Jacinda has always loved animals ever since she can remember. Growing up in Texas, people thought she was crazy when she was 16 and said she decided to go vegetarian. In her first job flipping burgers at McDonald's, she realized she never wanted to eat her animal friends again. Later, she realized she needed to be vegan to do all she could to reduce animal suffering, so when she moved to California in 2006 she quickly decided she didn't have any more excuses to NOT be vegan. Her favorite way to get people to ask questions about veganism is to simply radiate how awesome it is, share food, and drop knowledge any chance she can.

Jacinda is a member at a Southern California UU and a co-chair for their small Animal Ministry group. She has a fiancé who introduced her to Unitarian Universalism. He's also a vegan since his young punk rock days, as well as a board member, and worship associate at their UU. They have a dog named Watson and hope to help more animals in the future.

Her passion is compassion for all beings, human and non-human, as well as our planet. She's worked at a farmed animal sanctuary for two years by adopting out mostly rescued chickens from egg farms and other farmed animals. She's also worked for VegNews, Miyoko's Creamery, Unisoy Jerky, and Califia Farms. She volunteers weekly for The Trevor Project (as a crisis counselor for at-risk young people of the LGBTQ+ community), monthly at Best Friends Animal Society (all things cats: clean habitats, socialize, and introduce possible adopters to cats), and helps out with different local organizations and sanctuaries in the SoCal area when she can. Jacinda is also a pet sitter on top of everything else, and is now excited to be a part of the UUAM board!