Pier Sun Ho

(1st term, 2022-25)

I have been at UUCB since 2006, when I moved to the Bay Area. I wasn’t raised within organized religion, and I came here initially for community. I’m happy to say that I found that, but I also found a spiritual connection to the world that continues to develop and enrich me greatly. I made social and spiritual connections through Chalice Circles, and the young adult group. I was married here on the terrace by Barbara and Bill Hamilton-Holway, and subsequently brought my two babies to be blessed in the Sanctuary after they were each born. Unlike me, they will (perhaps and hopefully) be lifelong UUs. I’ve served in various roles such as the Bylaws Committee and the Nominating Committee, but my primary service to the church has been through Family Ministry. I’ve taught elementary RE for 10 years, at all the different grade levels, and I’ve served on the Family Ministry Committee in two separate terms.

My interest in Family Ministry, and how to grow our congregation to serve the needs of our community, is my primary reason for accepting this nomination. The past two years have been very challenging for everyone, but like so many other families, attending church over Zoom was not a priority, or even of any interest to my littles! I hope that I can bring a perspective to the Board that will both represent those families who have fallen away, and also ignite interest and involvement of the future families who will come seeking us, as I did.

Thank you for considering my candidacy for the Board of Trustees.

I am very pleased to be part of UUCB’s Board of Trustees! In 2016, my husband, Sheldon, and I had the good fortune to find and join the church. Since then, I have appreciated the warm, compassionate camaraderie and the opportunities for spiritual reflection, including my participation in Chalice Circles. I have joined in partnership with others to take on social justice issues. As a member of the Social Justice Council, I take part in the Literature, Film and Drama Contingent and in the People of Color Caucus. Along with my SJC cohorts, I developed and co-facilitate the POCC. My social justice work also includes organization of the 2018 Multicultural Fair and of social justice film and discussion events in 2016 and 2017.

I am a mixed-race woman, who, along with my husband, have raised six children in a blended family, and we now have eleven grandchildren. Before retiring as a clinical psychologist, I worked for Kaiser and had a private practice. I’ve served as member and chair of the City of El Cerrito Human Relations Commission and have been part of the Read Aloud Program for a decade.

UUCB is my spiritual home, and I am invested in supporting its Mission and Covenant and in working hard to grapple with the challenges and decision-making necessary in promoting the health of the community. To this end, I think it’s important to work collaboratively, making space for a diversity of our voices.

When I have conversations with members of our church, we frequently share the stories of our first time ‘on the hill’. As a Board Member, I hope to maintain the impact that experience has had for each individual. Those stories hold deep meaning for our members, as well as for me: In 1981, I was an undergraduate student of Dance at UC Berkeley. Every day for years I would take class, study, commune, and dream with other students in this beautiful studio where the smell of wood mingled with the light from the beautiful panes of glass. It was a place of safety and exploration. Many years later in 2005 I was told about this wonderful ‘church on the hill’ in Kensington. Lynne Cahoon greeted me – I felt immediately at home. Lynne continued to tell me how the church had moved from its previous location on the UCB campus. It hit me – “I’m back … this is the same spiritual home I danced in for years.” I hope to maintain, nurture and expand that connection in my work as a Board Member. As an RE teacher, I have worked with the youth to help them identify UUCB as their spiritual home and I have witnessed our members of all ages seek this same solace here . It would be an honor to support that effort as our church makes changes through new lead ministers, new experiences and emerging ever stronger from a global pandemic.

Beth Pollard
(2nd term, 2022-25)

Being part of the team entrusted with leading this thoughtful, dynamic and caring community is a privilege. I am continually awed by the energy, love, and spirit that both underly and pop up in continual and unexpected ways on the Board and UUCB at large.

Service as a church trustee has also been a growth experience in discovering its differences from local government management that has been my career.  There are some similarities – fiscal responsibility, policy development, and goal setting – to name a few. But at UUCB we have the added dimension of living in our covenant, guided by principles, that means an additional lens in the work of our Board.

This lens of UU faith, and the variety of angles through which we each view it, is also a source of strength to fulfill our mission this coming year and beyond. It will help UUCB to sharpen our focus on Widening our Circle to end racism and oppression. It will support our search for a settled minister to inspire and guide us. And will encourage us to continue to examine, explore, and experiment to continually evolve through changing times to be relevant, meaningful and impactful in our community and beyond. I would be honored to be re-elected to engage with the Board and the UUCB community on these and other opportunities and challenges.

Bill’s Vision for UUCB: Honestly, I am not sure. We are in a transitional period and I am willing to explore all possibilities.

From that very first Sunday service in 2014, Sylvia and I knew we had found a ‘home’ — a place where we could congregate together. Since we come from distinctly different religious and non-religious traditions, the shared values at UUCB provide solid ground to explore our spiritual growth and be part of a loving community. The eclectic nature of UUCB programming is a smorgasbord of light, love, and wisdom that deserves to be supported and nurtured. As a candidate for the UUCB Board of Trustees, my deep personal desire to keep UUCB strong, supported by my professional background in social work, social service policy, finance, systems integration, and data analytics, brings a considerable breadth and depth to an already talented Board. As we move beyond these challenging times and look towards the future, UUCB is poised for a great renaissance of growth and prosperity. I firmly believe that “staying on the hill” provides for a necessary stability and the best strategic opportunity from which to reach out and serve the many diverse peoples of the East Bay. My goals for UUCB are for us to fortify our financial outlook, explore creative ways to encourage spiritual growth and community engagement, and grow into the powerful force of peace, love, justice, and joy. Our church at One Lawson is the aggregate from which we launch our future and I want to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Statement coming soon

Statement coming soon

Ex-Officio (Appointed, Non-Voting) Members

Appointed 2023

Appointed 2022