Racial Justice & Religion
Racial justice and religion are deeply intertwined.
Launched in May 2023, the Racial Justice & Religion Initiative at the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program will help build the understanding of religion’s role in racial justice work by providing educational opportunities for members to develop a more accurate picture of the challenges and opportunities that exist at the intersection of race and religion. Additionally, the initiative will convene capacity building offerings that center, support, and uplift leaders from historically marginalized communities who work on these issues and help bring their insights and expertise into the public square.
This work is generously supported by The Henry Luce Foundation.
Members of the Racial Justice & Religion Collective
Each of these distinguished members bring a unique perspective and deep experience in racial justice work empowering historically marginalized communities, whether it be through the lens of faith, activism, theology, education, or revitalization. Collectively, they will advance racial justice via a religiously pluralistic lens and commitment.
Religion & Society Program Racial Justice & Religion Collective Members
Top Row, Left to Right:
Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Christians for Social Action
PJ Andrews, Baháʼís of the United States Office of Public Affairs
Yolanda Savage-Narva, Union for Reform Judaism & Religious Access Center
Dr. Russel Jeung, San Francisco State University
Rev. Dr. Audrey Price, Aspen Institute Religion & Society Program
Second Row, Left to Right:
Darakshan Raja, Muslims for Just Futures
Pastor Gil Monrose, New York City’s Mayor’s Office
Nina Fernando, The Shoulder-to-Shoulder Campaign
Rev. Kasey Jones, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Kia Smith, Faith in Public Life
Rabbi Lindsay Danziger, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Lisa Sharon Harper, Freedom Road
Walter Kim, National Association of Evangelicals
Third Row, Left to Right:
Tahil Sharma, United Religions Initiative
Kaitlin Curtice, The Aki Institute for Peace & Justice
Nicole Pressley, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice
Dr. Brittney Cooper, Rutgers University
Rev. Leroy Barber, Neighborhood Economics
Rev. Kyev P. Tatum Sr., New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Jamar A. Boyd II, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Inc.
Bottom Row, Left to Right:
Dr. Beverley Eileen Mitchell, Wesley Theological Seminary
Randal Jelks, The University of Kansas
Bishop Dwayne Royster, POWER Interfaith
Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, The United Church of Christ
Rev. Harvey J. Clemons, Pleasant Hills Baptist Church of Houston
Rev. Larita Rice-Barnes, Metro East Organizing Coalition (MEOC)
Rev. Michael Mata, TogetherLA
Ekemini Uwan, Special Advisor to the Religion & Society Program for the Racial Justice & Religion Initiative
In addition, the Racial Justice & Religion Initiative is led by Rev. Dr. Audrey Price of the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program.
For more information about the members, click here.
To learn more about this collective and the Program’s Racial Justice and Religion Initiative, please reach out to Rev. Dr. Audrey Price.
The Racial Justice & Religion Collective is generously supported by the Wayfarer Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation.
