Living God's Dream, Leader Guide

Sally Ulrey serves as Canon for Congregational Vitality and Ministry Development on the Bishop’s Staff in the Diocese of Atlanta, where she’s served in the Office of Congregational Vitality since 2018.  Prior to joining the Bishop’s staff, Sally spent almost 20 years working in parishes in the Diocese of Atlanta in Christian formation, including youth and children's ministry, using her formal education in Bible, Theology, and Christian Education in those roles. She has served as a consultant and trainer throughout the Episcopal Church in both formation ministries and in congregational development.  Sally coauthored the Dismantling Racism Youth Curriculum with Katie McRee, in collaboration with the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. She lives in Oxford, Georgia. Katie McRee served as Youth Minister at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell, Georgia for over a decade, and has been a consultant for Ministry Architects. She has also written curricular material for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. Katie was first inspired by youth ministry through her own youth minister in Central Florida, who mentored and encouraged her to seek out ministry as a career. She attended the University of Florida where she earned a degree in family, youth, and community sciences. She lives in Woodstock, Georgia. Malinda Shamburger is the Executive Director of Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry and has served in many leadership positions in her church and community. Currently, she is a member of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing board. Malinda attended Columbus State University and graduated cum laude with a degree in Communication; she additionally graduated from Columbus State’s Servant Leadership program. She lives in Columbus, Georgia. Catherine Meeks, PhD, is the former Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, the retired Clara Carter Acree Distinguished Professor of Socio-Cultural Studies from Wesleyan College, and the former Founding Executive Director of the Lane Center for Community Engagement and Service. Dr. Meeks is the author of six books, including The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning, the editor of Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America, and the co-author of Passionate for Justice: Ida B Wells as Prophet for Our Times. She is the winner of The President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award, and was one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s notable women in 2022. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University, and a PhD from Emory University. She is the founder of Turquoise and Lavender, an institute for transformation and healing and writes regular opinion pieces for Baptist News Global. Dr. Meeks lives in Atlanta, Georgia.