Let's Talk: Faith & Justice

Join in on this conversation with Rev. Bonnie J. Gatchell of Route One Ministry, an organization that serves sexually exploited and trafficked women by entering strip clubs and building relationships. Also striving to equip the local church, and community leaders with the tools they need to understand trafficking, identify vulnerable people, and respond in the most healthy ways to those who have experienced sexual abuse.

Welcome to the Let's Talk: Faith and Justice Podcast! We are so excited to be launching this new initiative and welcome you to tune in as we share about the history of BFJN, how we got to where we are today and our vision for the future. 

Join us in a discussion about lent as Elizabeth and Ivy share their personal experiences and how it has shaped them in their walk with God. 

An introductory conversation between Elizabeth, Ivy and BFJN's fabulous intern, Maeve on housing justice. Sharing how we've became aware of/interested in the issue, important things we have learned and seek to understand and resources we have benefitted from and recommend for others!

In this episode we have the fortunate opportunity to lift up the voices and mission of our network partners at CRECHE (the Charles River Episcopal Co-Housing Endeavor). An organization that creates and supports a network of mixed-income, inter-generational co-housing communities in partnership with The Episcopal Church. Tune in to hear more from Isaac and Sabrina on the how, the why, and the ways in which we can engage.

Aliana Pineiro, Impact Director of the Boston Impact Initiative (BII) shares with us how their nonprofit impact fund invests in entrepreneurs of color to help close the racial wealth divide. To emphasize the importance of their social justice mission, BII recently launched Fund II, a $20 million integrated capital fund with a focus on equity capital for entrepreneurs of color and community-owned or controlled real estate in Massachusetts and the Northeast. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Aliana, her values, and calling to this field!

As KPMG’s ESG Audit Leader, a mom of two, and an active member in many local communities, Maura Hodge is fortunate to live out her values daily throughout her professional and personal life. She is passionate about protecting the capital markets, particularly in providing reliable and timely information on companies’ sustainability and social initiatives. Tune into this episode to hear more about Maura's journey and how her faith informs the work she does.

In this episode we have the priviledge to hear from one of BFJN's committed board members, Dira, and her housemate, Saranya. The two of them share authentic truths and wisdom as it pertains to the homebuying process for women of color in the Boston area. Both Dira and Saranya not only wanted to purchase a home, but believed strongly in being able intentional to provide quality and affordable housing and hospitality to others. Having a community, they share, is a primary resource and Peaceful Dwellings is how they carry forth their vision of peace and purpose.

As the Director of Religious & Spiritual Life, Denicia Ratley supports various faith communities on campus, oversees a team of Chaplains and the daily operations of the Glavin Family Chapel. With a pastoral heart and passion for justice, she is intentional about creating spaces for religious diversity and tolerance. In her spare time, Denicia enjoys reading historical and current research around mass incarceration and racial disparities within the Black community as well as helping women find confidence in themselves by deconstructing beauty standards and apprehensions around makeup and natural hair. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Denicia’s personal, professional and spiritual journey that got her to where she is today, and how her heart has been postured to serve God. 

Tune in to this special interview and conversation with Amanda Grant-Rose, the Executive Director of Common Cathedral, a faith-based organization and outdoor church with programs and care for people experiencing homelessness as well as meaningful opportunities for housed and unhoused individuals to come together. Amanda is also a board member for the Winter Walk, and helps rally communities far and wide to walk together, in which BFJN has been so grateful to participate in over the years.

Tune in to this episode with special guest Angelica Fontes of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. A second-generation Cape Verdean American who grew up in Brockton, Angelica serves as a Community Organizer. She developed an interest in civic engagement during early adolescense, and has been driven by the pursuit of social justice and equity for BIPOC communities. Her work focuses on centering, supporting, and empowering community voices that have been doing the work and living in the realities for decades. Angelica states "trauma doesn't stop where the bullet hits", we need to build a village and operate in unity.

