Our Staff
Rev. Pepa Paniagua, She/Her/Hers Founding Pastor and Executive Director
Pepa Paniagua is a pastor, facilitator, speaker, and writer. Pepa is the founding pastor of kin∙dom community, a new worshipping community offering transparent welcome to the LBGTQIA+ community and others who have felt cast out by or uncomfortable in "traditional" church. She is an advocate and ally, and does her best to gently lead others through the sometimes hard conversations about inclusion and the vast expanse of God's love. Growing up between the redwoods and the Pacific, Pepa believes that as much can be learned by placing your bare feet in the sand and listening, as can be from any book. While she would say she is an "indoor girl", Pepa has a deep love for outdoor space and nature, and quickly gave a whole hearted "YES!" when Andy and Garrett asked if kin∙dom would host a camp for LBGTQIA+ youth, and is so proud to have been part of the first kin-dom camp in 2022. Pepa and her wife, Kelli, live in North Texas with their two dogs, and they are passionate about good food, good coffee, good road trips, and good people.
Andy Hackett, He/Him/His Director of Camp Programs, Training, and Development
Andy is in his undergrad at Texas Woman's University majoring in Child Development and minoring in Political Science. Andy is a Presidential Scholar and a member of the Jane Nelson Institute Legacy Leaders at TWU. Andy has certifications in high ropes facilitation, lifeguarding, and archery instructing. Andy is also a certified lifeguard instructor and CPR instructor. Andy has spent the last 14 summers at Camp Gilmont in various capacities, including the last 4 summers on staff. He grew up attending Gilmont's specialty camp for children with celiac disease, and after coming out as transgender, he thought "We need a camp like this for LGBTQ+ kids". And kin-dom camp was born! In his free time, Andy enjoys cooking, playing guitar, hiking, camping, and has recently picked up mountain biking!
Garrett deGraffenreid, He/They Director of Camp Operations, Logistics, and Development
Originally from DFW, Garrett grew up in Presbyterian faith community, attending summer camps as a child and eventually becoming an ordained ruling elder as a teenager. He spent undergrad studying sociology at Huston Tillotson University in Austin and during the summers he returned to his childhood camp as a staff member where he dreamed of starting a camp by and for LGBTQ+ youth. He is currently working toward his Master’s in Public Administration, Public and Nonprofit Management at New York University, living in Astoria Queens with his partner of over 3 years and their cat Thena.
Baylee Davis, She/Her/Hers Director of Camp Curation and Education, Seminary Intern
Baylee is a seminary student at Iliff School of Theology graduating with her Master of Divinity in the spring of 2023. Prior to seminary, she earned her BA in Psychology with a social sciences minor from the University of North Texas. Baylee has worked in worship and communications for multiple United Methodist college ministries, and she is currently the Director of Communications at Faith UMC in Denton. Her internship with kin•dom community is a multisite position with Melissa UMC where she serves as the Curator of Worship and Technical Arts. Baylee is passionate about queer theology, being an enneagram 4, queso and Dr. Pepper, game nights, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, and being in the mountains. She lives with her girlfriend and their two puppies in Aubrey, Texas.