The Summit 2016: Full Schedule

12:30pm EDT

Let’s Map the Intersections: Leveraging Systems Thinking Toward a More Just World (Invitation Only)

This pre-Summit gathering offers Summit convening facilitators the foundations needed to map the intersections of each of our movements with the political construct of race. Participants will identify system levers that could be pulled now to create a more just world 20 years from now. This convening will lay the foundations for work that resources the many justice movements we engage at The Summit and beyond.

Forum Facilitators

Rev. Dr. Diane J. Johnson, Ph.D.

President & Founder, Mmapeu Management Consulting

Rev. Dr. Johnson, Ph.D. has worked at the intersections of community transformation, diversity and inclusion, social change and faith, organizational capacity expansion, and leadership development for more than two decades. Diane has trained, consulted and partnered with more than... Read More →

David Stroh

David Peter Stroh is a founding partner of Bridgeway Partners (www.bridgewaypartners.com), a consulting firm dedicated to helping people reframe and resolve intractable problems. He is also a founding director of the consulting group and informational website www.appliedsystemsthinking.com... Read More →

Pamela Wilhelms

The Soul of the Next Economy, Wilhelms Consulting Group

Pamela Wilhelms is a social architect, organizational consultant and executive coach. Her work in social architecture focuses on the invisible systems and structures in organizations that ignite creativity, innovation, design, and tap the collective intelligence and soul of... Read More →

Wednesday June 22, 2016 12:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
TBA

Convening

5:00pm EDT

Dinner

Start connecting with other thought leaders, movement builders, and changemakers who are committed to world change through faith and justice.

Wednesday June 22, 2016 5:00pm - 5:45pm EDT
Ballroom

Meals & Breaks

6:00pm EDT

RACE AND… Framing the conversation on intersections with race

The most important political fact in America is that, in just a few decades, we will no longer be a white majority nation, but a majority of minorities. The milestone historical realities of that fundamental demographic shift are underneath everything else in American politics. Race is an intersectional issue in our political discourse today.
As Christians, our response to the changing demographics of America should be two-fold: a renewal of our baptism and a renewal of democracy.

Moderators

Jim Wallis

President, Sojourners

Jim Wallis is president and founder of Sojourners in Washington, DC. a nonprofit faith-based organization, network, and movement whose mission statement calls for “putting faith into action for social justice.” He is editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine and website which has... Read More →

Featured Participants

Peggy Flanagan

Minnesota State Representative

Peggy Flanagan, a Minnesota state legislator and Sojourners board member, is a nationally recognized expert in nonpartisan voter mobilization and civic engagement, particularly among Native Americans and people of color. A citizen of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe, she has been... Read More →

Taina McField

Program Officer, The Nathan Cummings Foundation

Ms. McField began her career as an educator, activist and collaborator working with young people in various settings to mobilize their voices around human rights issues and obtain their life goals. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland with a concentration... Read More →

Brittany Packnett

Teach For America

The child of educators and a St. Louis native, Brittany taught 3rd Grade in Southeast Washington, DC in the 2007 corps. Following her time in the classroom, Brittany worked in federal education policy and advocacy for low-income students around the nation as a Capitol Hill staffer... Read More →

M. Daniel Carroll R.

Wheaton College

I am half-Guatemalan (my mother) and that part of my identity and experience has largely defined my personal life, my work as a professor, and in immigration reform. I taught for many years at a seminary in Guatemala City before returning to the US and remain an adjunct there. Ten... Read More →

Bryan Stevenson

Equal Justice Initiative

BRYAN STEVENSON is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. Under his leadership, EJI... Read More →

Wednesday June 22, 2016 6:00pm - 7:30pm EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

7:30pm EDT

Welcome Reception

Featuring remarks from special guest Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, this opening reception brings together Summit attendees, Sojourners’ board and staff, and others from the political and policy-shaping communities in Washington, D.C., to kick-off The Summit and deepen our relationships.

Featured Participants

Thomas Perez

United States Secretary of Labor

Thomas E. Perez, the nation's 26th secretary of labor, has dedicated his entire career to making good on the promise of opportunity for all. A civil rights lawyer by training, Secretary Perez leads the U.S. Department of Labor in its mission of giving all Americans the chance to... Read More →

Wednesday June 22, 2016 7:30pm - 8:15pm EDT
Auditorium Atrium

Special Event

8:30pm EDT

Artist Showcase

Head over to Angelika Pop-Up, a nearby theater, to listen to the music and stories of our Summit musicians Tracy Howe Wispelwey, Peace Ike, and Kimberly Williams—with a headlining set from nationally touring artist Joy Ike. NPR’s All Things Considered says of Joy’s performance, “The depth of subjects she tackles in her poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop...a truly compelling act to watch in person, with the ability to create an intimate setting in locations big and small.” You don’t want to miss this special evening with The Summit artists and community!

Artists

Analysis (Ken Brown)

A veteran of various forms of public speaking, Analysis (Ken Brown) is a poet/spoken word artist, organizer, activist, minister, educator, consultant, bookseller, self-diagnosed soccer addict and a lover of justice and human rights! He’s featured and spotlighted at venues across... Read More →

Joy Ike

Born to Nigerian immigrants, Philadelphia-based independent artist Joy Ike’s music, voice, and writing have drawn comparisons to female musicians such as Corinne Bailey Rae, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, and Fiona Apple. But her percussive piano-playing and soaring vocals give homage... Read More →

Kimberly Williams

UrbanDoxology

Kimberly Ann Williams was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She trained at Towson University, receiving a BA in Music with a concentration in Clarinet performance and is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She grew up in a... Read More →

Peace Ike

East Gate Ministries

Peace Ike is a first generation Nigerian-American percussionist, singer-songwriter, and worship leader based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a musician, she combines her formal musical training with “tell it like it is” lyrics centered on the intersection of faith and action... Read More →

Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey

Restoration Village Arts

Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey is Assoc. Pastor of Campus Ministry and Mission at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, VA and Director of Restoration Village Arts, a cooperative of artists and Christian peacemakers who produce creative advocacy resources, music, worship... Read More →

Wednesday June 22, 2016 8:30pm - 10:00pm EDT
Angelika Popup

Special Event

6:30am EDT

Sunrise Yoga

Join Teresa Pasquale Mateus, one of our spiritual directors, for sunrise yoga—a special opportunity to get moving, focus our minds, and connect with our bodies before the day’s events.

Elders & Spiritual Directors

Teresa P Mateus

Co-Founder, Executive Director, The Mystic Soul Project

Teresa is a trauma specialist, contemplative practice teacher, author, and speaker. She is executive director and co-founder of The Mystic Soul Project, a POC-centered approach to contemplation, activism, and healing. She is author of Sacred Wounds and Mending Broken, with a third... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 6:30am - 7:15am EDT
Ballroom Atrium

Special Event

7:30am EDT

Women Faith Leaders Breakfast

This special breakfast gathering seeks to celebrate the voice and contributions of women faith leaders. Come support one another in ministry as we—clergy and laity alike—look toward the future together.

Forum Facilitators

Yvonne Delk

United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk is the former executive director of the Community Renewal Society of Chicago. She is the first black woman to be ordained in the United Church of Christ and has served the denomination in leadership positions including serving as the director of its Office for... Read More →

Elaina Ramsey

Women & Girls Campaign Director, Sojourners

Elaina is honored to be a part of the Sojourners community. Through her previous experiences as a youth minister in the South Bronx and a community organizer for various nonprofits and campaigns—including Campaign for Change, the Jubilee USA Network, and Women’s Action for New... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
Room 5A

Convening

7:30am EDT

Breakfast

Gear up for a day packed with amazing storytelling, salon conversations, powerful convenings, and special events.

