Victoria Etchemendy (she/her)

President

I was raised in the quiet suburbs of St. Louis during a time of global change. After the war, my parents opened our home to international students pursuing advanced degrees in the U.S.—people from Africa, India, South America, Sweden, and Russia. Many of their home countries were in conflict, and yet they gathered peacefully in our living room, week after week, sipping coffee and sharing family photos. No raised voices. No accusations. Just presence, warmth, and a shared humanity.

Those early memories shaped the path I would walk for the next 45 years—as a minister and spiritual leader devoted to helping people see that, at the core, we are all the same. I’ve served ministries across the country, supported communities through times of growth and healing, and continually returned to one guiding principle: we are more connected than we think.

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of attending the World Parliament of Religions, standing at the United Nations for a Day of Peace, and joining Arun Gandhi—grandson of Mahatma Gandhi—on a mission rooted in nonviolence and unity. I’ve also had the privilege of teaching, co-creating, and being part of meaningful friendships and circles where learning and transformation unfold in real time.

The Gathering Place reflects everything I hold dear: inclusion, spiritual wholeness, and the possibility of community rooted in shared values. I see spirituality as something that integrates all parts of us—our physical, mental, emotional, and collective selves. And I believe spaces like this help us move beyond our preconceived ideas and find the harmony that’s always been available underneath.

Serving on the board is part of a legacy I’ve come to treasure. It allows me to support an organization that makes space for curiosity, connection, and the ongoing process of healing. I’m so grateful to be part of this work—and to continue walking beside others with an open heart and a deep belief in our shared humanity.