Pastor Emily Norris
Colorado Native, proud Midwest Transplant, turned Southern Belle by way of drinking Cheerwine and using “Y’all” in everyday conversation.
Passionate about faith, service, relationship-building, learning, and love. Thrives on kindness, travel, advocacy and justice, hard work, community organizing, creative and effective communication, organizational systems, fun stationary, and Diet Coke.
Adores her dogs and tolerates the cat. Currently balancing life as a mission developer, pastor, and full-time human. Actively trying to be her best self, all while loving her neighbor.
Emily Norris was ordained as a Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in May of 2020 and serves as the Lead Pastor and Developer of this new community of faith, The Dwelling.
Since 2013, Emily has worked alongside persons experiencing homelessness through the City with Dwellings Emergency Overflow Shelter at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem and the City with Dwellings Community First Center. She also was one of the founding board members of City with Dwellings and continues to serve as an advisor to the organization.
During the last seven years, Emily has provided pastoral care to her neighbors and has heard their requests for a deeper community of faith. So, here we are.
Contact: emily@thedwellingws.org
DEACON BROOKE De JONG
Brooke (she/they) is a proud Minnesotan who still unironically uses ufda and ope. And she is glad to be adopted by the people of North Carolina to escape the cold winters and be closer to the mountains.
Brooke is an avid hiker and backpacker and they love trying new ways to stay active. She has done everything from Mau Thai to aerial acrobatics to rugby. But for the past two years you can most often find them in the gym training for their next powerlifting meet. Brooke also loves crafts and on Sundays you might catch her working on her latest crochet project while listening to the sermon.
Brooke’s call to ministry was discovered among the trees and around campfires in South Dakota, shaped by the people and contexts she served in Chicago and informed by her work in education and public witness across the ELCA with ELCA World Hunger.
Brooke’s passion for serving alongside her neighbors experiencing homelessness comes from her time as a hospital chaplain in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and as an administrator and grant writer for HUD and Ryan White grants with Heartland Alliance Health in Chicago.
Brooke is an ordained deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Brooke received their Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Brooke’s call as a deacon is to help tell our shared story in Christ and activate others to help to live out that story to create safe, sustainable, thriving, livelihoods for all. They have a passion for faith formation that is culturally sensitive, trauma informed, socially responsive and aimed at creating lifelong, engaged faith leaders.
Contact: brooke@thedwellingws.org
Vicar Brittany perry
Brittany is originally from Concord, NC but most recently has spent a few years in a castle in Iowa, where she is completing her Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry at Wartburg Theological Seminary. She serves as the Diaconal Intern at the Dwelling and is a candidate for Word and Service Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Brittany is passionate about hiking, social justice, Star Wars, and Cheerwine. She can often be found enjoying God’s creation while reading in her hammock, putting together puzzles, and snuggling her four-year old cat. She is always ready to go star gazing and can tell stories about the constellations and planets for hours.
Contact: brittany@thedwellingws.org
CETERA J. JACOBS
Cetera Jacobs is a professional photographer and advocate for social justice who recently returned from a year of volunteer service with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Young Adults in Global Mission program.
Although a Tennessee native, Cetera is known as a nomad to her friends and family due to her love for travel and experiencing new cultures. From a young age, she has been extremely passionate about helping those around her and making a difference. Jacobs aims to do so by sharing the stories of the world through art. She prides herself on being humble, optimistic, family oriented, caring, and community driven.
Jacobs has an extensive creative and business background in the entertainment industry. In her free time, she can be found listening to music (Beyoncé’s biggest fan), learning new languages, watering her relationships, binge watching TV, in a crystal shop, and searching for a new record to add to her vinyl collection! Her faith, family and determination is what continues to push her forward.
Cetera is serving a year at The Dwelling as the Fellow for Communications & Storytelling
Contact: cetera@thedwellingws.org
Joseph hedrick (M.O.M.)
Hailing from the BBQ capital of NC, Joseph left for Nashville, TN, at the age of 18 to pursue degrees in Religion and English. Post-graduation, he found himself turning compost and packing CSA boxes at Bells Bend Farm with no knowledge of how to cook the produce in front of him. His curiosity for the culinary arts was born. Since then, food has brought awareness to his privilege as well as broader issues like food injustice and disparities.
Part vagabond, Joseph has spent the last 15 years from the mountains of Oahu to the canyons in Utah as a cook, seasonal farmhand, backpacking guide, and mechanical technician. Now rooted in Winston Salem, he, with his wife Christine and pup Rocky, is remodeling his food truck, “Buddy System,” aiming to enhance food accessibility in the Triad, bringing attention to seasonality, preservation, and utilization of regional produce. Otherwise, you can always find him playing music, riding his bike, fly fishing, reading, or playing games (chess, bones, or backgammon).
Brother Joseph is grateful to be serving the Dwelling as Minister of Meals (M.O.M.). He sees the act of cooking as sacred and alchemic, a force for justice. This role answers a profound calling to cook and nourish all.
Contact: joseph@thedwellingws.org
Roland todd
Todd comes to the Dwelling team after volunteering his time and talents to help prepare the Thanksgiving feast this past year. Todd loves to find new and delicious ways to feed God’s people and is excited to work on a team that is spreading love through good food.
Todd is serving as our Chef here at The Dwelling!
GARY GREEN
Gary is a long-time member of the Dwelling community. Gary started as a faithful volunteer with the shower ministry several years ago and transitioned seamlessly into leading this important ministry. Gary is passionate about the dignity that comes with a shower and offering healing through a clean pair of socks and fresh underwear.
Gary is serving as Minister of Showers!
Nick childress
Nick is the glue that keeps the beautiful chaos at The Dwelling in order. He cares deeply about the safety and wellbeing of all who call The Hub home and takes the time to learn the names and stories of all who walk through these doors. Nick not only stewards the physical space of The Dwelling but takes the time to invest in leaders who steward the space alongside him.
Nick is serving as Minister of Facilities.