Thursday June 23, 2016 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
Ballroom

Meals & Breaks

8:30am EDT

THE ‘OTHER’: Where does race intersect with your area of focus and what are the implications?

Race is the common denominator that has fueled much of the injustice in our country, including injustices related to immigration, our criminal justice system, education, and a myriad of other issues. In this Summit session, we will investigate the intersections of otherness and race within multiple justice movements. We will examine the implications of these intersections with an eye toward understanding their impact on the internal capacities of our movements as well as our communities.

Moderators

Jenny Yang

Senior VP of Advocacy and Policy, World Relief

Jenny Yang is the Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief where she provides oversight for all advocacy initiatives and policy positions and leads the organization’s public relations strategy. She is the chief liaison between World Relief and the U.S. government... Read More →

Featured Participants

Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza

Activist Theologian

Dr. Robyn, named 1 of 10 Faith Leaders to watch in 2018 by the Center for American Progress, works in the hybrid spaces of church, academy, & movements. Dr. Robyn is an anti-oppression, anti-racist, non-binary Trans*gressive Latinx. Dr. Robyn takes seriously their call as an activist... Read More →

Alvin Herring

PICO

The Rev. Alvin Herring is the Deputy Director of Faith and Formation for PICO National Network, the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. In this capacity, Rev. Herring is leading PICO’s efforts to put race at the center of its organizing and advocacy... Read More →

Amal Nassar

Tent of Nations

Amal Nassar and her family cultivate peace and reconciliation through children’s summer camps, education for women, and inviting visitors to their West Bank farm called the Tent of Nations. Guided by their desire for bridge-building, the Nassar family has spent 20 years welcoming... Read More →

Jackie Patillo

GMA President & Executive Director, Gospel Music Association (GMA)

Jacie Patillo is the President & Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association and Foundation, a nonprofit which aims to foster interest among the public in Gospel and Christian music. The foundation also builds community and cooperation among industry leaders, in order to address... Read More →

Matthew Scott

World Vision International

Matthew Scott is Director of Peacebuilding for World Vision International. He has a deep personal passion for ending poverty and violent conflict, with 20 years working in the non-profit sector, ranging from disability issues, landmines, child rights, humanitarian affairs, religious... Read More →

Peggy Shepard

Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

Peggy Shepard is co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and has a long history of organizing and engaging Northern Manhattan residents in community-based planning and campaigns to address environmental protection and environmental health policy locally... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

10:45am EDT

A Call to Listen to Voices on the Margins CANCELLED

This session has been cancelled.

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 6C

Salon

10:45am EDT

A Celebration of Sisterhood: Building Bridges Across Faiths

Can the spiritual daughters of Eve find common ground to celebrate their sisterhood? As we look to the women of our sacred texts, we discover how the threads of their unique experiences connect women across boundaries of class, culture, race, and denomination. This salon features three women faith leaders—Jewish, Christian, and Muslim—who will share their efforts to promote understanding among different faith traditions and cultures. Join in a conversation about the challenges and opportunities for engaging faith communities as bridge builders for healing and action.

Forum Facilitators

Rosetta Robinson

Rosetta Robinson was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1995. She serves on the Board of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington and is a member of the Black Ministers Conference of Montgomery County. She joined the the staff of Interfaith Works in 1995... Read More →

Maggie M. Siddiqi

Batya Steinlauf

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 5A

Salon

10:45am EDT

A Peculiar Dilemma: How the Bible & the Constitution Thwart Racial Healing

Racism in the U.S. has its own sordid history, but that history is exacerbated by the fact that two documents revered by many Christians—the Bible and the Constitution—have placed the value of white supremacy into our very life blood. We seldom give credence to the powerful influence of these texts on our psyches. This session will focus on how these two sacred documents have held us captive to an ideology that ultimately says it is God who ordains and sanctions racism. This session will also encourage dialogue on how we get past the words and directives of the documents we hold so dear.

Forum Facilitators

Rev. Dr. Susan K Smith

Rev Dr Susan K Smith is the founder of Crazy Faith Ministries and also serves as a communications consultant for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. She is currently working on a biography of civil rights leader Rev. C.T. Vivian

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 7

Salon

10:45am EDT

Hush Harbors: Self-Care for Women of Color

Self-care and resiliency have been core concerns of many current justice movements including Black Lives Matter. Yet we still lose faith leaders and activists to burnout and suicide. We must rethink the idea of self-care as a solitary endeavor and instead think of it as a communal effort. The Hush Harbors Initiative was born out of a desire to make healing, resilience, and self-care in community central to social justice work. We focus on healing for black women in social justice and faith work. However other women of color are also welcome to come and re-envision self-care and healing.

Forum Facilitators

Jen Bailey

Trustee, Fetzer Institute

Named one of 15 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress, Reverend Jen Bailey is an ordained minister, public theologian, and a national leader in the multi-faith movement for justice. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, Co-Founde... Read More →

Micky ScottBey Jones

Faith Matters Network

Micky ScottBey Jones is a womanist contemplative activist, healer, nonviolent direct action organizer and consultant who facilitates conferences, workshops, retreats and online conversations. She writes & speaks on a variety of topics including healing justice, communal self-care... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 6A

Salon

10:45am EDT

Meet the Elders

Come listen to this amazing group of leaders and be inspired! Elders are people we have identified as mentors for the next generation of activists and they are willing to impart the lessons they have learned from their hard work and experience. These individuals have worked tirelessly in their respective areas to fight injustice and promote peace. This will be a time of sharing, learning, and gleaning wisdom from true servant leaders. Don’t miss this special opportunity with an amazing collection of spiritual leaders who have been speaking truth to power for decades.

Forum Facilitators

Simone Campbell

NETWORK

Sr. Simone Campbell is the executive director of NETWORK – a national group of social justice advocates inspired by Catholic Sisters that lobbies in D.C. to mend the gaps in income and wealth in the U.S. She has led four cross-country “Nuns on the Bus” trips, focused on... Read More →

Yvonne Delk

United Church of Christ

Dr. John Perkins

The John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation

Dr. John Perkins has been married to his wife Dr. Vera Mae for 65 years (1951). In 1983, while in California, John and Vera Mae, along with a few friends and other major supporters, established the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development (now called John and Vera... Read More →

Norma Pimentel

Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley

Norma Pimentel is a sister with the Missionaries of Jesus. As executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for more than 12 years, she oversees the charitable arm of the Diocese of Brownsville, providing oversight of the different ministries and services in the... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Auditorium

Salon

10:45am EDT

Praying the Questions: An Introduction to Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is an ancient ministry that focuses on one’s relationship with God and engagement with the world. With care and confidentiality, a director journeys with you to discover how God is present and working in your life. This session will consider the role of prayer, awareness, silence, and relationship; explore aids to help with discernment and growth; examine how spiritual direction differs from counseling and coaching; and help participants think about finding a director.

