Sandy Pearce
I began my engagement with the UUFR community by joining a Covenant Group. This led to me becoming a facilitator for the newly formed Chalice Circles. Rev. James asked me to help organize the recruitment of other facilitators, schedules, registration processes and assignment of people to Circles. After doing this for several years, I recruited other members to help with and take over the administration of the Chalice Circles. I remained a facilitator for several years. I was recruited as part of the Care Team to strengthen the Gleanings project. The Gleanings became copies of worship services which I organized and mailed/emailed to members who were unable physically to attend services. I was a regular volunteer for the Grocery Bags for Seniors program of the Interfaith Food Shuttle. Rev. Sasha asked me to be the coordinator of a new Food Security Ministry Team which combined five different food security projects under one umbrella. I served as a worship associate under Rev. Justin and Rev. James. I served as a member of the Refugee and Immigrant Ministry Team. The congregation elected me to the UUFR Board of Directors in 2022 as an at-large member to fill out the term of a Board member who resigned early. I was re-elected to the Board of Directors as an at-large member in 2023 and my term ends on June 30, 2025. As part of my role on the Board of Directors, I served as liaison to the Committee on Ministry and I led UUFR’s Strategic Planning process. I have been very active in ONE Wake. Most recently, Rev. James asked me to be on the interview team for the UUFR Music Director and the Assistant Minister.
My strongest professional and volunteer skills are project coordination and communication. In the projects I have led, I had to be very organized and analytical. I understand how to develop a work plan, interact collaboratively, negotiate, and build in accountability measures for projects. I have planned commission and board meetings and retreats. I have overseen a budget in a state government agency. I interviewed, hired, managed and assessed staff. I have strong writing skills.
I am a Raleigh native, the youngest of three children. I was very close to my mother who died at age 93 after working full time until she was 89, as director of Hilltop Home for medically fragile, developmentally disabled children. Both of my parents and my older brother are deceased. I joined UUFR twice, once in the mid 90’s when I got divorced. I became a participant in the “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” group. I joined again 13 years ago when I retired from NC state government. I was seeking and still am seeking a spiritual home, fellowship with a liberal religious community, and a place to work for social justice. I love to do meaningful work, which I did in my professional career in the criminal justice field, and at UUFR as a volunteer. I never had biological children so I became a volunteer with Lutheran Family Services when they were resettling Vietnamese refugees over 30 years ago. I developed a family relationship with a mom who had six children, Hien, Hanh, Hoa, Hieu, Christy and Kenny. Between them, my god children have 12 children who I am Nana to. Being part of this family changed my life. My husband, Tom, and I have traveled extensively, twice to Viet Nam. Traveling has been a wonderful learning and sharing experience. In the Spring of 2025, we will have taken 12 Road Scholar trips, this time to Turkey. I was a member of the Women’s Giving Network of Wake County (WGN)for many years. WGN is an organization which pools members’ financial contributions to fund local grants to improve the life of women and children. I was on the Grants Management Team and Leadership Team. I have served as a precinct officer for 20 years and believe very strongly in grassroots political activity. My hobbies are reading, traveling, walking and playing with my cat.
