Dr. Justin S. Beene

Justin Beene is the visionary and founder of an innovative partnership called the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, a collective between non-profits and for profits working together for a flourishing city. He is well known as a global leader and practitioner with extensive knowledge and skills in starting and scaling collaborative ventures, creating win/win/win solutions across sectors, and connecting resources to real problems in innovative and sustainable ways. Justin is also a serial entrepreneur starting multiple businesses along with leading a movement in Grand Rapids, called Thrive and Prosper, a cross-sector collaboration working to create a culture where it is normal for everyone to Thrive and Prosper.

Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Family Studies from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in Social Work in Management of Human Services from the University of Michigan, a master’s of Arts degree in Ministry Leadership from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in Transformational Leadership with a focus in Entrepreneurial Transformation for the Global City from Bakke Graduate University.

Nate Beene

As COO of the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation, Nate’s role is to execute the vision of a collaborative effort focused on transforming the community through enterprise, social innovation, leveraging investment, and career development. Nate is also co-owner of Building Bridges Professional Services and The 1530 events venue, all of which have a focus on hiring from the community and creating opportunities for transformation. Additionally, Nate is an EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) franchise owner and professional implementer, where he helps businesses and organizations clarify their vision, gain traction, and grow healthy leadership teams. Nate is passionate about developing and providing opportunities to entrepreneurs and incubating and operating transformational businesses that seek impact outside of just profits. Nate also serves as a board member of the CAIA (Construction Allies in Action), where he advocates for equity and diversity in the construction industry across West Michigan.

Rev. Traci deVon Blackmon

Rev. Traci Blackmon is the founder of HopeBuilds, LLC, and The Prophetic Convening, a resource hub for thinking people of faith. She currently serves as CEO and Lead Catalyst of Faith Out-Loud!, a 501c3 initiative designed to engage; equip; and encourage the collective voice and prophetic authority of the Black Church to heal this nation. As a public theologian, activist, and registered nurse, Rev. Blackmon’s life’s work focuses on communal resistance to systemic injustice through an ethic of love.

Initially ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Blackmon, in 2016, she transitioned from bi-vocational ministry—as a congregational pastor and healthcare administrator with the largest health system in Missouri—to serve in the national setting of the United Church of Christ as Associate General Minister and Vice President of Justice & Local Church Ministries, a role she held for eight years. Appointed to the Ferguson Commission by
Governor Jay Nixon in the aftermath of the state-sanctioned killing of Michael Brown, Jr., and to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships by President Barack Obama, Rev. Blackmon has continued to make a significant impact on justice movements at both local and national levels. During her tenure with the United Church of Christ, she led several justice and local church initiatives, including a medical debt forgiveness campaign that eliminated more than $200 million in debt for some of the most vulnerable citizens in 26 states, and a denomination-wide racial justice initiative designed to educate and engage congregations
in eradicating subconscious racism. Her messages of hope and healing have been shared with diverse audiences, including the White House, the Carter Center, and the Pontifical Council of
the Vatican.

Carol Bremer-Bennett

Carol Bremer-Bennett is World Renew’s U.S. Executive Director. As director, she oversees their work in 30 countries around the globe in poverty & hunger alleviation as well as disaster response. She is born to the To’aheedliinii (Waters Flow Together) Clan and born for the Todich’iinii (Bitter Water) Clan of the Navajo Nation. Bremer-Bennett is an educator by training, with a B.A. from Calvin College and an M.A. from Western New Mexico University.                                           

Her extensive experience in Christian ministry spans more than 35 years of organizational leadership, leadership development, and administration. 

Carol believes in the power of community and shares her passion and gifts with her church, school, and like-minded international organizations. She has served on multiple boards, including Calvin University, the Christian Alliance for Inclusive Development, the Integral Alliance, and Growing Hope Globally. 

Dr. Andrey Bundley

Dr. Andrey L. Bundley was raised in Baltimore City, Maryland in the Whitelock Neighborhood. Educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools System, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education from Coppin State University, a Master of Education Degree in Counselor Education from Penn State University, and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State University.