Forum Facilitators

Yonce Shelton

Being with Between

I help individuals and communities with calling, discernment, and transition. I believe the spiritual life is about honoring experiences, gifts, and desires - and being available to new ones. My calling to help with the inward journey came after a decade focusing on the outward... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 6B

Salon

10:45am EDT

Sharing Your Story for Media

In the modern media landscape, social action cannot be limited to local spaces alone. Activists must also have a vision for how their efforts will be communicated across a number of media platforms—many of which are out of their direct control. Every action, every image, tells a story. Making decisions about that story in advance of the action can increase impact. In this session, we will discuss some key ways to think about narratives and how to begin incorporating story shaping into your action plans.

Forum Facilitators

David Dault

President and CEO, Chicago Sunday Evening Club

David Dault is an expert at helping people tell their stories. He produces engaging, innovative media for public radio, public television, and public events.

Sponsors

Chicago Sunday Evening Club

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 4C

Salon

10:45am EDT

The Artist Path of Resistance

How do our theories of change influence our creative work? How might resistance theology frame our understanding of vocation or calling as artists? How might being deeply engaged in advocacy and activism feed our faith and creative process and vice versa? What are the risks for artists in publicly speaking out and aligning themselves with justice movements? Participants will be invited to share examples, concerns, and challenges in addressing these questions and will imagine together the artist path of resistance in dismantling racism and injustice.

Artists

Jay Beck

Carnival de Resistance

Jay Beck is a percussionist, vocalist, drum-maker, and educator who has been performing, teaching, touring. and recording professionally for many years. He was a longtime member of psalters and seeks to aid resistance movements and serve reconciliation through studying the art forms... Read More →

Tevyn East

Director, Carnival de Resistance

Tevyn East seeks to integrate her artistic gifts with the journeywork of faith-led resistance. Under the banner of Holy Fool Arts, Tevyn produced and performed a one-woman show, entitled "Leaps and Bounds," that animates a critique of the growth-oriented economy, its impact on... Read More →

Forum Facilitators

Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey

Restoration Village Arts

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 5B

Salon

10:45am EDT

The Politics of Integration and Gentrification

At a time when metropolitan growth patterns are changing and gentrification pressures are rising in cities across our country, how do we develop more comprehensive analysis and discussion about what it takes to effectively and equitably advance racial justice for people of color and the places where they live today? Together we will explore the historical trajectory of federal policymaking and the narratives of race and poverty that guide so much of our decision making. Find out what it will take to make persistent, durable investments that benefit communities of color in our cities and regions.

Forum Facilitators

Neeraj Mehta

Director of Community Programs, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota

Neeraj Mehta works at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota and teaches at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Executive Boardroom

Salon

10:45am EDT

The Power of Place-Based Investing: Economic Justice Through Innovation & Racial Equity

This interactive discussion features innovative business and financial leaders from Baltimore, Greensboro, and New York who are changing the way that capital works, moving away from a system that perpetuates inequality and toward place-based models of investing that build community wealth, create jobs, provide equitable access to opportunities, and transform neighborhoods through inclusive growth. Come away with concrete ideas for how you can implement similar models in your own community.

Forum Facilitators

Andre Robinson

André Robinson is a cultural organizer, producer, director and community activist who serves as executive director of Mt. Royal Community Development Corporation, primary sponsor Innovation Village – Baltimore.

Thurman White

Board of Directors, Progress Investment Management Company LLC

Child of God. Business and investor for social impact and MWBE inclusion and opportunity.

Edward Whitfield

Ed Whitfeld is co-founder and co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC). A long time social justice activist, Ed had been involved in labor, community organizing and peace work since the late 60‘s when he was a student activist at Cornell University. He was the chairman of the Greensboro Redevelopment Commission for 9 years and formerly board chairman of Greensboro’s Triad Minority Development Corporation. In his work with F4DC, Ed helped initiate the formation of the Southern Grassroots Economies Project (SGEP) and their annual CoopEcon conferences aimed at networking and training among people interested in developing a cooperative new economy in the US South. He has visited and studied worker cooperative activities from the Evergreen Cooperatives of Cleveland, OH to the massive Mondragon Cooperatives Corporation in the Basque region of Spain. For Ed, helping people in communities engaged in meaningful, democratic, just, sustainable and productive activities is a key motivation., Fund for Democratic Communities

Ed Whitfield is a long time social justice activist who came through the late sixties black student movement to do labor, community and anti - war organizing in the South. In 2007, Ed Co-founded The Fund for Democratic Communities (F4DC) whose mission is to strengthen authentic democracy... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 4A

Salon

12:30pm EDT

Lunch and South Africa Forum: The Prophetic Calls of Forgiveness & Restitution

In the shadow of the struggle of the U.S. to repair the impacts of its racialized society 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, this panel will wrestle with the tension between South Africa’s transitional cries for forgiveness and its current-day calls for restitution.

Moderators

Lisa Sharon Harper

Chief Church Engagement Officer, Sojourners

From Ferguson to New York to Germany, Lisa has been leading trainings and helping mobilize clergy and community leaders around shared values for the common good, with a focus on racial justice. Prior to joining Sojourners, Lisa was the founding executive director of New York Faith... Read More →

Jim Wallis

President, Sojourners

Featured Participants

Rev. René August

The Warehouse

A veteran of the anti-apartheid movement and an Anglican priest, René August is a reconciliation trainer with The Warehouse, a worshipping community organization in Cape Town, South Africa that walks alongside churches as they seek to respond to the issue of poverty, injustice, and... Read More →

Msizi Cele

Msizi Cele is an entrepreneur working to create profitable businesses that uplift the poor and empower the youth of Africa. He is the co-founder of Public Square Foundation and serves on the board of the Restitution Foundation and the Justice Alliance of South Africa.

Llewellyn LM MacMaster

Stellenbosch University

Llewellyn MacMaster is the manager of civil society relations in the division for social impact at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He has been an ordained minister in the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) for 29 years.

Bonolo Makgale

The Warehouse

Bonolo Makgale is an associate pastor and works for WHEAT Trust (Women’s Hope Education and Training), which gives funds to women-led organizations across South Africa.

Sello Mmane

Lead4Christ

Sello Mmane is a 27-year-old associate pastor at Ebenezer Bible Church, an evangelical church in the western Johannesburg, where he was born. He is co- founder of Lead4Christ, an organization that exists to equip the local church through youth leadership training and support.

Caroline Powell

The Warehouse Trust

Caroline Powell is the supervisor of Urban Gleaning, a stewardship program of The Warehouse in Cape Town. She is currently studying theology at the University of Pretoria, with a focus on leadership in urban transformation.

Thursday June 23, 2016 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Ballroom

Special Event

1:45pm EDT

Beyond Business as Usual: Unlocking Workforce Potential & Productivity Through Diversity and Inclusion

There is a need for a more inclusive model of human resource development, driven by the demands of increasingly diverse workplaces and communities, as well as the continuing expansion of the global economy. This includes the ability for leaders to host the courageous conversations around race, diversity, and equity that help their organizations function. This session will highlight best practices for creating an inclusive workplace that prioritizes organizational diversity in a variety of sectors including corporations, nonprofits, churches, and philanthropy. Learn practical tips and skills on how to make your workplace not only more diverse, but also more racially just.

