Living Into the Legacy: Imagine CCDA
The Perkins Center at SPU lives into an existing legacy to continue the forward work of reconciliation inspired out of Dr. John Perkins’ lived-out passion and ministry.
In 2021, the lecture series considered Women in Reconciliation. In 2022, we came together to “Imagine CCDA”, to learn and explore what practicing CCD principles within our organizations and communities can achieve. So, in partnership with the CCDA Pacific Northwest Regional Network, we hosted a single-day conference April 26, 2022, on SPU's campus.
The Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) is a national organization co-founded by Dr. John Perkins.
Along with key workshops during the afternoon, we heard from these regional leaders on Imagine CCDA: Filipina American scholar and practitioner Dr. Joyce del Rosario for our morning plenary; Oglala Lakota Lenore Three Stars for our evening plenary; and artist and entrepreneur, Michelle Lang-Raymond, for worship and as a part of our leadership panel with Perkins Foundation co-presidents Elizabeth Perkins and Priscilla Perkins, and facilitator Steve Bury from Urban Impact.
Recordings for our morning and evening plenary sessions can be found on the SPU John Perkins Center's YouTube Channel.
Morning plenary
“It’s Time to Tip”
Dr. Joyce del Rosario
11 a.m.
Upper Gwinn Commons
Dr. Joyce del Rosario is a Filipina American scholar and practitioner, assistant professor at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. During this morning’s plenary, she will reflect with forward-thinking about CCDA.
Evening plenary
“Sacred Space: An Indigenous Perspective on Relocation”
Lenore Three Stars
6:30 p.m.
Upper Gwinn Commons
Lenore Three Stars is Oglala Lakota and a retired Seattle civil rights leader who also worked nationally for many years, She will reflect on a theology of place from an indigenous worldview during the evening plenary.
Leadership Panel
6:30 p.m.
Artist and entrepreneur Michelle Lang-Raymond will facilitate this leadership panel with Perkins Foundation co-presidents Elizabeth Perkins and Priscilla Perkins.
Meet the speakers
Joyce del Rosario
After serving over 20 years in urban youth ministry, Joyce del Rosario is now an assistant professor at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Previously, she was the executive director of New Creation Home Ministries, a residential and outreach program for teen moms; and she was also an area director for Young Life, where she worked with low income and immigrant communities.
An active and outstanding preacher and speaker, she has also served as a national board member for CCDA. She holds her MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary and her PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary School of Intercultural Studies. Dr. del Rosario’s research interests include urban and multiethnic youth ministry, social justice and racial reconciliation, theological anthropology, marginalized women, and postcolonial Filipino-American theology. Her favorite activity is sharing delicious food with friends and family.
Lenore Three Stars
Lenore Three Stars was born on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where her father was born. Her mother is Minnecoujou Lakota from the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota. She earned her BA from Fort Lewis College in Colorado, then completed a civil rights career in Seattle, Washington. She retired and moved to Spokane to be an active unci (grandmother) to her two takojas (grandchildren), and began her graduate studies. Lenore earned an MA through the North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies at Portland Seminary/George Fox University in Oregon.
She service as a facilitator for the annual Journey to Mosaic, a faith-based racial reconciliation experience in the Pacific Northwest. She speaks and writes from a Native perspective on decolonizing theology and racial reconciliation, and serves on boards related to her interests in justice, the local community, Indigenous issues, and a discipleship of creation care.
Michelle Lang-Raymond
Michelle Lang-Raymond is the founder and executive director of Acts On Stage — a new community theater focused on centering the voices, talents, and initiatives of People of Color and creatives of faith.
To her current work, Michelle brings years of experience in community development and pastoral ministry — most recently serving as campus pastor at Warner Pacific University. Michelle is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader, as well as front person for her own gospel band Michelle Lang & Still Water.
She blended her passions as a producer, playwright, and activist to create the interactive workshop experience called “The Art of Tough Talks.” She has a BA in organizational psychology and a master’s degree In religion. Michelle is a native of Mississippi and considers herself a Southern girl who relocated to the Kingdom where she enjoys life on purpose with her husband, Jay.
Elizabeth Perkins
Elizabeth is co-president of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and program and mission director, where she coordinates efforts for the foundation on mission teams, internship opportunities, children/adult programs, summer arts camp, and Perkins Justice Pilgrimages. She has spent time in Africa ministering and serving with the Navigators. Her goal is simple yet profound: Helping next generations encounter and follow Jesus to bless a broken world.
Elizabeth brings passion and purpose, whether she is guiding you through the intricacies of establishing and managing your foundation or helping you establish a youth ministry or mentoring program. When she shares her excitement for God’s call on her life, she says, “Looking back over my life, I see how God’s hand has brought me to this time and place. This represents not only where we are in our own lives, but where we want to take others as well.”
Priscilla Perkins
Priscilla is co-president of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and development director, where she coordinates the president’s speaking and Dr. John M. Perkins’ schedule, intellectual property, sponsorship, and the Perkins Institutes.
Priscilla specializes in the social foundations of education and cognitive development of children. She has experience in family law and legal research. She has traveled and researched private school models around the country and developed an inner-city Christian school that has become a model itself, founded Harambee Preparatory School and served as its first headmaster. Spending her life in ministry as a preacher’s kid (i.e., she is the seventh child of Dr. John and Vera Mae Perkins), Priscilla has important stories to tell.
Posted: Wednesday, February 2, 2022