Dr. Bundley began his career in education as a teacher at Harlem Park Middle School in 1985. Principal at Greenspring Middle School, Principal of Walbrook High School Uniform Services Academy. His primary focus is to improve the quality and standards of life for our youth. He was elated to accept when offered the position of Director of the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement, directly from the Mayor of Baltimore City. 

Antoine Burton

A Kingdom Servant at heart, Pastor Antoine Burton has been committed to diligently serving God’s people and Baltimore Communities for over 26 years. Antoine ministers to the holistic needs of the family unit, assists in their development, encourages and helps to build and promote wholesome marriages.

Antoine is Founder and CEO of AFJ Incorporated, a Logistics and E-commerce company in Baltimore, Maryland, where he has subcontracted with FedEx for 25 years. Currently, they employ 14 full-time employees and 4 part-time.

Pastor Antoine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from the North Carolina College of Theology, and in May of 2022, he earned a Master’s of Pastoral Theology from the Washington Baptist Theological Seminary in the DC/Capitol region. He is the proprietor of a Logistics company and is extremely passionate about cultivating the male figure into a man who loves God, lives for God, and performs Godly. 

Serving the community is a passion of Antoine’s; he believes that it is the responsibility of the Church to influence the community and culture. In August of 2020, he was elected as the President of the We Our Us Men’s Unity Engagement Movement, a faith-based organization that specializes in community engagement, violence and gun interruption, life coaching, employment for ex-offenders, serving the city with free groceries and produce twice a week, and they have a 24-hour stop the beef hotline. They partner with the White House, the Governor’s office of Maryland, the Baltimore City Mayor’s office, the Department of Juvenile Services, and the Department of Social Services and Families. In January of 2023, Antoine was appointed by Mayor Brandon Scott to serve on the Baltimore City Police Accountability Board. He is also the founder of ManCave, a Men’s ministry that provides accountability, a community of brotherhood and stability for Men.

Kirt Herbert

Kirt Herbert grew up in Jamaica with a deep love for hip hop and a passion for inspiring young people to follow Jesus. He enjoys the vibrant, creative energy of The EDGE community and is devoted to living out his faith alongside his wife, Tisa, and their two children.

Tisa Herbert

Tisa Herbert is from Indianapolis with a passion for activating leaders to build God’s kingdom. A spoken word artist committed to youth development, social justice, and church planting, Tisa values the EDGE community for its family-like support and freedom of expression in worship.

Mariah Humphries

Mariah Humphries is a citizen of the Mvskoke Nation, writer, lecturer, and speaker whose work explores the intersections of Christianity, culture, and racial identity. Drawing from her lived experience navigating both Native and White American contexts, Mariah invites audiences to consider how faith can confront inequity and embody justice.

With twenty-seven years in vocational ministry and a master’s degree in theology, she equips and challenges the American church to faithfully lead where faith and justice meet. Her insights have been featured on numerous podcasts, and she has contributed to several books, including We Follow Christ: Helping Women to Discern God’s Call, Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why it’s Essential for the Future of the Church, Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice, and Justice Looks Like… Reflections on Living the Gospel in an Unjust World.

Jin Kim

Jin is the founding pastor of Church of All Nations, chartered as a PC(USA) congregation in 2004. Born in Korea in 1968, he came to the US with his family in 1975, and grew up in Columbia, SC and Atlanta, GA in a multiethnic environment. He holds degrees from Georgia Tech, Princeton Seminary, and a doctor of ministry from Columbia Seminary. He serves on Minnesota Council of Churches‘ board, as a PCUSA delegate to the National Council of Churches, and was a US delegate to the 3rd Lausanne Congress in Cape Town 2010. He is past Moderator/Council Chair of Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, past President of Presbyterians For Renewal, is part of the Jewish-Presbyterian Dialogue, and currently serves as GAMC Field Staff to support Korean English Ministries/pastors, and is adjunct faculty at Dubuque Seminary. He preached at the PCUSA General Assembly in 2004 and 2008, and speaks widely at conferences, seminaries, presbyteries, and churches, both in the US and abroad. Jin has a passion for the ministry of reconciliation and a vision for the visible unity of the global church. His household includes wife Soon Pac, Claire Nicea, 12, Austin Athanasius, 10, and Jin’s parents. He is an avid golfer, enjoys volleyball, basketball, racquetball, table tennis & Monopoly, and will one day pick up ice fishing (?).

