Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell
Founder & President
Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell is Founder and President of Grace and Race Ministries, Inc., a ministry dedicated to developing leadership skills to dismantle racism and advance racial reconciliation.
Her professional life includes working as an elementary school teacher and serving as the President of the Indianapolis Education Association in her hometown, Indianapolis, Indiana; legislative assistant in the United States Senate, legislative counsel for Sears, assistant executive director for Dr. Dorothy Height at the National Council of Negro Women, director of diversity for Mitsubishi Motors of America, and Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy for the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
Reverend Girton-Mitchell was appointed by President Obama as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education. She was honored to serve there from December 2010 – January 2017.
Reverend Girton-Mitchell is an advocate of lifelong learning. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University, a Master of Science from Indiana/Purdue University in Indianapolis, a law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law and a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker
Chaplain
Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, singer, coach, and consultant who has a passion for wholeness and creative abundance. As founder and principal of Word&WisdomTM, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change in the world. She serves as Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University in St. Davids, PA, and teaches in the University’s Marriage and Family Therapy program.
Formerly the Director of Programs for New Baptist Covenant, an organization that brings diverse groups and congregations together to work toward racial reconciliation and social justice, Dr. Blocker’s ministry and professional experience includes oversight of discipleship and pastoral care ministries, counseling and spiritual direction, leadership development and training, serving as an associate pastor for a congregation of 10,000-plus members, and as assistant pastor for a small Liberian congregation. She also has over 30 years of experience in management, community relations, communications, and program and organizational development/consulting.
Dr. Blocker earned Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, a Master of Divinity degree from the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary), and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Transformation from Northern Theological Seminary.
Teya Green
Secretary/Treasurer
Teya Green is a native of Washington, DC. She is devoted to the empowerment and upliftment of all black people across God’s world. She is a womanist, and advocate of justice and lover of all things hip hop. Inquisitive by nature, Teya urges others to question all systems of power and challenge the status quo.
As a middle school social studies teacher at Washington DC’s only all girls public school, Excel Academy, she is responsible for the creative facilitation of both the learning and unlearning of U.S and world history and culture.
Teya Green is a proud graduate of The Piney Woods School. She holds a bachelors degree in history from Ball State University and a Masters of Art in Teaching (secondary education) from Mercy College.
Teya is a gifted writer and gifted spoken word artist. She is the director of the Fine Arts Ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, MD.
Anna Hartge
Anna Hartge has lived in Washington, DC since 2012, a fact that often surprises her! Like many DC residents, Anna moved to the area thinking she would only spend a year or two here. Anna began her career as a political appointee in President Obama’s administration, serving in the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the U.S. Department of Education.After graduating with her Master’s in Higher Education Student Affairs, she made the change to higher education and currently works at The George Washington University as the Industry Coach for Public Service in the Center for Career Services. Anna is a proud alumni of Hope College and enjoys giving back to the institution by serving on the Board of Alumni.
A native of Ohio, Anna enjoys traveling, time with family and friends, singing in the church choir, re-watching Parks and Recreation, and working her way through her never-ending “to-read” pile of books.
Donna Claycomb Sokol
Donna Claycomb Sokol is the pastor of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church in downtown Washington, DC. Since Donna’s appointment to the congregation in July of 2005, the congregation has transitioned from an elderly congregation in decline to a growing congregation composed of many young adults who are making a vital difference in the heart of the nation’s capital. Donna earned her undergraduate degree in economics from William Woods University, her Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, and her Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary.
Prior to responding to her call to ministry, Donna served as a White House intern and then spent three years on Capitol Hill, serving on the staffs of a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator. Her other church appointments include Minister of Congregational Care at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, NC and as the Director of Admissions at Duke Divinity School.
Donna is the co-author of A New Day in the City (Abingdon, 2017). She serves as a member of the Duke Divinity School Board of Visitors and regularly speaks about leading change and congregational renewal.
Jordan Tune
Jordan Tune is a social activist, student, and leader. He is a Junior, Political Science major attending Morehouse College from Silver Spring, Maryland. At Morehouse he is a part of the NAACP, SGA class council and Morehouse Debate team. He currently is interning with the New York State office of the Attorney General. Born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland Jordan is hoping to graduate from Morehouse and go to law school to pursue his dream of become a lawyer and Attorney General.