Please enjoy a replay of the 2021 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award celebration.

Listening to these awardees literally brought tears to my eyes. God’s love is shown through their ministries.

John M. EsquivelLay Leader

How will I ever go to sleep with all of the inspiration you have all given us tonight. God Bless you!!!

Angie KiddExecutive Director, Common Grace Ministries

I am inspired and grateful for the work, vision, mission of Wesleyan Investive, and the inspired and inspiring ministry of all those honored tonight. Thank you!

Dan Wilson-FeyTreasurer, Oregon-Idaho Conference

Thank you to everyone who left such moving comments during the live event! You helped make the night special for our recipients and for us. 

Meet the 2021 recipients

EMMANUEL ANDRE

Attorney, Mentor, Restorative Justice Practitioner – Chicago, IL

Founder of Northside Transformative Law Center, a space where community members, families, and professionals come together to advocate for and accompany individuals who are navigating the criminal justice system; Founder of Circles and Ciphers, a hip-hop infused restorative justice organization for young people impacted by violence; Connected to United Church of Rogers Park, a United Methodist congregation.

JENNIFER BAILEY

Pastor, Public Theologian, National Leader in the Multi-Faith Movement for Justice – Nashville, TN

Founder and Executive Director of Faith Matters Network, whose mission is to catalyze personal and social change by equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment. Co-Founder of People’s Supper, which has gathered more than 10,000 people around tables since 2016 for bridging and healing conversations. Named one of 15 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress and Associate Minister, Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

LEROY BARBER

Pastor, Entrepreneur, Professor, Author – Portland, OR

Co-Founder of The Voices Project, which gathers leaders of color across fields, who pursue and work for change, for important conversations about the current challenges and triumphs within communities of color and their role as cultural influencers. Author of Embrace: God’s Radical Shalom for a Divided World, 2016. Director of Innovation for an Engaged Church in the Greater Northwest Area of the UMC.

DEAMON HARGES

The Original “Roving Listener”, Artist, Neighborhood Organizer –Indianapolis, IN

Founder of The Learning Tree, a non-profit that uses the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach with city governments and organizations to improve the quality of lives of people, communities, schools and businesses. Named one of the eight most influential neighborhood organizers on the ground by the Kettering Foundation. Connected to Broadway United Methodist Church.

MATT RUSSELL

Pastor, Entrepreneur, Theologian, Professor, Connector – Houston, TX

Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director of Project Curate, a non-profit educational and social enterprise incubator that seeks to build bridges across cultural, economic, religious, and racial divides. Co-Founder and Executive Director of Iconoclast Artists, a creative writing and arts program that gives young creative minds a chance to speak through written, visual, and performance art. Executive Pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist Church.

Special Performance by Iconoclast Artist Xach Blunt

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