Rev. Jacquie Fernandez
DEIJ Conversations Host

deijconversations@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. Jacquie Fernandez (she/they) is an award-winning filmmaker and writer who serves as senior minister at Unity Church of Overland Park. She is a regular columnist for Unity Magazine, and in 2021, she was the recipient of a Folio Magazine Eddie Award for a feature article she wrote for the publication. This year, she established Folx with Faith, an LGBTQ+ affinity group that gathers for spiritual discussion and healing from religious trauma. Rev. Jacquie is passionate about creating space for people, especially the queer community, to discover and know their sacred worth and to heal from any experience or idea that has inhibited this knowing.

She has been a nationally featured speaker and retreat facilitator and is proud to call Kansas City home, though she grew up on the west coast and brings the ocean/mountain vibe to everything she does. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1997 (BSW), Jacquie worked in social services and was part of a small team of women recognized as Women Who Make a Difference by the Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City. After developing an arts and science based social curriculum for homeless children, she went on to open a photography/video production business and continued to serve nonprofits through media services. She also worked on independent films, most notably a short dance film that was screened worldwide, winning awards in both Italy and South Africa. In 2015, she graduated from Unity Institute (MDiv) and was ordained as a Unity minister. She served at Unity Worldwide Ministries and Unity World Headquarters in the media departments, creating media works that invited people from all walks of life to consider questions of ultimate concern, contemplate our connection with all humanity, and to take action to create a world with more equity, justice, and acceptance.

Jacquie lives in Overland Park, KS with her amazing and talented family consisting of her wife, Tamie Rising, three children Josie (19), Jami (17), and Madi Rose (5), and furbabies, Manny and Sadie.