Dear Friends,

I am excited to announce that we have selected our 2022 – 2022 SOUUP (Southern Oregon Unitarian Universalist Partnership) intern minister!

QuianaDenae (kēy-AH-nuh deh-NAY) Perkins is originally from Minneapolis, MN. This is where she was introduced to Unitarian Universalism in 2000. In 2009, after moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, QuianaDenae joined First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor as a member. In 2018, she joined the staff as the Coordinator for Social Justice and Pastoral Care, later Coordinator for Congregational Life.

In addition, She was a volunteer with Black Lives of UU (BLUU) Team Sankofa, implementing culturally relevant faith campaigns centering on Black Joy and excellence. In the Fall of 2019, QuianaDenae answered her call to ministry. She began classes at Starr King School for the Ministry in June 2021.

QuianaDenae is the mother of two active teens. She loves nature walks and photos. She also loves all things tea! She is an avid writer whose works range from poems to stage plays. Her works have been published in regional and national anthologies, including Shelter in this Place: Meditations on 2020 (Skinner House.) She is also a webcast co-host of the VUU, a weekly UU Church of the Larger Fellowship web production.

QuianaDenae’s ministerial call centers on the UU principles + healthy relationships + action as a spiritual practice as the tools for collective liberation. She brings a passion for pastoral care, multi-generational engagement, and social justice to the role of intern minister for SOUUP in  2022-2023.

QuianaDenae had this to say about joining us as intern minister:

“I am very excited to be joining SOUUP! This is such an amazing opportunity to be in service to three unique congregations under the mentorship of Rev Dennison. I am looking forward to a transformational year.”

Quiana Denae will begin this ministry in August 2022. Her ministry will be multi-platform, meaning she will join us in person for short periods of time, but continue to live in Michigan. She will also minister online in all areas of congregational life and in all three Southern Oregon congregations.

The intern committee and I invite you to warmly welcome QuianaDenae to RVUUF and to the SOUUP internship.

With great love and gratitude,

Rev. Sean