell Ortiz. I am involved in Community Builder at Brick Books enjoy being part of initiatives that create meaningful connection and support within communities. In my personal life, family is very important to me, and I enjoy spending my free time: creating content, reading, spending time with family, exploring coffee shops, etc. I’m looking forward to learning alongside all of you and contributing to conversations about belonging, inclusion, and supporting children, youth, and families.

I became Luther Memorial's (Seattle, WA) pastor in June 2022. This is my first call and I have loved being a part of this community for over four years! When I'm not working on things for my own congregation, I also serve on the Board for Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Washington and the Synod Council for the Northwest Washington Synod of the ELCA, as well as being a Coach with ELCA Coaching and the Coach Coordinator for the NWWA Synod. My wife, Emily, and I moved to Seattle from the Midwest, and we love spending time outside surrounded by the mountains and waters of the PNW. When I'm not working, I enjoy reading, exploring bookstores, biking, playing tennis and pickleball, and supporting the various Seattle women's sports teams!  

I'm Sarah Dela Cruz a member of First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights, MN. I am a single mom of 2 wonderfully neurodivergent kiddos (18 & 15). I recently went back to school to get a teaching license in special education and I am working on my masters with a focus on leadership in education. In my free time I enjoy thrift shopping and finding treasures to repurpose, going on walks with my doggie, and spending time with friends and family. I'm looking forward to meeting you all soon!

Hi everyone! My name is Zach - I'm about 4 months into my role as the Director of Faith Formation at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. My partner, Amanda, and I just added a furry kid to our household - she doesn't have a name yet, but by the time we meet I'm sure we will have that down, as well as progress on "sit". Both of our families live in or close to the twin cities - we spend a ton of time with them for fun. I'm an evening musician, and have been playing music around Minnesota for 15 years. Outside of that, I'm a huge basketball fan, love a good road trip, and have been doing a lot of gardening and handiwork. Neither of which I have any business doing, but it's never too late to learn!