AUUF Podcasts

Rebecca Koford, JD, has been the Executive Director at Anchorage Youth Court (AYC) since January 2013.  AYC offers youth in grades 7-12 who are accused of breaking the law an opportunity to be judged by trained peers who serve in the roles of attorneys, judges, bailiffs, clerks and jurors. The goal is to enable youth to resolve legal problems without receiving a formal juvenile record. In 2005, Rebecca graduated from Texas Lutheran University in San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Economics and Philosophy.  She earned a doctor of law (juris doctor, JD) degree in 2009 from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. She maintains her Texas law license.  Rebecca previously worked three years as a staff attorney for Catholic Charities, St Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance in Texas.  She pursued internships at the National Immigration Law Center headquartered in Los Angeles, and at the Brookings Institution focused on projects related to Internal Displacement. She speaks Spanish.  See the AYC website for more information.

Bill Sherwonit is a long-time wildland/wildlife advocate and freelance nature writer who has contributed essays and articles to a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, journals, and anthologies across the country. He has authored more than a dozen books on Alaska sports, wildlife and parks. Published in 2014, his newest book is a collection of essays, Animal Stories: Encounters with Alaska’s Wildlife. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1950, Bill graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, in 1971.  He went on to earn a master’s degree in Geology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1974.  From 1978-1979, he studied journalism at Pierce College in California. In 1982, Bill headed to Alaska and soon became a columnist for the Anchorage Times and later the Anchorage Daily News.  He has been a freelance nature writer since 1992. In 2009, Bill became a contributor to the blogsite The Nature of Cities. Since 1993, Bill has also taught creative non-fiction writing classes, first at the University of Alaska Anchorage and now on his own, with primary emphasis on nature and travel writing. See Bill’s website for more information.

Bill Wielechowski has been a Democratic member of the Alaska State Senate since 2006, representing District H (Elmendorf and College Gate). He currently serves on the standing committees on Judiciary, Resources, and State Affairs as well as the Special Committee on Federal Overreach and the Joint Committee on Armed Services.  He graduated magna cum laude in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Finance from Seton Hall University and earned a doctor of law (juris doctor, JD) degree in 1992 from Seton Hall University, School of Law.  Senator Wielechowski’s public service background includes the executive board of the Northeast Community Council since 2001; Anchorage Planning & Zoning Commission (2004 – 2006), and Alaska Workers Compensation Board Chair (1999 – 2004). He has served on numerous other local government commissions, committees, and teams; as well as local community improvement efforts and statewide professional organizations. Outside government service, Bill is an attorney for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 1547, a statewide union. He is a member of AUUF. Bill enjoys fishing, skiing and mountain biking. See his Alaska State Senate page for more information.

Panel and congregants discuss what freedom means.

George Bryson was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News for many years. He currently serves as Chairmanof the Forum Planning Committee. George is also very actively involved in the Freethinkers group at AUUF

Rev. Ruth Greenwood has been involved with the AUUF since the late 70s as a child/teen and the early 90s as an adult. She attended Meadville/Lombard seminary in Chicago and was ordained to the UU ministry at AUUF in 2012.

Teresa Gray is a retired paramedic from Anchorage Alaska who recently returned from Lesvos Greece, where she provided medical aid and support to the 1000’s of refugees that arrived on the beaches daily. This ongoing crisis is the largest immigration movement since World War II. Teresa recounted her daily activities with a PowerPoint presentation that included the remarkable logistics and volunteers, the challenges faced and the amazing people she met on this journey.

Marilyn Lee and Stephanie Koonz reminisce about their fathers.

Sallye Werner grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and earned a BS from Northern Michigan University in 1968 and a BA from Michigan State in 1973. She taught middle school and high school from 1973 to 1998, mainly in the Anchorage School District, and served as president of the Anchorage Education Association from 1983 to 1984. In 1998 she became a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocates act in the interests of children in need.) and is still active in that role. Joining the board of Friends of Alaska CASA in 2000, she has been its president for twelve years and continues to this day.

Gary Holthaus is the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's Called Minister.