Forum Facilitators

Lazetta Braxton

Lazetta Rainey Braxton, MBA, CFP®, is the Financial Planner for the Rest of Us®. Unlike many advisors who focus only on the super-rich, Lazetta partners with every day people who desire the financial freedom to influence, experience, give, and make a difference for their family... Read More →

Michael Hyter

Michael C. Hyter (Mike) is a Senior Partner with Korn Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting based in the Firm’s Washington, DC office. Mr. Hyter has a wide range of knowledge and experience in areas of human resources and leadership with Fortune companies that has resulted in organization-wide... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Executive Boardroom

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Bridging with Difference: Decentering Whiteness in the LGBTQI Movement

The LGBTQI movement has historically been driven predominantly by white concerns and financed largely by cis, white, gay men. This has produced a movement that has propelled us toward marriage equality at the expense of those on the margins and the issues that affect them most immediately. How can a queer non-binary Trans*gressive Latin@ and a cis white lesbian build a sustainable bridge to decenter the overwhelming logic of whiteness that frames our movement? This session will explore our ongoing collaboration and commitment to bridge building that decolonizes the logic of dominance and intentionally lives into the politics of radical difference.

Forum Facilitators

Sharon Groves

Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza

Activist Theologian

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 5A

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Can’t We All Just Get Along? Beyond the Black/White Discourse

As the demographics of the U.S. take on kaleidoscopic dimensions, new binary experiences are emerging (e.g., Black/Brown, Black/Asian, Middle Eastern/U.S.) but old ones remain (e.g., indigenous peoples/colonizers). This salon will explore how people of color who are not white or black engage issues of racial justice and kindom (sic) building.

Forum Facilitators

Kathy Khang

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Kathy is a writer, speaker, and activist based in the north suburbs of Chicago. She serves as a board member of Evangelicals for Social Action and Sojourners, and partners with other Christian leaders to highlight and move the conversation forward on issues of race, ethnicity, and... Read More →

Michael Mata

Director, MA in Transformational Urban Leadership, Azusa Pacific Seminary

Michael began his ministry career over 30 years ago, working with youth in Los Angeles. He trained for the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative, guided the development of World Vision’s Youth Empowerment Program, taught in the Fuller Youth Institute, and serves on the boards of youth-oriented... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Auditorium

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Entering into the Practice of Lament

Why would anybody want to practice lament? We want to be happy, joyful people. Yet part of the human condition is suffering—for some more than others. At its heart, the practice of lament is about dialogue with a God who is faithful, gracious, and merciful. It is commonly done in community, because the suffering we are connected to is not just individual but personal and communal. This session is primarily an experiential session about prayer, lament, and ethnic diversity.

Forum Facilitators

Barbara Brown

Mariposa Prayer House

Barbara Brown’s strong attraction to prayer was nurtured through parachurch groups in high school and college. As an InterVarsity campus staff member, she has spent the past 15 years in prayer and spiritual formation. Currently, Brown is an intercessor at the Mariposa Prayer Ho... Read More →

Nina Lau-Branson

The Missional Network/Fuller Seminary

Nina currently works with The Missional Network in coaching and consulting, Fuller Seminary in mentoring and leading small groups in the integration of theology and practice, and in a private practice of spiritual direction (for individuals and groups). She is part of the leadership... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 4A

Salon

1:45pm EDT

E’race’ing Bodies: How Digital Medias Impact Race, Formation, and Identity

In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, presidential election politics, and the ways racialized violence is accepted, mediated, and confronted, digital medias have significantly changed the engagement of race as a social construct in the U.S. This salon is an opportunity to dialogue and develop a framework for understanding the new landscapes of race, formation, and identity. Participants will also explore tools to begin strategizing for regional and national movements to leverage new knowledge on the aforementioned issues.

Forum Facilitators

Shonda Nicole Gladden

Sponsors

Chicago Sunday Evening Club

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 4C

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Feminism Beyond Borders: Building a More Diverse Gender Justice Movement

The mainstream understanding of feminism in the U.S. has often focused on the needs of white women, including the “right to choose.” But for the majority of women around the world, the biggest feminist/womanist question centers around the “right to survive.” How do women worldwide survive poverty, war, and sexual and gender-based violence? How can people of faith in the U.S. engage in global issues that impact women seemingly a world away? Come explore these questions as we discuss how to use faith as a framework for achieving a broader, more inclusive, and global understanding of feminism and womanism.

Forum Facilitators

Rev. Amy Gopp

Vice President for External Relations, IMA World Health

The Rev. Amy Gopp is the Vice President of External Relations for IMA World Health. Gopp is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with two decades of experience in faith-based relief and development. A passionate global activist for girls and women’s... Read More →

Paula Penebaker

President/CEO, YWCA Southeast Wisconsin

Racial/social justice issues, women's rights, strengthening faith

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 6C

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Millenials and Baby Boomers: Multigenerational & Multiracial Collaboration for the Common Good

Millennials in the U.S. are diverse in race and religion, and yet our churches and organizations don’t reflect this diversity. Millennials are tired of the polarized Christianity that too often marks our churches, and they want something new. This new approach must include those of other faiths and must reach beyond the bigotry and fear of the “other.” This interactive salon will hear from Millennials and Boomers on how inclusive voices and action can give new energy to efforts. Together we will identify tools and approaches to develop more inclusive organizations and advocacy.

Forum Facilitators

Christopher Hale

Executive Director, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good

I'm the executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and the co-founder of Millennial. I also am a columnist for TIME on faith and politics. My first book "Rebuild My House: Pope Francis and the 2016 Election comes out in August. My favorite topics are Pope Francis... Read More →

Mary Nelson

Executive Consultant, Parliament of the World's Religions

Issues of interfaith, wealth gap, environment, community development. I am active in Christian Community Development Association, in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), and advocacy.

Sara Rahim

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 6B

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Our Daily Bread: Theological Economics, Systemic Inequality, and Race

What are the opportunities for individuals across the U.S. to move matters of racial justice forward when many misunderstand the power dynamics of inherited racial privilege, group silence, wealth accumulation and distribution, and universal complicity? How are non-marginalized faith communities theologically compromised by a lack of critical analysis of vested interest in maintaining their privilege within the American status quo? This salon is an open discussion for leaders from any background who are interested in the intersection of race, economics, and inequality. Participants will engage in substantive discussion about how Western economic principles and culture drive inequality and modern segregation.

Forum Facilitators

Demetrius Brooks

Pastor, Revelations of Christ Kingdom ministries

Pastor Demetrius Brooks is the Senior Pastor of Revelations of Christ Kingdom Ministries and founder of We Are Light Inc.

Xavier Ramey

Senior Assistant Director for Social Innovation and Philanthropy, University of Chicago

Xavier Ramey serves as the Senior Assistant Director for Social Innovation and Philanthropy at the University Community Service Center at the University of Chicago. A department launched under the leadership of First Lady Michelle Obama in 1997, the Center engages students and communities... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 6A

Salon

1:45pm EDT

Race, Gender, and Violence: Using Media to Tell the Story

This salon features a trailer for an upcoming documentary about Recy Taylor, who was abducted at gunpoint and gang-raped by seven white men in Abbeville, Ala., in 1944. Her story echoes today in the case of former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw, who targeted and sexually assaulted poor African-American women. Special emphasis will be placed on how this film can support black women of faith in their churches and how media can be used by faith-based changemakers to educate, raise awareness, and find a path to justice.

