Unity of Fox Valley Staff
Dear Unity Family,
On Sunday, November 23rd immediately following the service, we will celebrate Kathleen’s retirement. She has been in service to our church family for over 12 years. During her tenure she not only did her job, she marveled at it. She used her creative skills to bless us, and in doing so went well beyond the demands of her job. Over the years we all thrilled to walk into our spiritual home and smile at decorations that made many of our special occasions more than special. She did not just care – she really cared and poured her heart into everything always seeking to manifest the magic in it.
That same date and time we will be coming together to celebrate our annual Thanksgiving Feast. This may seem like a conflict, but in fact it is very appropriate. As we give thought to the many things for which we are grateful, surely our relationship with Kathleen ranks high on our lists. So, we come together to exercise our power to bless. We will give thanks for our church family of which Kathleen always will be a part.
Kathleen Malick – Business Manager (Outgoing)
Kathleen Malick came to Unity of Fox Valley as our Business Manager in 2013. Prior to this, she managed two other churches. She has many interests out of work that includes her volunteer work for her local Woman’s Club and also serves on her local arts council. Not only does she serve on several committees in each one, but she helps with all its graphic and print needs as well as overseeing their social media. Kathleen earned two degrees: Fine Art (BFA – Textiles) and Art (BA – Visual Communications). She loves all fabric arts, can ballroom dance, loves getting together with the girls, enjoys gardening, woodworking, trying new restaurants, loves to bake for her church, has a small, rare plant collection and is a terrible piano player. Kathleen is also an athlete participating in several Half Marathons and has been weight training for years. She lives outside of Dixon with her supportive, talented and romantic husband, Galen while her beautiful and kind daughter Ava is off in college pursuing her dream.
AJ Javadi – Business Manager (Incoming)
Mary Nowroozi, LUT, CSE – Assistant Spiritual Leader
Mary Nowroozi, LUT, CSE, has been a member of Unity of Fox since 2000 and Youth Director since 2003. Mary received her Certified Spiritual Educator in Youth and Family Ministry from the Association of Unity Churches in October 2009. She had participated in several Unity classes, attended Youth/Teen Ministry Week at Unity Village and completed both written and oral testing to receive her certificate. She had also completed the Spiritual Development Program (CSE) and completed her Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) program. Mary is deeply committed to serving our youths’ spiritual growth as well as serving as a Prayer Chaplain and liaison for the Women’s Wisdom Circle.
Dawn Staszak – Teen Youth Director
Dawn Staszak came to Unity of Fox Valley as the proud parent of William & Victoria around 2013-14. Prior to this, she served as Youth Church Teacher at DuPage Center for Spiritual Living in 2011-2012. At Unity of Fox Valley, she served as Volunteer Coordinator, substituted teaching in the Children’s Church, named “Volunteer of the Month” in July 2014, became active in social media outreach and fundraising for the church, and was offered the position of Uniteens Teacher in 2019, before beginning her current Teen Director position in June 2023.
Her full-time job is in the Conference Office of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (a.k.a. “Fermilab”). She is the author of 4 self-published books, Captain of a summer sand volleyball team, Captain of a bowling team and earned her Red/Brown belt in Tung Soo Do/Hapkido Karate. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, focusing on Sales & Marketing. She enjoys working out, billiards, karaoke, and live music.
Kitty Karn – Music Director
Kitty Karn is a singer, actor, music director, wife & mom, yogini, dream interpreter and crazy cat lady. She was the Music Coordinator for Unity Church of Christianity in Houston, Texas, where she lived for 20 years and has performed at many Unity Churches throughout the US. Kitty taught Voice and Musical Theatre at Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL for 15 years before relocating to the Chicagoland area in 2019. Her passion is holding space for herself and others to experience a deep connection to Spirit through sound/music and other heart opening modalities.
Marie Manella – Prayer Chaplain Coordinator
Marie L. Manella has been a member of Unity of Fox Valley since 1987 and has served as a volunteer in various capacities since that time. In 1991 Marie was elected to the Board of Directors and served as Treasurer for the following year; she was employed from 1993 through 1998 as Business Manager. She became a member of the first class of Prayer Chaplains in 2001, and, except for an 18 month hiatus in 2008-2009, has been an active Prayer Chaplain since that time.
Marie became a Reiki practitioner in 1987 and a Reiki Master Teacher in 1993. In 2000 she was commissioned as a Spiritual Companion and offers her services to all members of Unity of Fox Valley.
Bobbi Severson – Prayer Chaplain Coordinator & Volunteer Coordinator
Bobbi Severson has been a member of Unity of Fox Valley since 2002 and became a Prayer Chaplain in 2004 and completed the Unity Sanctioned Prayer Chaplain Trainers Workshop in 2007. She has been involved in the training of our new prayer chaplains since that time. Bobbi served on the board of trustees in 2005 and again in 2012. She has also been serving as the Volunteer Coordinator since 2016.