I am connected to West Michigan in a way that appears to have prevented me from escaping its orbit - it seems fated that I will spend the second half of my life ensuring that my three children share a similar bond with the woods and waters where I was raised. They will represent the eighth generation of my family that has lived in this area - land that I was taught, from before I could speak, did not belong to us. It was shown to me how our white ancestors had tried to take “ownership” over this sacred place - how they had conspired to remove those who’d lived in conscious community with the earth, the Odawa and Illini people, and how they had failed to live in harmony with the water, soil, and air. Later, my ancestors were themselves violently attacked by members of their own colonist community (Allegan) over “land use.” The people who raised me (a large, extended family) were gracious enough to teach me these things when I was a boy. All of this has been heavy on my heart as my partner and I recently purchased a homestead near Alto, Michigan. I now live less than a mile from where I was raised, the water we drink comes from the same watershed I drank from as a boy, the forests are conterminous with the woods where I built forts and explored with my own siblings and cousins. (However, after my 30 year sojourn, the live oaks, scotch pines and even the black cherries appear to have finally ceded to the maples.)
I am grateful to have worked most of my adult life in non-profits, raising funds and developing community-based visions for churches, boards, and other agencies. I have a successful history of fundraising, co-op founding and development, and planned use of shared community space.
Finally, I am a passionate fighter for social justice. I can say with clarity that I have never backed down from a fight - no matter the odds - and no matter the muttering concerns of the privileged, tepid folks who advise moderation and centrism. Sometimes this has made it a challenge to work with some folks who don’t share my sense of urgency about the state of things. However, I am certain that if you reach out to anyone who has shared a board membership, or a church membership, or even a band membership with me they will tell you that I love to see people laugh and I honor and cherish opposing ideas and strategies on their own merits. One of the highest honors of my professional career has been the tenure of those who I’ve supervised as head of staff - I simply don’t lose staff until they’re ready to move. I make certain that every single member of staff - whether paid or not - is pursuing their own passion and vision for the work they have before them. Everyone I supervise comes to work excited and goes to bed with the satisfied exhaustion of having lived into their own unique calling.
Link to most recent CV
Advisory Consultant Bio, N. Dannison, United Church of Christ Pension Boards -
During his tenure in Kalamazoo the congregation he served had undergone a renaissance of reinvestment in the life of its community. Declaring itself as the "living heart of the city," the congregation opened its campus to over 100 different agencies, justice organizations, and arts and cultural ensembles completely free of cost or expectation. Their practice of embracing radical hospitality and a posture of hope sparked rapid growth in attendance and a new sense of purpose among the members.
The church publicly declared itself an Environmental Justice Congregation, an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation and Public Sanctuary Church, and led the movement to celebrate full marriage equality with numerous public events. The church affirms and celebrates the role of women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other historically marginalized populations at every level of church staff and leadership. Following the terrible mass-shooting that took place in February of 2016 the church was asked to host the civic vigil and call to action. The campus was then designated a "gun free zone” , an inaugural first that launched the state-wide legal effort to empower local groups to create gun-free policies for their own buildings.
First Congregational Church renewed the historic congregational practices of hosting town hall meetings, protests, and public lectures. They undertook a major building restoration and renovation campaign to reduce the environmental impact of their historic building, protect its beautiful architecture for the benefit of future generations, and create additional space for community events in the form of a new Garden Atrium.
During his tenure the congregation grew to over 600 in active membership, added additional worship services, and received a renewed spirit of sacrifice and giving, both through the tithes and offerings of the membership and vital investments by local foundations.
Nathan served as the President of the Board of the Kalamazoo Non-profit Advocacy Coalition (KNAC), the Vice Chair of the Citizen’s Public Safety Review and Appeal Board (CPSRAB), and was a member of the Kalamazoo County Community Action Tripartite Advisory Board (CATAB). He was also a member of Kalamazoo Rotary Club. He served on the board of the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music. Within the United Church of Christ, Nathan works as an adviser for church renewal and planting throughout denomination. In 2017 he was honored to receive the Chicago Theological Seminary's Distinguished Alumni award.
Prior to ordained ministry, he worked as a community organizer with the Gamaliel Foundation and as an EMT with the International Red Cross / Red Crescent in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
He is a seventh-generation Michigander and a proud WMU Bronco.
Link to most recent CV