Forum Facilitators

Nancy Buirski

Founder and Director of the “Full Frame Documentary Festival” for 10 years, she is also the Director and Producer of “Sidney Lumet” (2015) which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Among her many credits as an independent film maker are the Peabody and Emmy Award... Read More →

CarolAnne Dolan

CarolAnne is Head of Factual Programmin at Odyssey Networks. She is responsible for development of new factual specials and series at Odyssey Networks, has a diverse background in factual television. She’s worked in many genres including history, investigative docs, reality, pop... Read More →

Anne Faustin, Odyssey Networks

Anne is the Director of Impact Campaigns at Odyssey Networks. She has over a decade of experience in strategic planning and development in both the private and non-profit sectors. She previously served as the Outreach Producer for Bring It to The Table a Talking Eyes Media documentary... Read More →

Sponsors

Odyssey Networks

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 5B

Salon

1:45pm EDT

We Gonna Be Aight: Calling on Our Artful Muse

Worship isn’t just on the Sabbath. Worship is every day of our lives. It is how we show up in each moment. Embodying our worship ensures we utilize a holistic approach that continuously empowers and energizes us not only within our social justice work but also in our personal lives. Join in as we engage in peer learning to explore the critical need for embodying worship, brainstorm how to embody it through didactic problem solving, and discover how to identify our muse through a guided exercise.

Forum Facilitators

Faith Bynoe

Senior Associate, Marga Inc.

Faith Bynoe is a faith leader whose life mission is supporting the development of people as they strengthen their communities. She focuses on the intersectionality of integrative health and spiritual formation through a womanist lens. It’s at this intersect, Faith believes people... Read More →

Terence Mayo

Faith Community Specialist, DC Government

Terence Mayo is a Faith Community Specialist with the DC Department of Human Services. He works with DC area congregations around the issues of poverty and affordable housing. He is a recent graduate of Howard University where he received his Master's in Divinity with a focus on Ethics... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 1:45pm - 3:15pm EDT
Room 7

Salon

3:15pm EDT

Coffee Break & Sponsors Reception

Grab a cup of coffee, an afternoon snack, and meet the sponsors that help make The Summit possible!

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:15pm - 3:45pm EDT
Atrium

Meals & Breaks

3:45pm EDT

Climate Justice: Part 1 (Invitation Only)

People of faith know that climate change is a reality and are convinced that something needs to be done about it. As climate advocates respond to public cries for action, it is imperative that policy proposals be crafted in partnership with the under-resourced communities most impacted by climate change. This convening will bring together climate care stakeholders from various streams of the movement to increase common understanding and build common ground that leads to common commitments and action in the fight against climate change.

Forum Facilitators

Leroy Barber

Voices Project

Leroy Barber is co-founder and executive director of the Voices Project, college pastor at Kilns College, and director of @HopeMob. He has dedicated more than 25 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what... Read More →

Deeohn Ferris

Sustainable Community Development Group

Deeohn Ferris, JD, is President and Founder of Sustainable Community Development Group, a not-for-profit national research and policy social venture enterprise, whose two-fold mission is advancing equity and community inclusion in economic development decisions, and ensuring that... Read More →

Alexei Laushkin

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Criminal Justice: Part 1

Policing reform, sentencing reform, the school-to-prison pipeline, the response of churches and society to returning citizens, and the death penalty make up the mosaic of concerns surrounding criminal justice reform. This convening will offer an opportunity for advocates and organizers within each of these streams to come together and consider strategic action that the church can take over the next year to reform America’s criminal justice system.

Forum Facilitators

Lisa Sharon Harper

Chief Church Engagement Officer, Sojourners

Michael-Ray Mathews

Director of Clergy Organizing, PICO National Network

I am an ordained American Baptist minister and a leading pastor in the multi-faith movement for justice. I bring nearly 30 years of ministry leadership experience - as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer - to my work as the Director of Clergy Organizing... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Auditorium

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Immigration: Part 1 (Invitation Only)

This gathering is a safe space for leaders to engage in strategic listening and to plan joint actions for immigration reform. This includes encouraging the next president and Congress to put forth policies to address inclusive and humane reforms of our immigration, refugee, and asylum systems. We will also brainstorm ways to increase the advocacy capacity of immigrants and of our constituencies to mobilize on immigration issues by providing trainings, tools, messaging, and other resources.

Forum Facilitators

Ivone Guillen

Immigration Campaign & Communications Associate, Sojourners

Immigration Campaign and Communications Associate Ivone Guillen manages Sojourners immigration campaign. Ivone brings a unique perspective to her work that is derived from her life experience as an immigrant and DREAMer. Ivone graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., with... Read More →

Jim Wallis

President, Sojourners

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA

Convening

3:45pm EDT

LGBTQI

This session will address pressing social concerns among the LGBTQI movement, with Trans* Lives in immediate mind. With laws being legislated against difference, we must find ways to become whole and human. Join this gathering to find ways to eradicate oppressions that systemically oppress those on the margins of the margins.

Forum Facilitators

Jen Bailey

Trustee, Fetzer Institute

Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza

Activist Theologian

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 6A

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Music & Arts

Now is our time to come together for an issue-based discussion toward common action. Bring your ideas, experience, and questions. Share your concerns, fears, and failures. We will talk about practical issues such as taking risks, stewarding our fan bases on behalf of movements, using social media more effectively to share our own work and advocate, and finding financial stability at the intersection of our vocations as artists and activists. Come and share, ask questions, and build friendships with other artists at The Summit.

Featured Participants

Bree Newsome

The Tribe

Born with an artist’s soul and spirit, Bree Newsome has always been sensitive to the essential role that art and symbols play in shaping culture and consciousness. As she watched the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of 9 people slaughtered in the name of white supremacy at... Read More →

Forum Facilitators

Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey

Restoration Village Arts

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 6B

Convening

3:45pm EDT

New Media

We often get lost in the many options available for creating new media and lose sight of the fact that at the core of everything, social media works because of relationships. In this convening, we will explore ways that we can build mutually supportive networks of activists and media producers, sharing best practices and promoting each other’s work.

Forum Facilitators

David Dault

President and CEO, Chicago Sunday Evening Club

David Dault is an expert at helping people tell their stories. He produces engaging, innovative media for public radio, public television, and public events.

Sandi Villarreal

Web Editor & Chief Digital Officer, Sojourners

Sponsors

Chicago Sunday Evening Club

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 4C

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Philanthropy (Invitation Only)

While philanthropy, which means “love of mankind,” includes values based on helping others, formal conversations about faith are rare in funding circles. Organizational funders and individual donors alike are rarely afforded the opportunity to explore how faith is a powerful motivating tool for social transformation, and how communities of faith can actively participate in bringing about social justice in our world. Participants in this session will more deeply explore these dynamics and consider how they and the philanthropic community more broadly can take better advantage of the power of faith in advancing social justice movements.

Forum Facilitators

Jeanné Isler

Vice President for Learning and Engagement, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

Jeanné is dedicated to building bridges between groups to find new ways to build just and empowered communities. Originally from the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she has lived and worked in four states and the District of Columbia to challenge systemic inequities. As Vice President... Read More →

Edward M. Jones

Edward M. Jones is the director of programs at ABFE - A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities. Edward is a founding member of The Black Philanthropic Alliance and of Black Benefactors, a social investment club/giving circle dedicated to supporting Black-led/serving organizations... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
TBA

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Poverty

This gathering will review the current state of poverty in America and governmental responses to it. In addition to discussing the role poverty is playing—or not—in the 2016 election, we will review lessons learned from recent legislative efforts and the top priorities of antipoverty activists—particularly faith-based activists—in the months to come. We will also look for opportunities for joint collaboration and action.