Tune in to this conversation with Jasmine and Anita of Jasmine Grace Outreach (JGO) beloved partners of BFJN's Micah 6:8 Service-Learning Program. An organization that helps individuals break free from drug addiction, sexual exploitation, and a hopeless way of life. A dedicated team of survivors and those in recovery who are available to help guide those who are ready and need help. JGO offers addiction support and exit strategies, recovery groups, mentoring and coaching, and many paths to help bring awareness to all. Bags Of Hope was founded by JGO as a way to reach out to vulnerable women in a practical way. Women who are living on the streets or in programs throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire are given Bags filled with basic items that we take for granted everyday. In collaboration with programs serving women affected by trafficking, prostitution, addiction and homelessness, Bags of Hope is driven by the community. By doing this they let the women know there is a better way, they are treasured, loved by Jesus, and that Jasmine Grace is here to help.

In this episode, we had the opportunity to listen and learn from Dr. Dorothy Boorse about the issue of climate change. Dr. Boorse is a professor of biology at Gordon College and is the lead author of “Loving the Least of These: Addressing a Changing Environment” among numerous other publications. Through an understanding of the environmental issues at hand and the obligations of Christians in response, Dr. Boorse encourages us to pursue stewardship and reconciliation in our collective action of caring for the earth.

Tune into this episode as we discuss all things climate change with Reverend Vernon K. Walker, Program Director of CREW – Communities Responding to Extreme Weather. As an organization CREW equips community-based teams of volunteer leaders with the training, local and regional organizational structures, and technological support needed to build climate resilience. CREW teams engage in education, service, and planning to advance actionable, collaborative, and equitable solutions at the individual, community, and state levels. What an honor and privilege it was to collaborate with Vernon uplifting the importance of environmental justice and stewardship.

In this episode, Maeve interviewed Sabrina Auclair, the owner of Unpacked Living located in Danvers and Beverly, MA. They discussed the problem with plastic, the zero waste movement, and how to live more sustainably in everyday life. To learn more about living without waste and to check out zero waste products, visit Sabrina's store either online at https://www.unpackedliving.com/ or in person at either of her locations. We hope that this episode will convict and encourage everyone to be conscious consumers and to work towards a life without waste. 

As the summer nears an end and children around the world return to the classroom, what better time than to talk about education! Tune into this episode as our co-host Ivy has the opportunity to interview her husband Jonathan Long. Jonathan talks about his journey in the field of education, his passion, and how his faith informs the work that he does. In this episode we also touch upon the “school-to-prison pipeline”, culturally responsive practices and the importance of social emotional learning. 

Tune into this episode featuring Kelly Fassett, Executive Director for UniteBoston since 2012. Kelly has been the catalyst for UniteBoston’s bridge-building work throughout Christians in the region. Kelly considers it a joy to understand how God is working corporately throughout the city, to see the function and purpose of each part of the body of Christ coming together as one. She has a certificate in Christian Foundations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She also graduated with her Masters of Divinity in Global and Community Engagement at Boston University in 2019, with certificates in Religion and Conflict Transformation as well as International Mission and Ecumenism. In this episode, Kelly talks about the origins of UniteBoston, how it has grown and changed over the last 12 years and her vision for the future. 

Tune in to this special episode as Elizabeth has the fortunate opportunity to fellowship with Gary VanderPol, a longtime friend and supporter of BFJN. Having been a former board chair of BFJN many years ago, Gary was very thankful to be able to join BFJN's Fall 2023 Book Club which just wrapped up last week. Gary will share in this episode about his servant leadership as senior pastor of Church without Walls in Berkeley, California, experience in ministry, and passion to responding to God's call of justice - especially as it pertains to global warming and climate action.

Tune in to this episode featuring Peter Gyves, a Jesuit priest, founder and director of A Faith That Does Justice, Inc. Peter shares about his journey serving in El Salvador as a pediatrician, and how seeing their suffering drove him to faith. Also in this episode, Peter shares about his passion for Boston, understanding the needs of Spanish-speaking communities, helping to create mobility and opportunity. Tune in today and learn some practical ways that you can engage with A Faith That Does Justice!

Join us for this very special podcast episode featuring Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, author of "Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action" which BFJN read in community during the month of October.  As Kyle states plainly, climate change is real, it's us, it's bad, experts agree, however there is hope! Tune in to hear about Kyle's journey, his passion, expertise and what he is up to currently.  “This is a long road. This is hard work… but one of the gifts of doing this work in the church and in community is that when I can’t hold hope, you can hold it for me; and when you can’t hold hope, I can hold it for you…hope is communal.” This is an episode you do not want to miss!