Girl,
You are some kind of wonderful!
You are a strong oak of righteousness!! Your existence proves the mighty power of God!!!
love ya!
About Onleilove author of Esther’s Call!
“Maybe we (women) weren’t at the Last Supper, but we’re certainly going to be at the next one.” – Bella Abzug
Born and raised in Brooklyn, I recently received my M.Div/MSW from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University School of Social Work. After earning my B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in African-American Studies from Penn State University I completed a year of service with AmeriCorps Public Allies and worked in New York City’s non-profit sector. In the summer of 2008 I served as a Beatitudes Society Fellow at Sojourners in the Policy and Organizing Department. Currently I am the Faith Based Organizing Associate for a New York City non-profit and a Poverty Scholar with the Poverty Initiative.
A freelance writer on faith and politics I am contributing writer for Sojourners Magazine, Wrecked for the Ordinary, Conspire and The Black Commentator. With a group of fabulous Christ followers I co-founded The Special Communion Blogging Collective. A native of East New York, Brooklyn I will return to create a faith-based community organizing non-profit. With a passion for the inner-city I truly believe that the Gospel is “good news to the poor” and will humbly work to proclaim this message in my community.
On a lighter note I have four brothers and one sister who I love dearly. I live in a Christian intentional community in Harlem. Since 2001 I have been a member of Alpha Nu Omega, Inc. a Christian sorority in the Black Greek tradition. I enjoy purple the color and the book and the guilty pleasure of Reality T.V. As for music I enjoy: rap, R & B, neo-soul, gospel, contemporary christian, indie-rock, classical, and almost anything except punk or heavy metal. I LOVE reading especially: Erich Segal (R.I.P.), Zora, Blacker The Berry, The Chocolate War, A Separate Peace and other books to numerous to name. I am naturally curious and love to learn, meet new people and experience new things. I love decorating my space, visiting museums, eating out with friends and sunny days. Since September 29, 1996 by the grace of God I have been learning how to live in joy and freedom. I greatly admire those who triumphed over adverse circumstances to live a life of healing, love and laughter-that is a true miracle to me. My faith communities are Metro Hope and Park Avenue Christian Church.
LIFE IS FOR THE LIVING & LOVE IS A CHOICE!
<a href=”http://pinterest.com/lovewearsred/”><img src=”http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/follow-on-pinterest-button.png” width=”156″ height=”26″ alt=”Follow Me on Pinterest” /></a>
Responses -
By: sharaya on February 21, 2009
at 6:46 pm
Dear Onlielove,
Was not sure where to email you, so I thought I’d leave a note here to begin with. My name is Joanna Shenk and I live in Elkhart, IN. Over the past year I’ve been getting to know Chris Grove, who works with the Poverty Initiative, during this visits to Elkhart. Do you know him? He’s from northern Indiana and is working on a dissertation, among other things, that focuses on this area. Also, I am related, more or less, to Alicia Swords who teaches at Ithaca College and works with the poverty initiative.
All this to say, I was so glad to see your article in the New Monasticism zine Conspire. I am in relationship with these groups through my work with Mennonite Church USA.
If you are able, I’d love to converse with you about your work with the Poverty Initiative and your connection to New Monasticism. Feel free to email me at joannashenk@gmail.com
God bless and happy new year!
Joanna
By: Joanna Shenk on December 30, 2009
at 9:24 am
Onlielove,
I would like to tell you how much I look forward to your blogs @God’s Politics.
I was especially inspired by your Nehemiah “the Lord is my strength” blog.Keep up the work The Lord has called you to do.
By: Dennis Abney on January 10, 2010
at 8:05 am
Dear Sharaya, Joanna and Dennis:
Thank you all for the support and encouragement!
Sharaya I haven’t made any comments yet but I do read your blog.
Joanna I am eager to read your writing this week and plot together!
Dennis let me know if you blog and I will pass along some encouragement your way!
By: oalston on January 19, 2010
at 5:34 pm
Dear Onlielove,
I am not sure where to contact you, so I’ll try it here!
I’m writing to you from FOUR YEARS. GO. – an exciting new campaign to shift the trends of humanity so that by 2014 we will be headed on a path toward an environmentally sustainable, socially just, and spiritually fulfilling future presence on this planet.
Currently, there already exists a global movement comprised of thousands of organizations and businesses, and millions of individuals who realize that the current trends of humanity must be shifted. We’re here to name this movement and give it a timeline.
We partnered with Weiden+Kennedy to create the FOUR YEARS. GO. video (http://fouryearsgo.org) to inspire individuals and organizations to do their part. In only 5 months, over 850 organizations have become Allies, nearly 3,000 individuals have made their commitment, and thousands more have joined the conversation in our online communities. Now we’re knocking on your door!
We’re reaching out to you in hopes that you will join the conversation of FOUR YEARS. GO. and help us spread this important message by sharing the video and website with your community through your blog, Twitter, Facebook, email lists, or other avenues.
I encourage you to visit our website (http://fouryearsgo.org) to have the full FOUR YEARS. GO. experience and find elements for your post. Please let me know if you help us out so that we may recognize and acknowledge your support. Feel free to reach us at: outreach@fouryearsgo.org.
Thank you,
Liliana Matos
outreach@fouryearsgo.org | http://fouryearsgo.org
Volunteer for FOUR YEARS. GO.
By: Liliana Matos on August 26, 2010
at 1:54 pm
Onleilove,
My name is Kara Bender and I am a part of an intentional Christian Community in Chicago called Reba Place. Awhile back I listened to your Iconocast on the Jesus Radicals website and really appreciated your words. I would love to talk to you more about how a structural racism analysis fits into communities and ways to live that out.
I am coming to NYC for a bit in the next couple of weeks for a retreat, and thought I would see if you might be available to get coffee together on Wed. Oct. 19th sometime?
I am staying at the Radical Living Community that evening and hopefully doing dinner with them, but have some time between 2pm – 6pm that day. I might also have time on Thursday Oct. 20th in the morning to do breakfast from 8am – 9:30am before I head out of the city for my retreat.
Would any of those times work for you?
Thanks for your consideration!
Kara
By: Kara on October 10, 2011
at 7:39 pm
Hi Kara:
I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Maybe we can talk over email or the phone. Feel free to email me at lovedove88@gmail.com. Thank you for reaching out! Be Blessed and take care.
By: oalston on November 1, 2011
at 5:50 am