Investing in Courageous Leaders

Community organizer, ordained reverend, and budding farmer, Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, III founded the Black Church Food Security Network in Baltimore, Maryland, to promote food security and create abundance through covenant relationships between churches and farmers, linking communities to the wisdom of their elders. Heber demonstrates "the world is my parish," emphasizing the importance of loving one's neighbors by addressing food deserts in communities.

Leader, natural bridge-builder, and networker, Carlos Huerta is the executive director of the Center for Community Transformation at Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. Carlos embodies loving your neighbor as yourself, teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship in Spanish alongside Biblical stewardship principles, empowering young leaders to shape Valley communities positively.

Motivator and changemaker, Moy Mendez is the founder and executive director of Hope Center in Blue Island, Illinois. Moy has built a platform that empowers people, helps them see their potential, and increases their agency. He fosters a culture of hope and well-being through agriculture, technology, auto mechanics, and an artist's Makers lab, helping members of his community connect Sunday’s worship to Monday’s work.

Teacher, faith leader, and social strategist, Alisha Gordon is Founder and Executive Director of The Current Project. Alisha helps Black single mothers get small businesses off the ground through financial support and training, so they live into their dreams and “create space for economic stability and social liberation.”

Community organizer and social entrepreneur, Tyler Sit is Founder of New City Church and Co-Founder of Intersect Planting Network. New City Church reflects the vision from Revelation of a new city where all tribes are welcomed, there is no violence, and the earth is renewed. Tyler’s congregation, led by BIPOC leaders, is realizing this vision by focusing on centering marginalized voices, community organizing, and eco-justice.

Social impact advisor and community builder, Sidney Williams is Pastor, Bethel AME Church, and President & CEO, Crossing Capital Group. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities.

Trainer and activist Kit Evans-Ford founded Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope to promote non-violence and healing from abuse. A bath and body social enterprise, Argrow’s House employs female survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Shannon Hopkins is a networker and social entrepreneur who co-founded RootedGood, dedicated to enabling faith-based organizations to adopt an economic model that drives growth and resilience. It empowers these organizations to be the church the world needs today.

Coté Soerens is a visionary convener who co-founded Resistencia Coffee to be a community hub, encouraging fellowship and innovation to create a more equitable neighborhood. Along with her neighbors, Coté brings love, joy, and grace to the neighborhood through food, the environment and housing.

Jennifer Bailey is founder and Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, catalyzing change by equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources that nourish and sustain them spiritually. She also co-founded The People’s Supper, an organization that fosters lasting change by building trust through sharing meals together.

Leroy Barber founded The Voices Project to gather leaders of color from across many different fields for conversations about their challenges and triumphs in the communities they serve. His initiative expresses his deeply held belief that we all have a duty to serve God by nurturing the common good.

De'Amon Harges, a “roving listener,” uses an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to build neighborhoods by finding God in the great wealth of gifts and talents in that neighborhood. His nonprofit, The Learning Tree, influences government, nonprofits and other organizations to improve the lives people and the community.

Matt Russell is co-founder and co-managing Director of Project Curate, which works with religious, academic and community organizations by curating and bringing together different voices and traditions to realize a radical vision of a more just and equitable world. He is also Co-Founder and Executive Director of Iconoclast Artists, a program that empowers young artists throughout the community.