Xaris Martínez
Board Chair
Xaris A. Martínez is a historian who works at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. She grew up as a Mennonite pastor's kid in California and missionary kid in Guatemala before completing degrees at UCLA and the University of Mississippi and doctoral coursework at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Xaris is a member of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship and is involved in the sanctuary movement and racial equity efforts in her community.
Karen Orr
Secretary
Karen Orr is a member of Calgary Inter-Mennonite Church in Alberta, Canada. She is semi-retired after a career in environmental protection and management. She loves the outdoors and spends as much time as possible hiking in the Rockies near her home in Calgary. Karen is a proud parent of three adult children and grandparent to two grandchildren. She is active in the LGBTQ community in Calgary and is a co-facilitator with New Directions, a local transgender support group.
Kate Becker
Board Member
Kate Becker - Bio coming soon!
Jess Hoffert
Vice Chair
Jess Hoffert grew up in the Lewiston Church of the Brethren in southeast Minnesota. While working toward his degrees in magazines and broadcast news at Drake University, he attended the Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines, Iowa. Jess has worked at Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation since 2011 as a writer and editor for Midwest Living, the Official State Travel Guides for Kansas and North Carolina, and other publications. He currently works remotely from his home in Minneapolis, where he lives with his partner Andrew and his cats Leo and Max. Jess currently attends the Common Spirit and Open Circle Brethren congregations in the Twin Cities.
Monica McFadden
Board Member
Monica McFadden grew up in the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Illinois. She studied art history and political science at the University of Denver and, through Brethren Volunteer Service, worked for a year at the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy in Washington, D.C. Now, she works in donor communications at the ELCA and lives in Chicago with her partner, Taryn.