Everyday Changemakers

Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is a nationally recognized faith leader who serves as the Senior Minister of Middle Collegiate Church in NYC, the Executive Director of The Middle Project, and the host of the television show, Just Faith. Jacqui developed a strong connection to God starting in childhood. But over time, she had to "grow up her idea of God," in order to make sense of her own life and the whole world. We talk about how Jacqui's understanding of God shapes her interfaith activism today, and how the spiritual discipline of preaching helps her embody sacred texts in her life and work. Hint: it's about love in action. You can find Jacqui at: www.middlechurch.org and www.jacquijlewis.com Ending Song Credit: "Love Is An Action" Music and lyrics by Tituss Burgess from Welcome, by Middle Collegiate Church, NYC Kamara Rose, www.kamararose.com

Michael Brennan is the CEO and Cofounder of Civilla, a design studio dedicated to changework in Detroit. For the last few years, Michael has been on an inspiring journey to follow his own heart, and to pursue the work he most wanted to do in the world. This episode takes you from the childhood experiences that shaped him, to the powerful vows Michael made to himself that ended up launching him from over 30 years of leadership with the United Way, into the work of design and social impact. You can find Michael at www.civilla.com You can find me at www.kamararose.com

Rodney McKenzie is the VP of Campaigns and Partnerships for Demos: An Equal Say and An Equal Chance For All. Rodney takes us back to the moment, over a decade ago, that woke him up to his calling. It was a moment that taught him about the power of shifting his perception from "victim" to "victor," and informs his ministry today: "reminding people of their goodness." You can find me at: www.kamararose.com You can find Rodney on Twitter at: @morelifeinc References: The Science of Mind: A Philosophy, A Faith, A Way of Life by Ernest Holmes A Course in Miracles Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way The Infinite Way, Joel S. Goldsmith Poet Mary Oliver

Macky Alston serves as VP of Prophetic and Creative Leadership at Auburn Seminary. He was a senior at Columbia University in NYC when he attended one of the first meetings of ACT UP in 1987. Our conversation explores how Macky found life and celebration in the midst of death, as the AIDS crisis raged through his community and the world. We talk about the practice of surrounding yourself with beauty, joy as an act of resistance, and truth-telling as sacred work. References from Macky Alston's blog: https://mackyalston.com/blog/ "All I Have Is a Voice" "You Have Something to Say That We Need to Hear" You can find me at : www.kamararose.com

Art Reyes III is the founder and executive directer of We The People, an organization working to build multi-racial, working class alliances to contend for power across Michigan. Art grew up in Flint, where he learned early on about class division, the labor struggle, and the power of solidarity. Our conversation goes deep into Art's childhood, and the urgent call that brought him back to Michigan in 2016. The Coming Home guide is at: www.kamararose.com/resources You can find Art at: www.wethepeoplemi.org

Kristee Paschall is the National Director of Win Justice, a groundbreaking coalition to win key elections in battleground states in 2018. Kristee grew up with missionary parents who taught her to take big risks and to love generously. As an organizer, she's on a mission to radically change our democracy. Our conversation explores how Kristee calls on her wisdom as a mother, and as an informal midwife, to bring out the power we each have inside of us to accomplish things we never thought possible. The guide Midwife To Your Dreams can be found at: www.kamararose.com/resources You can find Kristee on twitter @KristeePaschall

Dr. Marshall Ganz is now a senior lecturer in public policy at Harvard University. But he spent almost 30 years as an organizer with the Civil Rights Movement, United Farmworkers Movement, and more. When Marshall joined the Mississippi Summer Project in 1964, he faced a powerful turning point that called him to find his own courage. We talk about uncovering the hope you need to turn threats into challenges, and about the ongoing practice of leadership, which Marshall defines as: "taking responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty." BONUS: The Sources of Hope reflection guide is at www.kamararose.com/resources. You can find Marshall at www.marshallganz.com References: "Freedom Is A Constant Struggle," Barbara Dane & the Chambers Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OXxCc-Lw88 Maimonides https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimonides Georg Simmel, "The Stranger." https://www.infoamerica.org/documentos_pdf/simmel01.pdf Rabbi Hillel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_the_Elder Moses and Jethro, Exodus 18 Carol Dweck, on growth mindset versus fixed mindset https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve Zeynep Tufekci, "Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest." https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300215120/twitter-and-tear-gas Judy Collins, "Pass it On." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbLa9SftNto