Forum Facilitators

Kit Judge

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Michael Mershon

Director of Advocacy and Communications, Sojourners

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 6C

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Seminarians

This convening is for seminary and divinity school leaders, students, and recent alums. Together we will gauge the pulse on current levels of engagement with social justice around the country (both institutionally and student-led), and explore how to start and sustain student-movements focused on social causes. This gathering will help connect peers and like-minded colleagues with resources, best practices, and networks of others engaged in student-movement building.

Forum Facilitators

Wayne Meisel

Director, Center for Faith and Service

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 7

Convening

3:45pm EDT

Women & Girls: Part 1

For too long, the concerns of women of color have remained invisible or sidelined within justice movements. The time has come for us to realize that our success is bound together. And the intersections upon which our issues meet is where justice can be found. This convening seeks to identify and move forward key gender-justice issues—sexual and domestic violence, equal pay, reproductive access, leadership in the church and beyond, etc.—all while making more room for the voices and lived realities of women of color.

Forum Facilitators

Inez Torres Davis

Director for Justice, Women of the ELCA

Inez Torres Davis is an Indigenous Latina working within and for the whitest religious affiliation in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as Women of the ELCA’s core racial justice/anti-racism trainer since January of 1997. She is completing training for... Read More →

Elaina Ramsey

Women & Girls Campaign Director, Sojourners

Katey Zeh

Strategist, Writer, Educator, Sacred Worth Consulting

Katey Zeh, M.Div is a strategist, writer, and educator who works with nonprofits and faith communities on organizing for a more compassionate world. Her book Women Rise Up will be published this fall with the FAR Press.

Thursday June 23, 2016 3:45pm - 5:15pm EDT
Room 5A

Convening

5:30pm EDT

Dinner

Relax and network during your meal. And take a moment to delight in this unique cross-sector gathering of leaders from across the U.S. and the world.

Thursday June 23, 2016 5:30pm - 6:15pm EDT
Ballroom

Meals & Breaks

6:30pm EDT

THE CHURCH: What are the unique assets and challenges the church faces as it confronts white privilege and establishes equitable systems and structures within communions?

Racism is a historical construct of idealized humanity. It deforms Christian understanding of Christ, of co-humanity, and of community. If the church is to be faithful to Christ, to teach and practice love of one another in a society still sick with racism, it (we) must be undone by the gospel. We must be re-calibrated to healthier norms that speak the language of Jesus and justice. In this Summit session, we will explore the challenges and assets the church brings to bear as it struggles to be undone—as it struggles to change the world

Moderators

Dr. Reggie Williams

Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics, McCormick Theological Seminary

Reggie Williams is an Associate Professor of Christian ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance, which was selected as a Choice Outstanding Title in theology... Read More →

Featured Participants

Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers

General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers serves as general secretary of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, an African-American interdenominational justice advocacy organization. She has authored a number of articles in areas of religion and sociology and received a ComputerWorld Smithsonian... Read More →

Marco Davi

coordenador nacional, Movimento Negro Evangélico do Brasil

pastor da Nossa Igreja Brasileira, coordenador do Movimento Negro Evangélico do Brasil, idealizador e facilitador do Discipulado Justiça e Reconciliação. Autor dos livros: A religião mais negra do Brasil: Por que os negros fazem opção pelo pentecostalismo e A Bíblia a as cotas... Read More →

Kathy Khang

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Dr. Terry LeBlanc

Executive Director, Indigenous Pathways

Terry is Mi’kmaq with Acadian ancestry. He and his wife Bev are in their 49th year of marriage. They have three adult children – twin daughters and one son. He is the founding chair and current Director of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community (NAIITS). Terry is a traditional... Read More →

Carlos Malavé

Director, Christian Churches Together in the USA

The Reverend Carlos L Malavé is Executive Director of Christian Churches Together in the USA (CCT). CCT is the broadest Christian forum working for the unity of the Church in the USA.

William Willimon

Duke Divinity School

Will Willimon is a United Methodist Bishop and is Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC. He is the author of many books on pastoral theology, leadership, and preaching. His most recent book is "Fear of the Other: No Fear in Love," published... Read More →

Thursday June 23, 2016 6:30pm - 8:00pm EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

8:15pm EDT

Music, Art, and Film Screening

Join us for an evening of visual and performing arts to enrich the soul and empower the spirit. The program begins with The Sanctuaries, a multidisciplinary arts group based in Washington, D.C., and features a screening of the documentary Milwaukee 53206. This film gives us a glimpse into the lives of those affected by mass incarceration in one of America’s most jailed zip codes. The families represent not only their city, but also people across the nation who struggle with the daily effects of incarceration. This special event ends with a discussion with the filmmakers and film participants.

Artists

The Sanctuaries

The Sanctuaries is a racially and religiously diverse arts community in Washington, D.C. The Sanctuaries empowers creative people to claim their spiritual voice and collaborate on artistic projects that promote social change.

Forum Facilitators

CarolAnne Dolan

Zakiya Jackson

Director of Partnerships, The Expectations Project

Zakiya has been involved in community development and education for 15 years and has worked in public schools, non-profits and corporations. With a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from Willamette University in Oregon, her studies have focused on human and organizational development... Read More →

Keith McQuirter

Director/Producer, Milwaukee 53206

Keith McQuirter is an award winning producer and director with credits in TV documentary, new media and commercials. He co-produced the five-part Peabody Award winning and Prime Time Emmy nominated docu-series Brick City for the Sundance Channel. Keith studied film and television... Read More →

Harold Dean Trulear

Harold Dean Trulear is an ordained American Baptist minister and serves as Associate Professor of Applied Theology at Howard University, where he is also immediate past president of the Gamma of DC chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. He is also Director of the Healing Communities Prison... Read More →

Beverly Walker

Dennis Walton

Sponsors

Odyssey Networks

Thursday June 23, 2016 8:15pm - 9:45pm EDT
Auditorium

Special Event

6:30am EDT

Sunrise Yoga

Join Teresa Pasquale Mateus, one of our spiritual directors, for sunrise yoga—a special opportunity to get moving, focus our minds, and connect with our bodies before the day’s events.

Elders & Spiritual Directors

Teresa P Mateus

Co-Founder, Executive Director, The Mystic Soul Project

Friday June 24, 2016 6:30am - 7:15am EDT
Ballroom Atrium

Special Event

7:30am EDT

Breakfast

Fuel up for a final day of dynamic speakers, convenings, trainings, and relationship building.

Friday June 24, 2016 7:30am - 8:15am EDT
Ballroom

Meals & Breaks

8:30am EDT

THE FUTURE: What is required for repair and healing to be true and effective? What post-election movements should we be preparing for now?

Repentance is about the restoration of wellness to all. What would repentance of the lie of white supremacy look like in the U.S.? What would it require? And what will it take to repair what race broke among us? This Summit Session will engage these questions and more.

Moderators

Lisa Sharon Harper

Chief Church Engagement Officer, Sojourners

Featured Participants

Deeohn Ferris

Sustainable Community Development Group

Rashad Robinson

Executive Director, ColorOfChange

Rashad Robinson serves as Executive Director of ColorOfChange.org. With over 1 million members, ColorOfChange is the nation’s largest online civil rights organization. Since 2005, ColorOfChange has been a leading force in holding government and corporations accountable to Black... Read More →

Dara Silverman

Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ)

Dara Silverman is the National Coordinator of SURJ: Showing Up for Racial Justice, a network with over 150 groups across the United States moving white people into action for racial justice. SURJ works to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local... Read More →

Andrea Smith

NAIITS

Andrea Smith, a disability rights attorney and academic, is a co-founder of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence. She also serves on the board of the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS).

