Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois
Building Community, Bending the Arc Toward Justice
UUANI empowers Unitarian Universalists across Illinois to work for spiritually grounded, relationally accountable, and strategically effective action in solidarity with those most impacted by injustice. We provide leadership training, build congregational capacity and organize statewide advocacy efforts in loving accountability with our partners. Our Actions of the Week make it easy for UUs to make a difference. Together, we seek to bend the arc toward justice.
Welcome Natasha Walker
UUANI Executive Director
We are excited to welcome Natasha Walker as UUANI’s next Executive Director, effective
Jan. 1, 2026.
Natasha is a dynamic leader in operations and strategy, bringing over two decades of experience from major global organizations to her new role. Her career is defined by a consistent ability to drive impactful change, streamline complex processes, and foster a culture of collaboration and inclusion.
But it is her grounding in UU values, commitment to continuous growth, and passion for justice that are at the heart of her work. These qualities are evident through her membership at First Unitarian Church, her pursuit of spiritual direction certification at Meadville Lombard Theological School, and by her work with Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), a national organization devoted to developing Black sacred spaces. With her strategic mindset and empathetic leadership style, Natasha is dedicated to bringing her unique skills and passion to serve the mission of UUANI.
Your UUANI Board and Accountability Council are excited about the gifts Natasha brings. Please join us in welcoming Natasha.
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Announcing the Retirement of
Rev. Scott Aaseng
The UUANI Board of Trustees announces that our beloved Executive Director, Rev. Scott Aaseng, will be retiring at the end of the year. Since UUANI’s founding 12 years ago, Rev. Scott has led with dedication and a clear moral vision. His deep commitment to justice and community has shaped the core of our organization, and his impact will continue to guide and inspire us well into the future.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The UUANI Board of Trustees
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UUANI is supported by contributions from Unitarian Universalist individuals and congregations all across Illinois, and by grants from the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility, the Unitarian Universalist College of Social Justice, Side With Love and the Chicago Area UU Council. We are grateful for each of these forms of support!
Land Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that we live and work throughout the ancestral and sacred lands of the Chickasaw, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Mascoutin, Mesquaki, Miami, Odawa, Ojibwe, Peankashaw, Peoria, Potawatomi, and Sauk Nations and peoples. We also express honor to those Indigenous people who we may have excluded in this acknowledgement due to erasure and historical inaccuracy.