WHY ARE YOU YOU ?

a feature documentary

Premiering June 12, 2025

"Wish they had grown up in this type of environment..."
"The characters were appealing and lovable..."
"People will feel recognized..."
"Original documentary and is going places..."

COMMUNITY CARE

Please be advised that these topics are discussed in the film.
No topic should last more than 5 minutes.
We invite viewers to monitor themselves.
SEX
DRUG USE
HAZING
SEXUAL ASSAULT
SMOKING
STRONG LANGUAGE
SUICIDE

Think Outside the Vox is pleased to provide Audio Description and Closed Captioning for WHY ARE YOU YOU? to make an accessible documentary experience for Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Low Vision audiences.
Audio Description written and recorded by Mel Watkins.
Closed Captioning created by Connor Riordan.

Featuring

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The history of the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) community where adolescents discovered their true selves and were empowered to incite positive change in the world.
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Forty years after the program's inception, those former participants reflect on how being a part of the program shaped them and still informs their lives.
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YRUU, established in 1983, grew out of the Unitarian Universalists’ rich tradition of religious youth education. It was disbanded in 2008.
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Music
We Are a Circle by Rick Hamouris © 1986 All Rights Reserved
Recorded by Charise Sowells
In the Name of the Lord by Dr. Pants © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Vitruvian Quartet by Michael Wall © 2018 All Rights Reserved
Rock ‘n Roll Revolution by Paris Brewer ©2024
Objectionable Object #2 by Dr. Pants © 2020 All Rights Reserved
Burn by Firefly © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Leap of Faith by Firefly © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Two Adrift by Michael Wall ©2021 All Rights Reserved
Just As You Are ©2021 by Lea Morris All Rights Reserved
Movement Three Albert Mathais ©2003 All Rights Reserved
The Prelude by John Barera & Brian Abelson ©2023 All Rights Reserved
Time Passes by Michael Wall ©2024 All Rights Reserved
Dear Friends, Dear Friends [Traditional] performed by Ginger Fisher Young
Seventeen Written by Savannah Staples, © 2024 All Rights Reserved
With Me by Michael Wall © 2021 All Rights Reserved
Spirit of Life Owned by Carolyn McDade in © 1981 All Rights Reserved
Dreamin’ My Life Away © 1999 by Jackie Abajoli All Rights Reserved
Home by Firefly ©2013 All Rights Reserved
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Stories from:
Rev. Christina Branum-Martin [She/Her] Minister
Sam Ames [They/He] Civil Rights Lawyer
Ayanna Kafi Loebe [They/Them] Seminarian
Rev. Jason Lydon [He/Him] Minister | Activist | YRUU Program Specialist 2003-04
Brian Schorr - Associate Professor
Bart Frost [He/Him] Teacher | Coach
Jen Devine [She/They] Director of Superstar Health Education | sexuality educator | activist | Youth Program Director 1997-2002
Rev. Bill Sinkford [He/Him] Former UUA President and Minister
Caprice Young [She/Her] Superintendent and CEO of Navigator Schools| YRUU Program Specialist 1985
Laila Ibrahim [She/They] Novelist | YRUU Program Specialist 1984-85
Rev. Wayne Arnason [He/Him] Minister | YRUU Program Director 1980-1984
Rev. Hank Peirce [He/Him] Minister
Rev. Elizabeth Carrier-Ladd [They/Them] Minister
Rev. Dr. Kristen Harper [She/Her] Minister
James Coomes LCSW [He/Him] Mental Health Service Area Chief
Rev. Joseph Santos Lyons [He/Him] Minister
Christine (Michell) Mishra [she/her] Co-Executive Director of the Pride Rainbow Project
Christopher Loebe [he/him] Paralegal
Julie Rising Bryan [She/Her] Attorney | Workplace Investigator; YRUU Program Specialist 1991-92
Ginger Young Fisher [She/Her] DRE/ Judge
Aileen Dashurova [She/Her] Business Owner/Energy Medicine Practitioner
Rev. Erik David Carlson [He/Him] Minister
Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn [She/Her] Minister/Chaplain YRUU Program Specialist 1991-1992
Rev. Jaco ten Hove [He/Him] Minister | YRUU advisor (1983-94)
Rev. Abbey Tennis [She/Her] Minister | YRUU Program Specialist 2000-01
Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh [She/Her] Minister | YRUU Program Specialist 1994-95
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum [She/They] Minister
Anna Sale [She/Her] Podcast Host | Writer | Journalist

Betty-Jeanne Rüters-Ward [she/her] Community Organizer | Professor | Lay Minister | YRUU Program Specialist 2004-05
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Current youth from the Youth Empowerment Spirituality conference on Star Island and youth participants from the Continuum Conference.