Social Justice Ministry

OUR MISSION

The Social Justice Ministry of Alfred Street Baptist Church works to address the root cause of modern-day injustices. The ministry looks to serve as a communal awareness clearinghouse by sharing information, convening social justice events, and facilitating calls to action. Our desire is to be a catalyst for justice within Alfred Street Baptist Church, the Washington Metropolitan area, our nation, and the world. The ministry’s work is built on six pillars structured on biblical foundational principles. The six pillars each have a dedicated subcommittee that works to bring these spiritual principles into concrete manifestation.

CHECK OUT OUR 2024 VOTER’S RESOURCE GUIDE

THE SIX PILLARS

VOTER EDUCATION & EMPOWERMENT

Deuteronomy 1:13; “Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.”
The Voter Education and Empowerment Subcommittee identifies voter resources and provides educational opportunities to all citizens. We seek to educate everyone on their voting rights, empowering them to exercise these rights at every level of government; municipalities, jurisdictions, regional, local, and national/ electoral and voting/election cycles. We do this through voter registration drives and holding issues forums while simultaneously stressing the importance of taking part in the Census. Additionally, we educate prospective voters and citizens on voter suppression, gerrymandering, and restoration of rights initiatives.

EDUCATION REFORM

Proverbs 1:5; “A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel.”
Proverbs 3:14; “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.”
The Education Reform Subcommittee increases awareness about the factors affecting our educational system, focusing on the unfair treatment of people of color within the education system. We address the long-standing issues of discriminatory distribution of resources and funding, unjust local/federal educational legislation, the ever-growing achievement gap, and the school-to-prison pipeline. We combat racial inequities by collaborating with ASBC’s ministries, external community partners and with city leadership regarding legislative changes within the DMV. The Social Justice ministry also identifies educational opportunities and resources.

RACIAL HEALING & RECONCILIATION

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The Racial Healing and Reconciliation Subcommittee promotes justice and equality through strategic community partnerships and alliances with other ministries of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. We provide the church, our community, and all stakeholders with opportunities to expand our understanding of racism as a central root cause of systemic inequality and oppression. Additionally, we foster courageous conversations and practices to facilitate healing and reconciliation, with reparations as a critical part of these conversations.

To leave a comment or question for the Social Justice Minstry leadership

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
The Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee creates opportunities to educate the church and local community on the domino effect of oppressive sentencing guidelines/policies and the continuing impact that mass incarceration has on black and brown people. We perform this work while simultaneously highlighting and addressing the plethora of issues surrounding the needs of Returning Citizens’ and their ability to successfully transition back into society.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Proverbs 14:31, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Psalm 82: 3-4, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked”

The Economic Justice Subcommittee addresses the root causes of economic inequality in our communities by developing awareness and social consciousness of the historical context of economic inequality while identifying and reviewing official policies to ensure a more equitable distribution of funding and resources. Additionally, we create educational opportunities to enhance understanding of economic justice to aid in dismantling a system that fosters conditions of job insecurity, homelessness, and hunger in our society. The subcommittee strives to deepen understanding of economic justice and deconstruct manmade systems not aligned with God’s overarching sovereignty and the inherent dignity that all mankind is made in the image of God

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Genesis 1:27-30, 27: So God did just that. He created humanity in His image, created them male and female. 28 Then God blessed them and gave them this directive: “Be fruitful and multiply. Populate the earth. I make you trustees of My estate, so care for My creation and rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that roams across the earth. 29 Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant that grows on the earth and every fruit-bearing tree. They will be your food and nourishment.

Psalm 82:3: “Stand up for the poor and the orphan; advocate for the rights of the afflicted and those in need. 4 Deliver the poor and the needy; rescue them from their evil oppressors

The Environmental Justice subcommittee increases the awareness of the negative generational impacts of environmental racism on Black and brown communities. The subcommittee illuminates the disproportionate division of the burdens of human use and/or misuse of the planet as well as the inequitable access to the benefits of its bounty. We work with other subcommittees and church ministries to provide environmental education opportunities; convene community engagement and empowerment events; facilitate local and federal governmental calls to action; and stockpile church and community arsenals with knowledge, tools, and actionable legislative policies to correct and/or mitigate environmental inequities and dismantle the systems that create them.

2024 Social Justice Leadership Team

Deacon: William Orr Economic Justice Co-Lead:  Sharon Simpson
President: Dr. Angie Flournoy Education Justice Lead: Manie Bellot
Vice President: Kenya Ramey Education Justice Lead: Dr. Shannon Waite
Secretary: Satina Isaac Environmental Justice Co-Lead: Min. Joyce Woodson
Treasurer: Jhonice Lewis Environmental Justice Co-Lead: DeShawn L. Blanding
Deputy Communications Director: Tyquila Atuyotan Racial Healing and Reconciliation Co-Lead: Xavier Vaughn
Chaplain: ArDonna Hamilton Racial Healing and Reconciliation Co-Lead: Kelli Gibson
Criminal Justice Reform Co-Lead: Darrlyn Franklin Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Stacey Brayboy
Criminal Justice Reform Co-Lead: Pascale Pierre Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Malik Walker
Economic Justice Co-Lead: Yvette Byrd Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Danette Slater

2024 Social Justice Leadership Team

Deacon: William Orr
President: Dr. Angie Flournoy
Vice President: Kenya Ramey
Economic Justice Co-Lead:  Sharon Simpson
Secretary: Satina Isaac
Treasurer: Jhonice Lewis
Chaplain: ArDonna Hamilton
Deputy Communications Director: Tyquila Atuyotan
Criminal Justice Reform Co-Lead: Darrlyn Franklin
Criminal Justice Reform Co-Lead: Pascale Pierre
Economic Justice Co-Lead: Yvette Byrd
Education Justice Lead: Manie Bellot
Education Justice Lead: Dr. Shannon Waite
Environmental Justice Co-Lead: Min. Joyce Woodson
Environmental Justice Co-Lead: DeShawn L. Blanding
Racial Healing and Reconciliation Co-Lead: Xavier Vaughn
Racial Healing and Reconciliation Co-Lead: Kelli Gibson
Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Stacey Brayboy
Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Malik Walker
Voting Education and Empowerment Co-Lead: Danette Slater

Recurring Meetings Meeting – Dates and Times
General Body Meeting 1st Saturday of the month from 1pm – 2pm
(Access the meeting HERE)
Leadership Meeting every 3rd Monday of the month from 6pm – 7pm

All subcommittees will meet in breakout rooms occasionally following the general body session.

Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee
Education Reform Subcommittee
Voter Education and Empowerment Subcommittee
Economic Justice Subcommittee
Racial Healing and Reconciliation Subcommittee
Environmental Justice Subcommittee