Maria-Jose Soerens

Puentes: Advocacy, Counseling & Education

Maria-Jose “Coté” Soerens is the founding executive director of Puentes, an immigrant-led organization mobilizing mental health resources for immigration justice. A new immigrant herself, Maria-Jose was born in Chile and has made Seattle her home, where she lives with her husband... Read More →

Edward Whitfield

Friday June 24, 2016 8:30am - 10:30am EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

10:45am EDT

Business

The business sector is without a doubt a critical lever of change for the social transformation we are collectively working toward, yet too often business is not at the table in justice movements. Join your fellow business leaders and entrepreneurs who are already changing the landscape of social impact to go deeper in dialogue on what more we can do to leverage our collective impact and take coordinated action together to tackle inequalities locally, nationally, and globally.

Forum Facilitators

Lazetta Braxton

Allison Trowbridge

Allison Trowbridge is a writer, speaker and social entrepreneur who is passionate about empowering millennial women to impact their world. She has spent the past decade working against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, first at Not For Sale and presently with The Freedom Fund... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Executive Boardroom

Convening

10:45am EDT

Climate Justice: Part 2 (Invitation Only)

Forum Facilitators

Leroy Barber

Voices Project

Deeohn Ferris

Sustainable Community Development Group

Alexei Laushkin

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

Convening

10:45am EDT

Criminal Justice: Part 2

Forum Facilitators

Lisa Sharon Harper

Chief Church Engagement Officer, Sojourners

Michael-Ray Mathews

Director of Clergy Organizing, PICO National Network

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Auditorium

Convening

10:45am EDT

Education

Educational inequality is one of the biggest issues facing our nation today. The good news is that influential Christian leaders and organizations across America are rising up to address this issue. Together we’re joining forces to launch a national faith and education equity coalition. As a participant in this convening, you will learn about the vision for this coalition, explore opportunities for collective action, and offer input around ensuring that all God’s children have access to a high-quality education regardless of the money their parents make, the zip code they live in, or the color of their skin.

Forum Facilitators

Nicole Baker Fulgham

Zakiya Jackson

Director of Partnerships, The Expectations Project

Chris LaTondresse

Raised in the former Soviet Union as the son of American missionary parents, Chris LaTondresse leverages his talents as a global communicator, connector, and strategist, helping world-shaping institutions (including government, private sector, civil society and faith-based) advance... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 6C

Convening

10:45am EDT

Global Peace

The Syrian refugee crisis has catalyzed the greatest migration of people groups across Europe since World War II. Several EU nations have since responded to increased ethnic tensions by embracing fascism, xenophobia, and white supremacy. This convening will consider prophetic responses to this current-day reawakening of violent extremism and will work toward common commitments and/or action to begin to address the crisis.

Forum Facilitators

Yvonne Delk

United Church of Christ

Michael Neuroth

Policy Advocate for International Issues, United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

Michael is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and serves as the Policy Advocate for International Issues in the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries’ office in Washington DC. His current work on international justice focuses on coordinating the UCC’s work and... Read More →

Catherine Orsborn

Matthew Scott

World Vision International

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 6B

Convening

10:45am EDT

Immigration: Part 2

Responding to racism and xenophobia are core components of Sojourners’ work on immigration. Our work seeks to address the racialized nature of America’s broken asylum, refugee, and immigration systems as well as state-based anti-immigrant initiatives. Through this convening, we hope to provide mechanisms for constructive dialogue about immigration and refugee-related issues that Christian organizations can use within institutions and areas of cultural formation.

Forum Facilitators

Ivone Guillen

Immigration Campaign & Communications Associate, Sojourners

Sharon Stanley-Rea

Sharon is Director of Refugee & Immigration Ministries for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is an employee of Disciples Home Missions, with her office located in Washington, D.C., on the second floor at National City Christian Church. She works to mobilize Disciples... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 5B

Convening

10:45am EDT

Publishers

What role do traditional publishers and new media producers—web, video, social media—have in movement building for social justice? How could our efforts and campaigns be better coordinated for a greater impact? With the goal of positive social change, what are some of the best practices that we can share with each other? This session will convene members of various media (publishing houses, publications, websites, etc.) to discuss collective action for social justice.

Forum Facilitators

Steve Knight

Marketing & Sales, Chalice Press

I love telling stories and throwing parties.

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 6A

Convening

10:45am EDT

Theologians & Academics

Over the past year, the Black Lives Matter movement has swept across campuses throughout North America. It has challenged administrations and curriculum developers to interrogate assumptions, policies, and structures that entrench white supremacy within the academy. This convening offers an opportunity to convene academics and theologians invested in the life and health of the academy. Participants will consider how to move the academy forward in its engagement with racial justice—both in its internal structures as well as in curriculum development and student life.

Forum Facilitators

Larycia Hawkins

Faculty Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, University of Virginia

Dr. Hawkins’s publications and research engage the intersection of race/ethnicity, religion, and politics. Her writing, speaking, teaching, and scholarship are squarely animated by a conviction that political science should be relevant to the real world. Thus, the perennial questions... Read More →

Dr. Terry LeBlanc

Executive Director, Indigenous Pathways

Dr. Reggie Williams

Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics, McCormick Theological Seminary

William Willimon

Duke Divinity School

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 4C

Convening

10:45am EDT

Women & Girls: Part 2

For too long, the concerns of women of color have remained invisible or sidelined within justice movements. The time has come for us to realize that our success is bound together. And the intersections upon which our issues meet is where justice can be found. This convening seeks to identify and move forward key gender justice issues—sexual and domestic violence, equal pay, reproductive access, leadership in the church and beyond, etc.—all while making more room for the voices and lived realities of women of color.

Forum Facilitators

Inez Torres Davis

Director for Justice, Women of the ELCA

Elaina Ramsey

Women & Girls Campaign Director, Sojourners

Katey Zeh

Strategist, Writer, Educator, Sacred Worth Consulting

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 5A

Convening

10:45am EDT

Faith Messaging: Introductory Media Training

Limited Capacity seats available

Auburn Media has equipped more than 4,000 leaders of faith and moral courage to speak prophetically through the media. Learn the best ways to prepare for an interview and other forms of media engagement, including a messaging strategy designed specifically to leverage the power of faith voices to carry the critical conversations of our time.

Forum Facilitators

Erica N. Williams

Sponsors

Auburn Media

Friday June 24, 2016 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
Room 7

Training

12:15pm EDT

Lunch

Friday June 24, 2016 12:15pm - 1:00pm EDT
Ballroom

Meals & Breaks

1:15pm EDT

A Message For The Masses: Podcasts For Activists

If you have a smartphone, you have the basic tool for audio and visual storytelling right in your hand. But taking that tool and making effective media involves planning and structure. In this training, the staff of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club will introduce the basics of “start where you are” podcasting and videocasting. The session will include some practical basics, strategies, and tools you can start using right now to make your message heard.

Forum Facilitators

David Dault

President and CEO, Chicago Sunday Evening Club

David Dault is an expert at helping people tell their stories. He produces engaging, innovative media for public radio, public television, and public events.

