LYO Churchwide Leaders
Young leaders serving the church
The
Board of the Lutheran Youth Organization is here to serve the youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and to represent the voice of youth at the churchwide level of this church. The Board of the LYO:
The Board of the Lutheran Youth Organization is elected every three years at the Churchwide LYO Convention, held in conjunction with the ELCA Youth Gathering. Most Board members are elected for a three-year term, but some, including advisory members to Church Council and the CSLYOPs representatives (Council of Synod Lutheran Youth Organization Presidents), have special terms of office and methods of election.
(updated 10/20/2009)
Board of the Lutheran Youth Organization OfficersPresident:
Nicolette FaisonVice President:
Matt WertmanSecretary:
Hannah KnaussRegional Members at LargeRegion 1:
Anna McCrackenRegion 2:
Paul LarsonRegion 3:
Amanda BennesRegion 4:
Nicolas ConoverRegion 5:
Apu SeyenkuloRegion 6:
Cogan BlackmonRegion 7:
Jillian FosterRegion 8:
Molly CrouserRegion 9:
Preston Jutte
Council of Synod LYO Presidents (CSLYOPS)Female Co-Chair:
Nicole BillipsMale Co-Chair:
Dan FaasFemale Co-Chair Elect:
Randi PhelpsMale Co-Chair Elect:
Dan Potaznick
Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC)
The Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) to the LYO Board is composed of one male and one female from each of the five ethnic groups as defined by ELCA Multicultural Ministries, plus multi-ethnic. The members of this committee are elected by their youth peers in ethnic caucuses at the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) that precedes each ELCA Youth Gathering.
The purpose of MAC is to help the LYO to strive to be more inclusive and to voice the concerns and needs of youth of color and whose primary language is other than English. MAC also selects the theme for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (every three years) and gives guidance on program planning for MYLE.
Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) membersAfrican Descent Reps: Female:
Shemiah Curry; Male:
Josiah WilliamsAmerican Indian and Alaskan Native Reps: Female:
Danielle Johnson; Male:
Bradford JohnsonArab/Middle Eastern Reps: Female:
Lyouni Khalifeh; Male:
Ishack IshackAsian/Pacific Islander Reps: Female:
Maya Mineoi; Male:
Cherub Philip Latina/Latino Reps: Female:
Vivianette Ramos-Morales; Male:
Nomar Muniz LozadaMulti-Ethnic Reps: Female:
Kayja McNamee; Male:
Jabari Campbell
Definitely Abled Advisory Committee (DAC)
The Definitely Abled Advisory Committee (DAC) to the LYO Board is composed of three persons who represent varying physical and cognitive abilities. They are elected by their youth peers during the Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event that precedes each ELCA Youth Gathering.
The purpose of DAC is to help the LYO strive to be more inclusive, and to voice the concerns and needs of youth who have disabilities. DAC also selects the theme for the Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event (every three years) and gives guidance on program planning for DAYLE.
Definitely-Abled Advisory Committee (DAC) members
Aaron Drury Tim Nikitin Jeff Isensee
Youth Advisory Members to the ELCA Church Council
Female:
Arielle Mastellar; Male:
Kyle Teague
LYO Restructuring CommitteeThe LYO Restructuring Team is the successor to the LYO Study Team (2008-2009) and is composed of nine people representing various groups of leaders who all have vested interest in the future of the Lutheran Youth Organization. The LYO Restructuring Team was fully created in September 2009.
Nicolette Faison, President of the LYO
Tim Nikitin, DAC Chair
Maya Mineoi, MAC Chair
Sam Schlouch, Continuing 2006-2009 LYO Board member
Peter Larsen, Continuing 2008-2009 LYO Study Committee member
Tammy Jones West, SYMBOL representative
Carolyn Powell, Youth representative (not on LYO Board)
Rev. Bill Bixby, ELCA Director of Youth Ministry
ELCA Youth Ministry staff
Contact for BLYO, DAC, and MAC:
Rev. Bill Bixby