Artie M. Lindsay, Sr.

Pastor Artie M. Lindsay, Sr, has served Tabernacle Community Church in Grand Rapids, MI, since its inception in 2002, where he is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Board President of the Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project, the church’s 501 c(3) organization. Since 2023, he has also led the work at the Urban Church Leadership Center, a catalytic hub that unites, trains, and resources faith leaders driving transformative change and fostering community flourishing. Committed to the holistic mission of the church, Pastor Artie is driven by his desire to unite and empower Christian leaders across denominations, ethnic backgrounds, and vocational sectors to live a more integrated life of work, worship, and service for the glory of God. He is married to Raquel and they have three children, Artie Jr., Victoria, and Alysa.

Patty Prasada-Rao

Patty Prasada-Rao (MPH) has worked with non-profits for over 30 years both in the US and overseas, including community development, organizational and professional leadership development, campus ministry, and national association work.

Patty’s background also includes work in public health (technical assistance to state and local health departments), geriatric research, corporate marketing, psychiatric program management, Christian youth camps, and college campus ministry (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship). She has offered her community development expertise and faith-based leadership on numerous boards both domestically and internationally, including CCDA, Communities First Association, Kupenda for the Children (Kenya), PRIA Ministries (India), Intersection of Change (Baltimore), and the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation (Jackson).

Patty was born to Indian parents in the U.S. with an extended family network, which instilled in her a strong value for community and what it means to belong together. You can often find Patty listening to music (gospel, jazz, folk and classical at the top of the list), cooking (mostly Indian food, spinach balls and banana muffins) for her neighbors, on the floor hanging out with little ones, somewhere with any one of her huge Indian extended family, gallivanting around the globe, or playing with her sweet cat, Tiger.

Quese

Quese is a pop/R&B/hip-hop artist and worship director from West Michigan. His smooth vocal ability & diverse sound intrigues all cultures he comes in contact with. While delivering a great sound, Quese shows the love of Christ through everything he does. His approach to ministry helps people from all walks of life receive encouragement. Quese is an ambassador for unity. His ministry has encouraged a plethora of people to salvation and has exemplified unity to the world.

Rev. Ricardo Tavárez

Rev. Tavárez is an Afro-Latino of Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage. His cross-cultural experience as a Latin-American raised in West Michigan became a launching point for his calling and ministry. Rev. Tavárez earned a dual undergraduate degree at Kuyper College in Bible and International Business. He later graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Divinity with a concentration in Missions. Rev. Tavárez has served in various ministry capacities, including mentor, consultant, and leadership trainer. Today, Rev. Tavárez is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, the pastor of En Vivo Church, which he founded in 2016, and the Executive Director of New City Neighbors, a non-profit that does youth empowerment work through urban farming and farm-to-table food production. He is also a published writer, artist, and photographer. 

Ryan VerWys

Ryan VerWys is passionate about housing justice and community development, believing in the local church’s role in creating healthy communities. He and his wife Rachel have 25 years of experience in CCDA work, starting in Southern California and spending the past decade in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

At ICCF Community Homes, a local Christian affordable housing ministry with 50 years of impact, Ryan focuses on mobilizing others for justice work and helping build neighborhoods marked by shalom where everyone has a safe, affordable place to belong.

Bethany Rivera Molinar

Bethany Rivera Molinar is a fronteriza Chicana living and working in El Paso, Texas, about a mile from the international border line of the United States and Mexico. She is the Executive Director of Ciudad Nueva Community Outreach, a holistic, asset-based, Christian community development nonprofit organization working alongside their neighbors to empower youth, support families, equip leaders, and strengthen community in the Rio Grande neighborhood. Bethany and her team work primarily with first and second generation Latine immigrants. Bethany is deeply passionate for Ciudad Nueva to be a place where community-led work unfolds and community members from young to older are actively engaged and accessing their gifts, skills, and resources to collectively lead towards a vibrant and thriving community. Along with her team and community, this passion has driven the work that she has done through Ciudad Nueva for over ten years. Bethany also serves as Chair on the national board of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) as well as on the boards of two local organizations. Bethany earned both Master of Divinity & Master of Social Work degrees at Truett Theological Seminary and the Diana Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University. Bethany also has a demonstrated history of serving with prophetic strength and innovative leadership within local, regional, and national women of color faith circles.

Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson

Lorenzo A. Watson serves as the CEO/President for the Christian Community Development Association, headquartered in Chicago, IL. He is an experienced community development professional; a leader, teacher, and scholar who has long centered his work at the intersections of wholeness, education, and Biblical justice.

For nearly two decades, Lorenzo worked in Research, Development, and Technology at North Carolina State University (NCSU). While at NCSU, he led the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering information technology department and provided strategic oversight in information technology to multiple campuses. In addition to supporting world-renowned faculty and staff in their research development, Lorenzo also served actively as a mentor to student leaders. Lorenzo has served as the Director of Communications and Marketing for CCDA, providing a critical communications roadmap for the association. He has been instrumental in planning the CCDA national conference and helped guide the office team through its first virtual conference during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Lorenzo has also directed the vibrant work of Education and Equipping for CCDA.

Lorenzo holds a BS from North Carolina State University in Computer Engineering, an MDiv from Shaw University Divinity School, and a PhD in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from NCSU. He and his spouse of 18 years, Natarsha P. Sanders, reside and serve as “community pastors” in the Doyle community of Kerrville, Texas. Lorenzo’s proven skills in multi-ethnic organizational leadership, management, and coaching, as well as his pastoral giftings and scholarship, have helped create environments of inclusion and belonging in every space to which he has been called.

Scott Overpeck

Scott Overpeck is a creative leader with a heart for contextualizing movements of justice, advocacy, and compassion to his surroundings. He previously led a consultancy advising social enterprises and nonprofits on tools and strategies as it relates to operations, marketing, fundraising, and commerce. In this capacity he has helped organizations from the startup stage all the way on up to established $50m organizations be more efficient, raise more money, craft better programs and be better communicators. He is now Director of Membership at Christian Community Development Association and sits on the board of Orange County Educational Arts Academy; helped found Laundry Love Santa Ana and has served on other local and national boards and councils. In both his roles as a leader in changemaking organizations and a consultant to changemakers, he is always an outspoken advocate for better communication, design and storytelling as well as always keeping real life humans at the center of every decision making process. By continually immersing himself in all sides of the social change sectors, he is able to bring fresh insights to the table. His work has been featured in such publications as the NY Times, OC Metro, OC Weekly, Orange Coast Magazine, Riviera Magazine, Korean American Journal, OC Register and many others. Scott is a contributing author to Create Culture: thoughts on branding for humans and is the author of the upcoming Create Good: the case for creativity in the social sector.

Mary Beth Meadows

Mary Beth first attended a CCDA conference in 2003 in New Orleans. It was life-changing and helped her fuse faith and justice perspectives. She is an alumnus of CCDA National Leadership Cohort 7 and excited to see new iterations of the Emerging Leaders Cohort take shape in the future.

Mary Beth enjoys serving on the steering committee of her @CCDAKnox Local Network, as a Founding Member of the Knoxville Modern Quilt Guild, and a Board Secretary of First Foundations Inc. She holds a Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work and identifies as an abolition-centered social worker. She lives in a small community outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, with her two daughters.

Christina Foor

Christina Foor serves as the Director of Engagement & Mobilization at CCDA, where she leads initiatives to connect, inspire, and mobilize practitioners committed to seeing their communities flourish. With a rich background in cross-cultural mentorship, advocacy, community development, and program leadership, Christina has dedicated her career to empowering underrepresented voices and cultivating spaces of belonging and flourishing.

An Indian-American wife and mother of two daughters, Christina brings a unique perspective to her work, rooted in her Christian faith, hospitality, holistic well-being, and a passion for creating spaces where every voice is valued and welcomed. She is passionate about the intersection of spiritual formation and justice, walking alongside individuals and communities to live out a faith that leads to collective flourishing.

Outside of her professional life, Christina finds joy in tackling DIY projects, cooking, and sharing adventures with family and friends. She delights in learning from people of diverse backgrounds, often welcoming them into her extended family.