One of our region's most historic families, the Quanders can recount the family's origins as slaves at Mount Vernon, to emancipation, through the Jim Crow years and the Civil Rights Era, and on to modern times. Rev. Sherrie Quander has researched the family's history and will tell the story of her historic family's journey from slavery until the modern era, including her own journey from a childhood in Alexandria through her career in Hollywood.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information: AAUW.MtVernon@gmail.com
https://mtvernon-va.aauw.net

Born in Washington, DC, Sherrie Quander grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and enjoys the distinction of being a member of the oldest African American family on record in the United States. After receiving her diploma from Groveton (aka West Potomac) High School in Alexandria, Sherrie moved to Wilmington, Ohio to attend Wilmington College. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Theatre Arts she worked as a family social worker for Clinton Count Children’s Services in Chillicothe, Ohio before moving to San Francisco in 1977.

In 1979, Sherrie found herself one step closer to her dream of a career in show business as she moved to Los Angeles. In 1981, Norman Lear’s production company, Embassy Television, offered her a position and she remained there until 1988. During her years with Norman Lear, Sherrie worked as a Associate Producer on ONE DAY AT A TIME, in addition to other various television pilots. In addition to production work, Sherrie spent 5 years as a Director of Human Resources, providing recruitment, employee relations, and training to the production employees for as many as eight television series.

In 1988 Sherrie left corporate human resources to pursue a fulltime acting career. From 1988 to 2001 she appeared in numerous commercials, student Master’s thesis films as well as sitcoms. To keep cash flow coming in, she worked as a human resource consultant for a literary agency, a television station and, The Walt Disney Company.

In 1998, as a member of the Granada Hills Center of Spiritual Living, in Granada Hills, California, Sherrie began her ministerial study with Centers for Spiritual Living. She received her ministerial credential in 2002, her Practitioner’s license in 2003, and was ordained in 2009. In 2008 Sherrie accepted a Letter of Call from Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile, Alabama, as an assistant minister and moved into the role of Senior Minister in 2010 where she remained until 2015.

Sherrie returned to Alexandria in 2015 to become primary care giver to her mother and upon her passing, Sherrie was introduced to Unity of Fairfax church which has become her church home. She is currently the First Chair of the Board of Trustees, a prayer Chaplain, a member of the choir, a platform assistant, and upon occasion a substitute speaker at Sunday morning services.

In her spare time Sherrie loves teaching, acting, singing, crafting, good food, and has an extraordinary love for animals. She continues to reside in Alexandria, VA.