Jennifer Teed,
Director of Religious Education

Phone: (248) 478-7272

Email: dre@uufarmington.org

Office Hours:
-Sunday, 9:00a.m. - 1:30p.m.

Weekly hours vary depending on meetings and other responsibilities. However, I'm available to meet with youth and families each week. Please call ahead to see if am in, or to schedule an appointment.

A little about our new Director of Religious Education:

I grew up in the Detroit Unitarian Universalist Church, where I just served the last three years as their Director of Religious Education. As a lifelong Unitarian Universalist, I’m proud of the adult I’ve become. Growing up in Detroit I became aware of injustice first hand. While attending the UU Church I was given tools to counter this injustice. I learned a lot about how we should treat each other and our earth and that if I do my small part there would be more peace and justice in the world. I learned that by working together we could change the world. Now I am involved in many important social justice projects that are changing the world!

I’m very involved in the Peace and Social Justice Community of Metro Detroit. In 2005, while earning my Social Work degree from the University of Detroit Mercy, I involved a lot of students in justice work. I’m currently serving my 3rd term on the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights Board of Directors. I received the Young Adult Peacebuilder award from Peace Action of Michigan in the spring. With another UU Director of Religious Education, I have just recently created a nonprofit organization focused on peace education, Motive: PEACE. We will be leading programs in school, after school and summer programs. We will lead children in experiential activities focusing on peace with ourselves, each other and the earth. I also spend time volunteering with Swords into Plowshares Peace Gallery, and Finding Alternatives to Military Enlistment (FAME).

I am a lifelong Detroiter, accepting this position in Farmington Hills has taken me out of my comfort zone a little bit. This has been good for me. As a UU, I like to shake things up; but I forget that I also need to be shaken up. As a middle school student, I use to come out here to roller skate at Bonaventure roller rink. Since then I’ve just driven passed while heading to East Lansing to visit my family. I didn’t really know much about what it was like out here in this suburb of Detroit. Well, I’ve quickly realized that Farmington isn’t that far away, and more importantly I’ve learned that there are warm, kind and compassionate people here too! I shouldn’t be too surprised to find that at a UU church, but I’m also pleased to have experienced this at local businesses and restaurants as well. Thanks to the Artists’ Group and their photography display, I’ve also been quickly introduced to the visual beauty and diversity of downtown Farmington. After just two weeks, I’m already feeling quite comfortable here. Thank you to those of you that have welcomed me with open arms and kind greetings.

I believe that growing up UU instilled many important values in me: peace, justice, equality and freedom to name a few! Now I am dedicated to passing on these important principles to the children and youth here in Farmington Hills.

I look forward to hearing your ideas and getting to know you and your children.

In Peaceful Song,

Jennifer A. Teed