Rev. Gary McAlpin

Rev. Gary McAlpin was raised mostly with his maternal grandparents in rural Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas, with his grandmother being a strict Baptist and his grandfather a traditional ceremonial Cherokee. Gary has an undergraduate degree in Cross-Cultural Services, an MDiv with emphasis on Native American Pastoral Care and a Masters in Clinical-Counseling Psychology with concentration in Indigenous Psychology and Inter-Generational Trauma. Gary found the UUA around 13 years ago after serving in different denominations as church planter and a minister, both adult and youth. Rev. McAlpin has also served as a therapist for over 12 years in mental health settings, mostly with adolescents and families. Currently, Rev. McAlpin is a UUA Community Minister serving the people of Cherokee County, the heart of Cherokee Nation with outreach, aid and support for the community and families affected by pediatric cancer, environmental climate justice and Indigenous rights. His organization is called Sweetwater Foundation, a 501.c.3