WHO WE ARE

We are the Happening National Committee, a board of adults, youth, and clergy who love the Happening movement and are committed to providing leaders of the movement from all over the world with the opportunities to participate in further developing their programs.

Adults

Billy Bennett represents the Diocese of Lexington as an adult lay member on the Happening National Committee. He has been involved with Happening as an adult participant, team member, and serves on the diocesan steering committee. Billy was the youth minister of his parish for 17 years participating in Happening, New Beginnings, summer camp sessions for both Sr. and Jr. High and the New Year in the Spirit gathering for grades 7-12. By day, he is the executive director for the Kentucky Environmental Education Council in Frankfort KY.

Sally Paris Benton is the Director of Youth Ministries at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church and Campus Missioner at Kennesaw State University. Growing up in Marietta, Sally received a degree in Psychology and Religious Studies from Kennesaw State University. In school, she had a Lilly internship through The University of the South doing youth ministry at St. Columba’s in Sewanee. After graduating, she served at Christ Episcopal Church in Kennesaw as their Director of Religious Education where she coordinated children’s, youth, and young adult formation. Sally is very involved in the Diocese of Atlanta’s ministry. She is currently serving as the Lay Director of Happening in Atlanta as well as the National Happening Committee. She enjoys forming relationships with youth and their families at St. Catherine’s as well as developing connections with youth and adults who work with youth across the country. She is an extrovert who has too much fun at church events and loves interacting with the people she loves. Sally and her husband, Wallace, live in Woodstock. Wallace is the Director of Youth Ministries at St. David’s in Roswell. They both love being with young people and walking their journey of faith with them. They enjoy hiking, exploring, and binge-watching shows on Netflix!

Joshawa Trader comes to us from The Diocese of West Missouri where he has been involved in youth ministry since 2001. He now serves as The Bishop’s Assistant for Youth Ministry Development. He is married to Liz, they have 2 beautiful daughters, Tatum and Jayme. They have 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs, a marginated tortoise and a bearded dragon, they refer to this as their mini-farm. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, netflix and spending time outdoors.

Catherine “CPo” Poellnitz comes from the Diocese of Alabama and is the Director of Youth Ministries at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham. She graduated from Auburn University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Sociology and Human Development and Family Studies. She currently serves on the Alabama Happening Steering Committee and serves as the gopher mom on Alabama Happenings. Her love for the Happening National Committee began when she was in 10th grade and was elected as a youth representative onto the HNC, and she is beyond ecstatic to be serving as an adult now! She loves being outside in nature and spending time adventuring often with family and friends.

Youth

My name is Ben Horman. I’m a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky. I’m currently a freshman at the University of Louisville studying Music Therapy. I attended Happening #55 two years ago and have loved the possibility to experience it as a unique part of my faith ever since. When I find time away from life’s hustle and bustle, I enjoy (most things) music, photography, laughs, movies, and experiences in whatever life has to offer. It seems to be Happening the most right here. *finger guns*

London Harper is from the Diocese of Lexington. He is currently a freshman at Northern Kentucky University majoring in Electronic Media & Broadcasting with a minor in Cinema Studies. In high school, he was very involved with his Episcopal Youth Community at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, KY and was extremely involved with his Happening movement. He first attended happening at his diocese’s 55th happening and would be a gopher at the 56th and be the head gopher at the 57th. Happening and the movement had a huge impact on his life and he has since given back to the program in all the ways he can. Aside from religious-affiliated programs London is also involved in film. He loves watching movies and making movies in his free time. His favorite movies include The Social Network, Goodfellas, and Whiplash. He’s always open for a conversation about any movie you have in mind or anything nerdy.

Amanda Colburn is from Kansas City and is a member of the Diocese of West Missouri. She is currently a freshman at Regis University in Denver, Colorado majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Theology. 

Cameron Bowley is from Gadsden, AL, and attends the University of Alabama. Can I get a Roll Tide!!!! She represents the Diocese of Alabama and is currently a nursing major. Her favorite food is butter noodles and has a guilty pleasure for cilantro. She loves country music and playing guitar. She went through Happening #69 and proceeded to staff #71, 72, and 73. She served as Head Gopher at #73. She loves to travel and wants to do travel nursing. Her favorite part about Happening is the warm fuzzies and the love that is shared by everyone. She is currently rewatching Hart of Dixie for the 6th time.

Claire Ramos is from the Diocese of West Texas and is currently a freshman at Baylor University. She loves pasta, sushi, and her pet fish Earle (don’t tell him about the sushi). She attended Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio from form six until her senior year. Claire “happened” at #134 at St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, Texas (which also ~happened~ to be where she went to elementary school). She served as a gofer for #138, a small family leader for #140 and #142, and as a head gofer for #143. Her favorite part of the movement was seeing Happeners’ faces when they opened their first round of caritas. 

Rosie Garza is from the Diocese of West Missouri. She is currently a high school senior in Springfield, MO. She is very involved in the WeMo Happening program, and first became a part of it after going through Happening #74 during her freshman year. She was recently the Rector of Happening #79 in June 2019! Ever since she first went through the event, her faith has grown immensely and had a huge impact on her life. Aside from her involvement in Happening, she is also involved in her school’s orchestra program and plays the violin in the Springfield Youth Symphony. She loves being outdoors, traveling to new places, and spending time with friends.

Clergy

The Rev. Blake Woods serves as the chaplain for the University of Oklahoma.