About Us
What is the WSCF North America? The World Student Christian Federation North America (WSCF-NA) is a community of students and youth committed to embodying the radical and prophetic words of Christ. As one affiliated national member movement (SCM-Canada) and four associated movements (SCM-USA*, Lutheran Student Movement, United Methodist Student Movement, and Jeunesse Etudiante Chretienne) connecting to the global World Student Christian Federation, we represent a number of Christian and spiritual denominations, cultures and traditions, and strive to offer an anti-oppressive community of living ecumenism.
Welcome! If you would like to learn more about us, or get involved, please contact our Regional Secretary, Luciano Kovacs, or one of the Co-Chairs to the North American Regional Committee (NARC), via our Contact Us page.
*SCM-USA was formed as a national member movement in 2010 and will apply to become an affiliated movement at the next WSCF General Assembly, in 2014.
What is the North American Regional Committee (NARC)? The North American Region of the WSCF is led by a board of representatives nominated from the member movements in the United States and Canada. NARC consists of the Regional Secretary (ex officio), the two North American members of the WSCF Executive Committee ("ExCo"), and a set number of delegates from the member movements.
The membership of NARC is as follows:
Canadian Co- Chair: Miriam Spies (Toronto, ON CANADA)
Church Affiliation: United Church of Canada
US Co-Chair: Hierald Kane-Osorto (Washington DC, USA)
Treasurer: Linwood Blizzard (Bosten, MA USA)
Canadian Ex-Co: Bre Woligroski (Winnipeg, MB, Canada)
Church Affliation: Wandering Jesus Follower
Bre is passionate about women's issues within church and society. The WSCF has taught her the importance, challenges, benefits, and joys of ecumenical dialogue and ecumenical late-night dancing.
US Ex-Co: Brandon Cook: (Chicago, IL, USA)
Advocacy and Solidarity Coordinator: Emily Tynes (Fort Worth, TX, USA)
Church Affiliation: Disciples of Christ
Being new to WSCF, I have come to experience the ecumenical setting outside of my home town. It has given me a sense of belonging in the global community. With that sense of belonging, I have been able to experience my own community in a different way, and my ministry has changed to reflect that same experience as well. My passion in life is to work for human rights in a theological setting. I firmly believe in equal rights for all and that the love and compassion of Jesus Christ as taught in the bible is where I base my personal beliefs.
Bible, Theology and Creative Liturgy Coordinator: Kelly Colwell (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Church Affiliation: United Church of Canada.
I believe it is fitting that my first WSCF experience was on a bi-national pilgrimage to the School of the Americas protest with the University of Toronto SCM local unit before I even moved to Canada--it was an amazing experience of cross-cultural solidarity for me. I love WSCF as a place to respectfully and faithfully hold each other accountable to the radical call of the Gospels, and I am grateful to be a part of the exciting and engaging theological and liturgical work of the North American Region, particularly in the areas of environmentalism and human rights. Please contact me if you want to work together!
Communication Coordinator: Desiree’ Kameka (Miami, FL, USA)
Church Affiliation: Vagabond follower of Jesus the Christ
"As a summer volunteer in the WSCF Global office and a member of the WSCF/WCC Youth Media Team for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, the WSCF has opened my eyes to the accessibility of international collaboration and connections! I cherish the lessons learned and stories heard from my friends in other countries, it has taught me to think more widely."
My passion is to help faith communities become more neurologically diverse.
Lutheran Student Movement, At large member: Smith Heavner (Pendlelton, SC, USA)
Ex-Officio: Shantha Ready Alonso (Washington, DC USA) – ExCo Vice-chair
Sheryl has been involved with the SCM since 2005 and it has changed her life (certainly for the better and the busier!). She has served in roles including local unit coordinator and co-chair of SCM Canada (2008-11). From January to May 2012, she will be in the Philippines doing an internship with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, which was sparked by friendships and connections with members of SCM Philippines throughout her time in the SCM.
Fundraising Coordinator: vacant
Staff of WSCF North America:
North American Regional Secretary: Luciano Kovacs
Originally from Italy, currently living in New York, NY
Church Affiliation: Member of Waldensian Church (reformed) of Italy and senior friend of FGEI, the Italian SCM of WSCF Europe.
"SCM and WSCF have shaped my life in untold ways and are fully part of my identity. I was involved in SCM/WSCF as a student in the 1990's at local, national and international levels. SCM gave me enormous tools to articulate the connections between faith and justice, to harness leadership skills and to be formed as an ecumenist. WSCF has been my international community, my church and my family ever since and continues to provide an important platform of my involvement in justice issues. I currently serve as one of the global staff of the federation and I provide some of the leadership I have learned through the WSCF!
Luciano Kovacs, as the Regional Secretary, acts as the face of the Region, building partnerships with other ecumenical and justice-oriented groups, connecting the Region with the rest of the global Federation, and empowering the students within the member movements and local units, as well as overseeing the day-to-day business aspects of running a non-profit organization.
Tyler Sit is the WSCF-NA's LGBT Program Coordinator.