Current Corps Members

Hi everyone! My name is Macie Bridge, and I was born and raised in the small town of Groton, Massachusetts. I have spent the last few years in Hartford, CT, at Trinity College, where I just graduated with a B.A. in English and minors in Religious Studies and Writing, Rhetoric, & Media Studies. I grew up in the United Church of Christ but have been actively involved in the Episcopal community on Trinity’s campus. After my year with JSC, I’m hoping to get my Master’s in Religious Studies, specifically in Biblical Studies/New Testament; I’m fascinated by the ways stories and texts inform our daily lives and faith experiences. I’m also an aspiring novelist (ask me about the book I’m writing for hours of talk-your-ear-off entertainment!) and love spending time outdoors. A few of my best skills include baking, singing in the shower, guiding mindfulness meditation, and being an extra-peppy morning person. I am so excited for this year!

Macie will be serving with L'Arche.

I was born and raised in Alabama. I am a graduate of Troy University, where I majored in English and minored in History. Since I was young, I’ve always had a strong wanderlust. Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program. I traveled through London and Paris and then spent two weeks in Pietrasanta, Italy, exploring museums and writing for a student-made travel magazine. They became some of my favorite places in the world, and I can't wait to revisit them. I love music and have a knack for easily memorizing lyrics, but I don’t have the best singing voice. I am an avid reader, Netflix binge-watcher, podcast listener, and board game enthusiast. I enjoy food in all forms—cooking, baking, and eating. I don’t really know what I want to dedicate my career to in my future, but I have always been a hopeful novelist, poet, and social advocate, especially for women’s rights and LBGTQ+ issues. This spring, I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church, and I am excited to continue my spiritual journey during this upcoming year with JSC.

Lydia will be serving with Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI)

My name is Henry Kennelly, and I did most of my growing up just north of Boston, Massachusetts. I studied History at Harvard and have just finished my master's in Development Studies at Oxford (it’s an unhelpful title!). Both of my theses have studied processes of decolonization, with my master’s thesis exploring church reform in the West Indies Anglican Church during the 1970s and 1980s. Between those degrees, I lived and worked for two years as a teacher at a soccer academy/school in Ghana, where I received certainly as much of an education as I did in my degrees! Between Ghana, friends from all over the world at Oxford, and the remarkable leaders of the Caribbean church, I have been blessed and transformed by a broad range of beautiful lived examples of what it means to be a Christian. I am further discerning a call to ordination. I love making/playing/listening to music, cooking spicy food, and playing sports (even if badly).

Henry will be serving with the SECU Family House.

Hi everyone, my name is Maria Pellicier. I grew up in Frederick, Maryland. In 2020, I graduated from New York University with my Bachelors of Science in Social Work and Spanish. After graduation, I stayed in New York, where I worked as a social worker for an all-girls group home on Staten Island. After completing my year with Johnson Service Corps, my goal is to return to school and get my Master's of Social Work so that I can continue to work alongside youth and families. I was raised in the Episcopal Church and was active in my college youth group. In my free time, I love to watch bad science fiction movies, hike and cook. I cannot wait to begin my time as a Corp Member!

Maria will be serving with Durham Children's Initiative.

Hey there! My name is Mollie, and I spent the last year completing a year of service in Oakland, California. During the year, I supported survivors of domestic violence and provided job training in environmental management to young adults. Prior to that, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with majors in Global Studies and Peace, War, and Defense and a minor in Environmental Science. I am passionate about empowering women and youth and am excited to discern the next step in my career. I enjoy spending time outside, listening to music, and learning about what makes people who they are. I’m looking forward to returning to the Triangle community and cannot wait to visit some of my favorite coffee shops and outdoor spaces.

Mollie will be serving with Durham Children's Initiative.

Hello! My name is Callie Swaim-Fox. I was born and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland. I graduated in the Spring of 2021 from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. At Smith, I studied women’s history and archival studies. I am passionate about LGBTQ issues, women’s issues, and social justice in general. I think learning about and sharing history (particularly the history of marginalized groups) can be healing and transformative, and I hope to use history and historical analysis in my future career. I’m considering graduate school in history and/or a career in the nonprofit sector, education, or ministry. I was raised in the Episcopal Church, and my home parish of Christ Church Shaker Heights, has had a huge influence on my faith and my life. In my free time, you can find me reading, writing, singing, visiting with family and friends, or taking a walk in my favorite cemetery. I am so excited to learn and grow with my fellow corps members in the upcoming year.

Callie will be serving with The Pauli Murray Center.

Hey, y’all! My name is Juan Ramon Riojas, and I go by either J.R. or Juan Ramon. I recently graduated from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Public Policy. Although I moved around growing up, I claim Mississippi as home because it is where I graduated high school and college. I am passionate about food policy, international peace and conflict, and law. Following my time as a corps member, I will attend Columbia Law School. When I am not studying or working, I enjoy playing chess, trivia, and soccer. I am super excited to get to know my fellow corps members through JSC!

Juan Ramon will be serving with The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).

My name is Cecilia Too. I grew up in San Jose, California but have called the greater Seattle area home for the past decade. I graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Ethics. I was raised in the nondenominational Chinese church by my huge extended family of aunties and uncles, who helped to shape my faith. I identify as a nondenominational Christian; however, I am drawn to the history and liturgy of the Episcopal church, which I am excited to learn more about! I am deeply disturbed by what I see as a grossly unequal society that we live in, where a few have so much, and so many have so little. I hope to launch a career that involves working to eliminate the economic injustices that cause ordinary people so much suffering. I am a big believer in the power of language and storytelling. I know that I have been profoundly shaped by the stories I have read, as well as stories told to me by my community and the surrounding culture. I am working on claiming my own writing voice so that I can tell my own stories to the world. In my free time, I enjoy reading novels, writing, playing the piano, handcrafting greeting cards, and watching.

Cecilia will be serving with Families Moving Foward.

Hi, my name is Olivia Vername, but my friends call me Liv! I am originally from New York, which means I have the classic NY accent (you know, “dwog,” “cwoffee,” etc.). I’m somewhat of an introverted extrovert, which means that I love people with all my heart but also need some occasional alone time. I’m a part-time wedding photographer, but when I’m not busy snapping photos, you can usually find me drinking coffee, stuffing my face with Italian food, or watching How I Met Your Mother. I’m a Jesus-lover, a dreamer, a creator, and a community builder. I am absolutely PSYCHED to get to know my fellow JSC corps members, and I’m ready to jump right in!

Olivia will be serving with The Compass Center.