Ms. Johnson, who grew up in Los Angeles and was raised in Saint Petersburg, Florida, has dedicated over 15 years to working with children. Her rich and diverse experience includes child care, visual arts, spoken word and poetry, spiritual development, journalism, law enforcement, communications, and civic engagement. Throughout her career, Jeanay has been deeply committed to supporting the emotional and mental growth of children, fostering their creativity and innovation.

Since 2017, Jeanay has been employed by UU St. Pete, where she shares a passion for creating a loving and inclusive environment for the youth. Her work aligns with the mission of the Religious Education (RE) department: 

"To foster the full spiritual and faith development of children and youth from preschool through high school so that they may lead healthy, happy lives."

Although Jeanay does not identify as a Unitarian Universalist, she greatly respects the principles they uphold. She considers herself spiritual and has a deep interest in studying various religions and spiritual practices from around the world. Currently, Jeanay is in her fourth year of seminary at Starr King School for the Ministry, where she is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree (M.Div). She will also earn a Certificate in Psychedelic Justice and Companioning upon graduation. Additionally, she is learning American Sign Language (ASL).

Beyond her work with children, Ms. Johnson is available to officiate weddings, particularly for those who may not have a church home or minister. She also provides spiritual support and conducts memorial services for families facing end-of-life situations or experiencing sudden loss, ensuring they have the support they need during difficult times.

MUSIC

jon.arterton@uustpete.org

Our Director of Music Jon Arterton holds a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He was the founder and musical arranger of The Flirtations, an a cappella singing group which performed in venues around the world and which was seen in the film Philadelphia. In 2002 he founded the classically-oriented Outer Cape Chorale in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

In 2016 he moved to St. Pete and founded the One City Chorus, a 120-voice community chorus specializing in songs of social justice, civil rights and equality.

MUSIC

jon.arterton@uustpete.org

Tim was a piano accompanist with the  University of South Florida Department of Dance and the Pinellas County Center for the Arts. He created music for a wide range of dance forms including Ballet, Modern, and African dance.  

Tim was the Assistant Music Director at Unity Church of Clearwater.  While there, he composed a collection of songs focusing on positive living.  Tim is now writing music that commemorates the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. .  His music has been featured by One City Chorus in St Petersburg, where he is the accompanist.  Tim also provides joyful entertainment for residents of senior communities in Tampa Bay.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

re@uustpete.org

My name is Patricia Harding, though I have many nicknames. Most people call me Trish, while young students usually called me Miss Trish. I was born in St. Pete, Florida and raised (mostly) in this area. After high school, I traveled a bit and settled in boulder, Colorado, where I eventually graduated from CU with a BA in English literature and a diploma and education, thanks to receiving my first 6 credits as an employee benefit while I worked at the University. Those 6 credits I used to study Spanish. In my junior year, I was fortunate enough to study Spanish for one semester in Guadalajara, Mexico. After finally graduating, I taught in a wide variety of settings to Student both young and old. I even taught a semester in Seoul, Korea. Wow, was that different! I returned not to Colorado but to Florida halfway through that Academic year. My father had suffered a heart attack, and I had spent most of my adult life living in Colorado. So I returned to Gulfport, where there were no good ESL jobs. So I went to work with adults with disabilities at PARC. There, I became interested in behavior analysis and subsequently got a masters degree in that subject. It was an interesting career, but not for me. So, I re-took the and gained certifications teach elementary general education, and K-12 ESL and special ed. For the last few years of working full-time, I taught in the Pinellas County school system. As soon as I was able, I “retired“ to part-time.

So, how did I get to UU St. Pete? When I first return to Florida, I was in search of spiritual community. I found the Center for Conscious Living, in Largo. I was happy there until our beloved minister and church founder moved away. It was not the same after she left. So next, I attended First Unit. My fellow congregants were a lot of fun, and I loved being a part of the choir, the talent shows, and the Christmas plays. When those activities were cut, I was no longer drawn to that church. One day, while browsing Craigslist, I saw an ad for a religious educator at UU Saint Pete. Someone had just told me that they really liked that church’s way of being in the world. I got the job! I’ve found the UU spiritual philosophy is a good fit for me. I truly enjoy working with the kiddos. I look forward to spending time in their company once again while together we examine the values we hold---and do crafts, music, and have fun being in community.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

re@uustpete.org

Elliot enjoys to work with nursery-aged children. They have a kind heart and is always going the extra mile to be sure that any baby who cries, is found to smile before they go. Every Sunday, Elliot displays a calm and patient spirit that the children gravitate to. We are lucky to have them here at UU St. Pete.