Getting to Know the Presenters…
Presenters
Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI) and a faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary (see fulleryouthinstitute.org). Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange, and also speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara is the author or co-author of a number of books including: 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, 18 Plus, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Sticky Faith Curriculum, Can I Ask That?, Deep Justice Journeys, Essential Leadership, Deep Justice in a Broken World, Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, and the Good Sex Youth Ministry Curriculum.”
Christopher Wesley is a parish ministry consultant and the founder of Marathon Youth Ministry, an organization focused on helping ministry leaders rediscover their joy. He lives in Baltimore with his wife Kate, and their two sons. For fun, he runs, hikes, and engages in a weekly movie club.
Kike Delgado is an experienced designer and a creative consultant with a focus on pastoral innovation. He works as one of the designers for YOUCAT, served as the founder of the young adult ministry, Take Me Back. He has an MBA in Experience Design and a Certificate in Compassion & Social Communication.
Laura Schuberg is a youth minister for St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Dana Point. After a powerful experience of God’s love at 17, she dove into youth ministry and hasn’t stopped since. She has lived in Rome twice to receive further formation through the Emmanuel School of Mission which involved full time life a missionary all throughout Europe. She has been blessed to minister in Santa Barbara, Ventura, LA and Orange County for the past 12 years.
Paola Flores is a passionate and dedicated, youth minister and confirmation coordinator at Our Lady of La Vang, and helping Saint Joseph and Saint Anne’s parishes, in the Diocese of Orange. She focuses on reaching youth, young adults and families with creative ideas through theatre, music, Catechetical Formation, and retreats.
Dayrin Perez has served in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for over 15 years as a parish Director of Youth Ministry, Confirmation Coordinator, and a Director of Family Ministry and is currently the Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Office of Religious Education. Her love for spreading the gospel has been her inspiration for serving as a speaker and retreat leader. Dayrin has been married to Gabriel for 14 years, has 3 energetic kids, loves coffee, anything Disney and going on adventures with her family.
Sarah Jarzembowski has worked in youth and young adult ministries in the parish, college and diocesan levels including the Diocese of Joliet and most recently for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Sarah has spoken at numerous conferences and workshops across the country and internationally. She is currently working with Lifelong Faith Associates presenting to Diocese’s across the country on Developing Hybrid Faith Formation for Youth and Young Adult Ministries as well as developing her own course for volunteer leaders in young adult ministry. She is currently working toward her Masters of Pastoral Studies with the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola New Orleans
Michael Marchand is the founder and director of ProjectYM. He hails from Texas, but now lives in Chattanooga, TN with his wife Crystal and their 4 great kids. Michael has a degree in Theology from Loyola University Chicago and has over 20 years of youth ministry experience. Michael loves the color yellow, flip flops, cooking, all things tech, Tik Tok, hiking through the great forests of Tennessee, reading books on leadership, his Catholic faith, and business management. He is passionate about speaking the gospel to young people, supporting youth ministers and helping them thrive, and plating exquisite looking meals.
Moderators
Ryan Bao is the Director for Youth Ministry and Confirmation at St. Clare Parish, Santa Clara, in the Diocese of San Jose. He currently is completing his Master of Arts at the Catholic University of America in Theology while working as a Project Coordinator for NFCYM.
Vanesa Zuleta Goldberg is the Digital Content Specialist with NFCYM. She has worked in youth ministry for almost 12 years and has a Master of Arts degree in Theology and Ministry from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, where she concentrated on Church ministry and its impact on Latinx youth in the US.
