Our Hosts
These are the folks who will welcome you to the dinners, lead activities, and do whatever we can to make you feel at home.
Christen Lester-Jones
Lead Hostess, Site Administrator
Christen (she/her) is a microbiologist and a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Verona, WI. In addition to hosting, she maintains this website and works with Sarah and Nick to schedule the dinners. She has been involved with the dinners since December 2023, and became the lead hostess in September 2024.
Adelaide Aeschliman
Hostess
Adelaide (she/her) is an engineer. A long-time attendee of the dinners, she began hosting in February 2025.
SunShine Raynebow
Hostess
SunShine (she/her/queen/goddess) is a writer, artist, activist, and drag queen. She has been part of the dinners since their beginning in December 2023.
Seraphine Novus
Hostess
Seraphine (she/they) has been attending the dinners since July 2024. She started helping to run them in December 2024.
Support Staff
These are the folks who work behind the scenes to make the dinners happen.
Dr. E. G. Meier
Founder
Meier (any/all pronouns) is licensed therapist and a member of Advent Lutheran. They created the Trans Community Dinners and continue to support them through the nonprofit arm of their counseling business.
Sarah Canon
Volunteer Coordinator
Sarah (she/her) is the former president of the Advent Lutheran leadership council. She organizes the volunteers, assigns duties as needed, and makes sure that all of the guests’ dietary, transportation and childcare needs are met.
Pr. Nick Utphall
Pastor, Advent Lutheran
Pastor Nick (he/him) is the pastor of Advent Lutheran. He works with Sarah and Christen to make sure that we have all of the space and privacy we need for the dinners, and that our events don’t conflict with others who need to use the church space.
Many other volunteers work behind the scenes to make sure that these dinners continue to happen. Our deepest gratitude goes out to everyone who cooks, cleans, drives, and otherwise contributes to keeping this good thing going!
Photos provided by Christen Lester-Jones and Ian DeGraff. Used by permission.