Sponsors

Chicago Sunday Evening Club

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 7

Training

1:15pm EDT

Behind The Lens: Introductory Camera Skills

Limited Capacity seats available

Need to prepare for an interview with the local news? You just landed a spot on a video podcast? What will you say? Join Auburn Media for an introductory session preparing you to fly under pressure, with the cameras rolling! Be ready to handle difficult questions, tough topics, and present with confidence on screen.

Forum Facilitators

Erica N. Williams

Sponsors

Auburn Media

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 5A

Training

1:15pm EDT

Effective Advocacy: How To Get Your Message Heard In The Halls Of Power

How, and from whom, do political leaders get their information in 2016? What unique roles do people of faith play in the legislative process? This training will focus on how to get your message heard by elected leaders in order to achieve policy change that has wide and lasting implications.

Forum Facilitators

Amelia Kegan

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Amelia Kegan is the Legislative Director for Domestic Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), a grassroots Quaker lobbying organization. She focuses on federal budget, tax, and economic justice issues. She serves on the board of the Washington Council of L... Read More →

Eric Mitchell

Eric Mitchell has been a champion of anti-hunger and poverty programs for almost a decade. As Government Relations Director at Bread for the World, Eric serves as the Organization’s “chief lobbyist” on Capitol Hill, and has been a leading voice to ending hunger in the U.S... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Executive Boardroom

Training

1:15pm EDT

Faith-Rooted Organizing: World Change Through Faith & Justice

Faith communities across the country are drawing from deep wells of legacy to organize and advocate for a more just world. People of faith are returning to their spiritual roots for guidance on how to engage the world’s struggles for justice in ways that honor our faith. Join this powerful training that draws from the rich spiritual core of historic justice movements. Participants will gain the basic tools and insights needed to analyze their community, strategize, build collaborative networks, and take action—all in a way that draws from the roots of their faith traditions.

Forum Facilitators

Lisa Sharon Harper

Chief Church Engagement Officer, Sojourners

Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra

Academic Dean, Assistant Pastor, Fuller Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra is the Academic Dean of the Centro Latino and the Assistant Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is the co-author of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World and Buried... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 4C

Training

1:15pm EDT

Movement Starters: Using Creative Arts For Social Change

Drawing on 10 years of experience interviewing prominent business leaders, politicians, clergy, and artists all over the world, award-winning filmmaker and creative strategist Art Hooker shares his unique findings about story, creativity, passion, and leadership through this training. Utilizing real-life experiences, videos, and photos, participants will be given tools and insights to help them discover their own unique paths to more purposeful and meaningful lives and careers. The session will also include Skype interviews with real-life movement starters.

Forum Facilitators

Art Hooker

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 6C

Training

1:15pm EDT

Sacred Accompaniment: Journeying With Our Immigrant Neighbors

Immigrants who are facing removal proceedings are traumatized by the inhumane process. There is a high probability that they will be deported and never see their families again. New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC’s Accompaniment Program connects citizens with immigrants going through the process. As witnesses, you hold the system and immigration officers accountable. This training will teach you how to “do no harm” and support individuals or families involved in immigration proceedings.

Forum Facilitators

Ravi Ragbir

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 6A

Training

1:15pm EDT

Sovereignty & Solidarity: How Christians Can Become Better Allies To Indigenous Communities

The history of Christianity in the U.S. is rife with physical and cultural violence toward Native American communities. The Doctrine of Discovery also fueled centuries of empire-driven attitudes and actions toward land and people. Yet our faith calls us to deepen understanding and to lament injustice. Learn about the Doctrine of Discovery, how churches are challenging it, and ways to become better allies to Native communities through truth-telling about history, respecting sovereignty, and calling for stewardship of sacred places. We will also learn about how to stand with the Gwich’in people to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Forum Facilitators

Shantha Ready Alonso

Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries

Shantha Ready Alonso has served as Creation Justice Ministries’ Executive Director since 2015. Creation Justice Ministries educates, equips and mobilizes people of faith to protect, restore, and more rightly share God's creation. Learn more at www.creationjustice.org.

Mark Charles

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 5B

Training

1:15pm EDT

Stories Of Change: Writing In Support Of Racial And Social Justice

This training focuses on identifying harmful coverage of youth of color, strategies to correct those narratives, and best practices for highlighting the stories we’d like to see. We'll take a look at how language impacts our thoughts, how thoughts shape our actions, and how actions form our policies. Participants will walk away with information and a passion to advance meaningful narratives about youth of color.

Forum Facilitators

Jennifer Farmer

Jennifer R. Farmer, a leading professional in communications strategy, has made her mark in social justice movements for more than fifteen years. Joining Advancement Project in 2012, Farmer leads a team of traditional and digital media staffers in developing comprehensive messaging... Read More →

Sponsors

Chicago Sunday Evening Club

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 6B

Training

1:15pm EDT

Vital Conversations: How To Talk About Race In The Church

This intensive training uses small group discussions and scripture to explore what it takes to have helpful conversations about race in the church. Each small group will explore biblical texts that encourage and nurture the desire to understand context and make soul connections with racial and cultural realities. Attendees will receive the tools necessary to practice helpful ways to communicate, manage resistance, and understand the vocabulary of racial justice advocacy.

Forum Facilitators

Inez Torres Davis

Director for Justice, Women of the ELCA

Friday June 24, 2016 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 4A

Training

3:00pm EDT

THE JOURNEY: How do we sustain ourselves?

May you rest your body and refresh your soul; prepare for the future, for it is coming. And it will be up to us to shape it, for we are the architects of our own destiny. So put on your walking shoes, sojourners—history awaits us.

Moderators

Adam Taylor

Chair of Board of Directors, Sojourners

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor is chair of the board of directors for Sojourners. He is the author of "Mobilizing Hope: Faith-Inspired Activism For a Post Civil Rights Generation." He formerly served as vice president of advocacy for World Vision and senior political director for... Read More →

Jim Wallis

President, Sojourners

Featured Participants

Simone Campbell

NETWORK

Yvonne Delk

United Church of Christ

James Forbes

The Healing of the Nations Ministries

The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. is president of Healing of the Nations Ministries and serves as national minister for the Drum Major Institute. He is senior minister emeritus of The Riverside Church in New York City where he pastored for 18 years. He was the first Joe R. Engle Professor... Read More →

Ivone Guillen

Immigration Campaign & Communications Associate, Sojourners

Larycia Hawkins

Faculty Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, University of Virginia

Bree Newsome

The Tribe

Dr. John Perkins

The John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation

Norma Pimentel

Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley

Angy Rivera

New York State Youth Leadership Council

Angy Rivera is a Colombian immigrant living in New York City. She is a core member at the New York State Youth Leadership Council, an undocumented youth led organization fighting for immigrant rights. In 2010, Rivera started an undocumented immigrant advice column called Ask Angy... Read More →

Friday June 24, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

4:00pm EDT

Blessing Ceremony

Come hear reports from multiple movement streams on the common commitments and plans for action crafted during Summit convenings. And join us as we give thanks to God—closing our time together in a liturgical worship service that incorporates the themes and messages we’ve heard over the course of The Summit. The music and arts team will lead this time, which will culminate in the blessing ceremony. You don’t want to miss this celebration!

Friday June 24, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Auditorium

Summit Session

5:00pm EDT

Dinner reception

Bid farewell to one another and enjoy some food and sustenance as we return to our communities renewed and refreshed for the journey ahead.

Friday June 24, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Auditorium Atrium

Meals & Breaks