Pastor Lisa Asedillo Pratt is a co-founder and minister at New Day Church in the Bronx, NY. Lisa grew up wanting to belong to "a people," but she didn't think she would find them in the church. Our conversation explores the vision Lisa holds for community, how she "shed" her previous life to make room for her new one, and how she creates spaces for people to dream and imagine the new world, together. Bonus: You can find the Searching For Signs guide at www.kamararose.com/resources You can find Lisa at www.newdaychurch.nyc

Elisha Fernandes Simpson is the founder and executive director of The Crossover Yoga Project. Elisha's work supports girls in foster care and juvenile detention centers, state-run residential treatment centers, and social service agencies to overcome trauma through yoga, mindfulness, and expressive arts. Our conversation explores Elisha's personal connection to her work, the positive changes she witnesses in young people who learn these tools, and includes lots of practical techniques you can try, too, from breathwork to morning journaling. You can download the Wounded Healer Reflection Guide at kamararose.com/resources You can download the Breathwork Exercise at kamararose.com/resources You can watch Arianna's story at kamararose.com/mediaprojects. You can find Elisha at http://crossoveryogaproject.org/

Rev. Rashad Moore is a minister at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NYC. He grew up steeped in the Baptist church, and came to Abyssinian inspired by their long legacy of fighting for justice and freedom. We discuss his approach to ministry, from the "everydayness" of beloved community, to the challenge of letting go of what's familiar in order to grow, and the necessity of protecting joy in the face of despair. This episode also includes a musical interlude from the Grammy-winning jazz artist, Gregory Porter. Bonus: Download the 'Drop Your Nets' exercise at kamararose.com/resources You can find Rev. Rashad at www.abyssinian.org References: Dr. Emilie Townes, "Everydayness." https://reflections.yale.edu/article/future-prophetic-voice/everydayness-0 Paul and Silas in Prison, Acts 16:16-40 Jesus Calls Fishermen to Drop their Nets, Matthew 4:18-22 Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Circles." https://emersoncentral.com/texts/essays-first-series/circles/ W.E.B. DuBois, 'The Souls of Black Folk.' People Complaining, Exodus 5:1-22, 14:11-12, 15:22, 16:1-4, 17:1-4 Gregory Porter, "Take Me to The Alley." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj5z4SbrH20 James Cone, 'The Cross and The Lynching Tree.' Jesus and His Mother, John 2:1-11 and John 19:25

Joy Friedman is the Director of Organizing for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Our conversation takes a deep dive into Joy's experience feeling like an outsider, first as a Jewish minority in her small Kansas town, then when her parents got divorced. Joy shares how becoming a community organizer gave her an opportunity to confront her fears, claim her own power in relationship to others, and support communities and religious leaders across the country to lean into new beliefs and make change together. BONUS: To support you to examine your own fears and try out new, more empowering beliefs, download the Facing Fear Guide at kamararose.com/resources You can find Joy at www.rac.org

Rev. Micah Bucey is a minister at Judson Memorial Church in NYC. But he almost said no to ministry. We talk about his journey towards saying YES to himself, and how he practices saying YES in community. Our conversation spans Micah's work to support artists as modern-day prophets, his activism for immigration reform, and lessons from The Golden Girls in human relations. Bonus: Experiment with your creative voice by downloading the Guided Meditation: Finding Your Prophetic Voice at kamararose.com/resources You can find Rev. Micah at www.judson.org

Sarah Silva is a seasoned community organizer and a lead coach for the PICO National Network (Faith in Action). When she faced a family crisis in 2015, it forever changed her life and her work. We discuss how Sarah found her own path to personal wholeness and her approach to trauma-informed community organizing. BONUS: Download the Know Thyself: A Weekly Reflection guide to discover your own needs and take action to support yourself. www.kamararose.com/resources You can find Sarah at www.sarahasilva.com.