Adventist Peace Radio, Episode 7: Adventists for Social Justice

in ,

Welcome to Adventist Peace Radio, the podcast of the Adventist Peace Fellowship. You can subscribe to the podcast at iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode Jeff Boyd interviews three leaders of Adventists for Social Justice. First he speaks with Tiffany Llewellyn, the co-founder of Adventists for Social Justice. This interview took place on Sabbath morning at the ASJ Conference in Washington DC. Next Jeff talks with Claudia Allen, the coordinator of the conference. The final interview with Anita Fernander took place over the phone after participants had returned home.

Tiffany Llewellyn introduces ASJ Area Representatives, including Anita Fernander, interviewed here.

Tiffany Llewellyn introduces ASJ Area Representatives, including Anita Fernander, interviewed here.

Tiffany Llewellyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works as an Intensive In home Clinician at Yale University with children and adolescents diagnosed with severe psychiatric disorders.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Medgar Evers College and later earned her Master’s Of Social Work at the Silberman School of Social Work, specializing in work with Children, Youth and Families.

She has marked experience in the social service field, working with at-risk youth in community and schools.

In addition to counseling, Tiffany loves youth ministry, and is currently serving as Assistant Executive Youth Coordinator and Young Adult Coordinator for the Northeastern Conference. She also serves as the Young Adult Member on the Atlantic Union Executive Committee. Tiffany has also served as the Chaplain for the Brooklyn South Staten Island Youth Federation, and participates regularly in speaking engagements around the Northeastern conference.

Tiffany is the CEO and Founder of a non profit organization, Adventists for Social Justice, a young adult led movement focused on activating Adventism for Activism in our marginalized communities. ASJ recently hosted their 1st social justice conference in Washington, D.C., with over 200 attendees.

Tiffany considers herself a change agent, working with urban youth and populations considered “irredeemable” to fulfill their purpose, navigate obstacles, and access resources that directly impact quality of life through cementing structures that will provide opportunities for empowerment and growth. Her favorite quote is “Helping Hands are Holier than Praying Lips.”

In the second interview, Jeff speaks with Claudia Allen, who is the National Conference Coordinator for Adventists for Social Justice.

Claudia M. Allen is a second-year PhD student in the Department of English at the University of Maryland, specializing in 19th and 20th century African American Literature. Earning her MA in English from Georgetown University and her BA in English with a minor in Leadership from Andrews University, Claudia is passionate about Race, Theology, Social engagement and how these ideologies and philosophies intersect. Claudia is also on the leadership team at Miracle City Church, Baltimore, MD.

In the final interview, Jeff speaks with Dr. Anita Fernander, who is the Kentucky state representative for ASJ.

Anita Fernander, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and serves as the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. She completed her undergraduate degrees at Oakwood College (now University) and her graduate work at the University of Miami, after which she completed an internship and a fellowship at the Salt Lake City VA Hospital, and Mayo Clinic, respectively. Dr. Fernander’s area of teaching, research and service is health disparities among racial/ethnic populations. She examines psychosocial constructs such as racism and coping on health outcomes. She enjoys mentoring students and promoting activities that encourage equity and inclusivity.

 

Related Links

Conclusion

I want to thank Charity Garcia, PhD, for reading the introductions for this episode. Charity, I’m sorry your schedule didn’t allow you to attend the ASJ conference this year, so hopefully you’ll be able to make it next year.

And thanks to all of you who joined us for this episode.

DONATIONS: If you appreciate these conversations, we hope you’ll share the podcast with others. And we welcome your donations to support future episodes of Adventist Peace Radio. You can donate online at adventistpeace.org/donate. We plan to produce more episodes per month in 2017, and this means an increase in some of our expenses. Your support for this series means a lot. You make it possible to share these stories so widely.

MUSIC: Our theme music is “Green Fields” by Scott Holmes, via Free Music Archive.

DISCLAIMER: Adventist Peace Fellowship is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports work for peacemaking and social justice building upon the values of the Seventh-day Adventist tradition. We are not part of, affiliated with, or supported by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists or any affiliates known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Any content, opinions, statements, products or services offered by Adventist Peace Fellowship, are solely those of our organization, and not those of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.