Mae Helen Jackson currently serves as the Director for YAGM. A life long Lutheran, she has had the pleasure of working for the ELCA in an official capacity since 2017. She was a YAGM herself, serving in the Southern Africa program in 2014-15. Working with young adults is her way of living out her faith and she is so excited to accompany you on this journey. She is the mom of an awesome 2 year old and loves astrology and all things Marvel.

Email: maehelen.jackson@elca.org

Brooke Helfers (she/her) is the Manager for Young Adult Outreach and Placement. You've probably received lots of emails from her leading up to this event! At work, she loves getting to know new YAGMs through the application process while collaborating with others on various other creative projects! In her free time, she loves reading, staying up to date on the latest Taylor Swift album release theories, and traveling to visit friends. Brooke lives in Dallas, Texas with her cat, Johnny, who both happen to be Aries!

Email: brooke.helfers@elca.org

Kayla Zopfi recently joined the Young Adult Communities team as the Young Adult Network Coordinator! This, basically, means that they get paid to make friends and scheme about how to break down silos. Kayla is passionate about storytelling, equipping and empowering people to use their voices, and, as a Word & Service candidate at Wartburg Theological Seminary, talking about what deacons do. Outside (and inside) of work, Kayla loves to chat about politics, enneagram, and podcasts, and can almost always be found at a coffeeshop. They currently reside in Dubuque, IA. 

Email: kayla.zopfi@elca.org 

Daniel Kirschbaum is a strategic dreamer, a board game player, and finds joy in being fiercely present. They love to be in and near the water and hates all comedy. Daniel likes to create charcuterie tables and is afraid of cranes (the bird). They serve as the Senior Director for Young Adult Communities and as a young adult representative of North America to the Global Young Reformers Steering committee partnered with the Lutheran World Federation.  In his spare time, he walks alongside several congregations as they reimagine and reshape faith community. Daniel loves to hike or ski in the mountains.

Email: daniel.kirschbaum@elca.org

Jenna is a Mexico YAGM alum, where she accompanied migrants at a shelter in Mexico City from 2018 - 2019. She currently works at the National Living Donor Assistance Center helping living organ donors with financial assistance. Prior to that, she worked on the ELCA Young Adult Communities team as the Manager for Networks & Alumni Engagement. She currently lives outside of Chicago, has two cats named Oliver and Beanbag, and is utterly terrified of butterflies. 

Dave Zastrow resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota and currently works for Thrivent Charitable administering grants. During his YAGM year, Dave served at a primary school in Tshifulanani, South Africa walking along side his fiery host mom, Reg. In his spare time, you’ll find Dave: playing/watching soccer, running, skiing, finding the best gluten free pizza with his wife, Britt, flopping on the couch with his cat, Tacocat, or skijoring with his golden retriever, Izzy.