Two members recently joined the CTA Next Generation Planning Committee:
Kuukua Dzigbordi Yomekpe (aka Melody-Ann) emigrated from her native Ghana in 1996. She got a masters in English and now works as an editor in Columbus, Ohio. A gifted liturgical dancer and choreographer at CTA national conference liturgies since 2001, she will lead movement and spirituality workshops and prayer sessions this November. She also serves on CTA's 32-member national anti-racism team (click here for story). She is beginning work on a memoir about her family's racial makeup, colonial heritage, and journey to and in the U.S., and how it all contributes to the diversity within one family.
Juleann Bukovchik of Santa Monica, Calif., an auditor for a financial firm, met CTA at the 2001West Coast National Conference in L.A. She attended the Next Gen fishbowl discussion, found her way to the 2002 Next Gen retreat in Chicago, and stayed involved. She belongs to St. Monica Parish, a progressive mecca that welcomes gays and champions social justice. At CTA, Juleann chairs the Outreach Committee that is creating a new small faith community initiative, Faith Works for Community Builders (see story here). It's fitting. Her parents, Joe and Ann Buko — a married priest and former nun active with CORPUS, have for years anchored a Eucharistic small faith community in Vista, Calif., near San Diego.
Three youthful interns made valuable contributions to CTA operations this summer:
Joe Earley, 22, a Denver native, moved to Chicago in 2002 after deciding not to take first vows with the Jesuits. He got a B.A. in theology at Loyola University Chicago, and for now is a Loyola student-at-large, deferring for a year his doctoral studies in Christian ethics. Joe discovered and joined CTA while he was in the Jesuit novitiate in St. Paul, Minn., and an active member of the Church of St. Stephen. This summer he has been creating new graphic CTA ads which appeal to younger adults.
Crystal Page, 21, of San Diego, Calif., is a senior at Loyola/Chicago studying communication and theology. After living in Agape House, a social justice, faith-based community on Loyola's campus, she was invited by her chaplains to attend the 2002 CTA conference. She's been hooked ever since. This summer Crystal has produced two videos that introduce CTA and its mission to Next Gen-ers and invite them to join. They will be screened at the Milwaukee convention next month.
Cajus Nitsch, 19, of Germany, spent many volunteer hours updating the CTA website. Cajus is a university student in Mannheim. He first encountered CTAers while working for We Are Church/Germany at the progressive shadow synod in Rome in 2001. After working with Challenge the Church during the Papal Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, he made the CTA Next Gen Retreat, forming a solid bond with CTA and its mission. Danke schön, Cajus.
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