Minister Sheena D. Rolle, M.Div.

STRATEGIES FOR FAITH

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11: 1

What do you hope for?

As a licensed Baptist minister, one of Sheena’ s great joys is being able to share the good news with the world. Strategically, she uses biblical teachings and sermons to connect her faith traditions to the social justice issues facing us today. From workshops to bible studies and preaching to communications and curriculum design, Minister Rolle is dedicated to using her skills to help your church or organization consider and take faithful action.

Whether you are a faith based or secular institution, we can use your core values as a strategic compass to align with the future that you hope for.

STRATEGIES FOR HEALING

We do better when we take the time to heal together.

Justice is hard work. While we sometimes see glimmers of hope in the policy and legal wins from our campaigns, these efforts are frequently lacking the necessary spiritual and personal components of social change. The disconnect between the urgency for change and the love, affirmation and wellness needed to reach, mobilize and transform aggrieved communities and individuals is great. In essence, we are sending wounded soldiers back into battle with no care or restoration. Our healing work brings us together to practice bold, faith rooted, communal life. We hold space for each other. We engage our minds, hearts, spirits and bodies in the process of honoring the pain we have experienced so that we can help each other heal from the pain associated with living under unjust systems.

STRATEGIES FOR JUSTICE

We have a better society when more people can take part in crafting it.

Leadership development and movement building sit at the heart of our ability to create a more just world.

Do you need help crafting growth and learning opportunities for staff, supporters or colleagues? Sheena is great at designing and utilizing systems to increase capacity and impact. She combines her public relations and communications skills within organizational partnerships to convey opportunity and urgency and to provoke action and collaboration. If you could use some support in meeting and exceeding your organizational goals or strengthening your team, we can help. Let’s work together to build the tools and strategies you need to create change in your world.

Mariana Thomas

Mariana Thomas was born and raised in Chicago. In 2016, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Cross-Cultural Communication with a minor in History at Hope College.

While at Hope, she advocated for a more substantive racial harassment policy in order to shift the campus’ culture to a more inclusive environment for students of color.

Mariana continued her advocacy work for students of color while pursuing her Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. At Princeton, she became the 2017-2018 Moderator of the Association of Black Seminarians, a role in which she advised administrators on ways to

support students of African descent while also intentionally cultivating a deeper sense of community among her Black peers. As a result of her year as Moderator she was invited to join Princeton’s Historical Audit on Slavery Response Taskforce that engaged the Seminary’s community on ways the institution should respond to its historic relationship with slavery. She maintained this role until her graduation in May 2019.

Mariana is also an avid traveler, having gone to countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana, and India. In her travels she has enjoyed engaging with various local spiritual communities that have helped to broaden her understanding of God, self, and others. Mariana has recently returned to the USA after completing her travels to South Africa and Brazil as the 2019-2020 recipient of Princeton Seminary’s Graduate Fellowship for Parish Pulpit Ministry.

She is an international scholar and theologian, having been published in English and Portuguese and teaching across the globe.

Ana Maria De La Rosa

She has dedicated her life and work to supporting historically oppressed communities like the ones she is from. In order to create narrative change, she has lead internal and external power building initiatives with a range of organizations- this has called her to show up for the hard conversations and work with confidence and conviction.

A Racial Justice Framework

Ana Maria’s previous work as a community organizer and health policy advocate allows her to understand the nuances of prioritizing how an organization engages and centers the needs of community. She successfully developed and implemented a trauma informed program for women in a prison reentry program in Yonkers, NY- rooted in healing and transforming the effects of the criminal justice system in communities of color.

Her most recent work experience allowed her to support community partners throughout the country to co-create holistic approaches for ending mass-incarceration. Through her hands on approach she focuses on building intentional community-led, anti-racist curriculum and models.

An Experienced Manager and Trainer

Ana Maria has experience providing technical assistance and supporting diverse programs throughout the country. She has organizational management as well as project management experience with long term projects as well as fast moving campaigns. She has experience facilitating hands on workshops and trainings for diverse audiences. Additionally, she has managed staff and volunteers and understands the balance required for maintaining a thriving workplace.

Her leadership experience allows her to manage power dynamics, ranging from being able to build one on one's with key partners to managing grant relationships with funders and investors.