Ways to Help

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Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the President/General Secretary of the National Council of

Churches, representing 37 denominations and 30 million people worldwide advocating for social

justice, peace and ecumenical unity. She is the first African American woman to serve in this

position, as well as, the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bishop McKenzie is an active leader in social justice, having served on the White House

Commission of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and named one of the 50 Most

Powerful Women Religious Leaders by the Huffington Post. She is also the founder of Selah,

The Leadership Encounter for Women, and the author of six books on leadership and personal

growth. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Howard University, and United Theological

Seminary, she is a passionate mentor and global educator who leads with unwavering faith,

wisdom, and dedication to service in everything she does.

Dr. Thema Bryant is a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister who is leading the way

in creating healthy relationships, healing traumas, and overcoming stress and oppression. Her life

changing books include Matters of the Heart, Homecoming, Reclaim Yourself: The Homecoming

Workbook, and The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset and Uproot Racism in

Your Life and Community and they empower readers to connect with themselves and to others,

exploring topics such as: control issues, emotional unavailability, practical activation activities, case

studies, and teaching how to shift mindset and patterns around mental health, relationships, and

liberation. Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her

post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she

became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and

prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual

orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and

Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory.

Dr. Thema is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health

ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. Most recently, she was the 2023 president of the

American Psychological Association (APA) and is the host of The Homecoming Podcast.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the phenomenal Grammy-nominated, Stellar Award-winning Gospel artist, Maurette Brown Clark, will be joining us as a special guest artist at the AMEWIM 12th Quadrennial Conference: Jarena Lee Legacy Awards Gala.

Known for her powerful voice and inspiring hits. Maurette Brown Clark embodies the spirit of faith and excellence we celebrate during the Gala. Prepare for an evening of unforgettable music and inspiration as we honor those who continue to blaze a trail for women in ministry and leadership!