Pray With our Feet

In this special episode of Pray with our Feet podcast, Mom and I chat with Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, Michele Evans and Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas, about the latest issue of Spoken Black Girl Magazine (which focuses on the Black motherhood experience) while also uplifting Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) founded by Black Mamas Matter Alliance.

We dive into the urgent need for community care, creating safe spaces for Black mothers and their children, resisting the suffocation of our wombs by oppressive systems, and the vital need for rest, mindfulness and radical self care in the tradition of Audre Lorde and June Jordan; each of these practices is a sacred form of resistance, sustaining us in the ongoing work of collective liberation. We call our joy back to us, and remain rooted in our faith, despite the challenges.

Purchase your copy of Spoken Black Girl (Motherhood issue), where you can read "Swan Song," by Michele Evans, "Our Wombs Cannot Breathe: Wellness Power for Facing the Harsh Reality of Black Maternal-Child Health Disparities in the United States, by Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas PhD & Dr. Kyrah K. Brown PhD, "Mothering at the Intersection of Blackness and Neurodiversity" by Emelda De Coteau alongside an array of talented writers and artists.

Stay Connected with the Writers:

Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, founder of Spoken Black Girl and author of Departure Story

Michele Evans, author of Purl (a collection of poetry)

Dr. Shameka Poetry Thomas, author of the forthcoming book entitled THE UGLY CRY: Essays and Meditations on Honesty, Anger, Grief, and Freedom. To be released Summer 2025.

>>> Head over to our webiste to see full show notes (includes the authors bios & additonal links to their work)

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

In this moment when all of our rights are under attack within the U.S., we are all fighting multiple battles simultaneously. But there is one area which unites us - health care; each of us needs it, and far too many people do not have access. I caught up with Kelly, an organizer with the Non-Violent Medicaid Army (NVMA) which is "a growing, politically independent force of the poor and dispossessed, united across identities, regions, races and issues, modeled after MLK's 'nonviolent army of the poor' from the first Poor People's Campaign of 1968." NVMA "is not a coalition or a campaign but a network of organizations and committees that understand healthcare to be a strategic front of struggle to unite the working class," and there are chapters across the country within Wyoming, Wisconsin, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland and Vermont.

Throughout our time together, Kelly and I discuss her personal journey, and how liberation theology informs her activism, healthcare as a human right, the inequities within our healthcare system, and the need for collective action to address injustices while advocating for change.We also delved into the importance of community engagement and storytelling in pushing for healthcare rights, particularly through the NVMA; through #MedicaidMondays where they spotlight folks personal stories across their social media platforms (share your story by applying here), the impact of NVMA's National Call-In Days speaking up for Medicaid, along with the lessons they took away from last year's National Week of Action (September 21-28, 2024).

Ultimately, Kelly and all the NVMA organizers remind us, through their daily work, that we belong to each other; and our voices are needed in the ongoing work of collective liberation.

Monthly Saturday schools educate the community about Medicaid and healthcare rights. Sign up to attend Saturday, April 5, 1pm EST and watch the March 2025 session.

Stay connected with NVMA on social media: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

> Head to show notes for key episode takeaways, additional resources, and learn more about Kelly Smith who is on the national organizing team of the Nonviolent Medicaid Army and is co-coordinator of the New York Nonviolent Medicaid Army. She previously served as Tri-chair of the NYS Poor People's Campaign (NYSPPC), a role she held for several years. She is still involved with the Poor People's Campaign, mentoring leaders, working with the New York City Regional Committee and serving on the NYSPPC Coordinating Committee.

An artisanal miner carrries a sack of ore at Shabara artisnal mine near Kolwezi, DRC, on October 2022. Junior Kannah/ AFP via Getty Images

The pain of our Congolese siblings powers our cell phones and electronic devices. "Approximately six million people have been killed since 1996, and more than six million people remain internally displaced in eastern DRC, " journalist Shola Lawal, writes in A Guide to the Decades Long Conflict in the DRC. Mom and I caught up with Maurice Carney, co-founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Congo (FOTC), a non-profit based in the Washington D.C., and founded in 2004; FOTC supports Congelese-led organizations working on the ground to end this genocide, and bring healing to the country.

We discuss the impact of European and U.S. colonization and imperialism on the Congolese people, and the many forces preventing the country from thriving today (for example, multinational corporations, the World Bank, Western governments, local elites, etc.). Maurice also uplifts the mission of Friends of the Congo, multiple ways to take action, resources (films, books, etc. to educate yourself), and focuses on some of the biggest ways we can all help — using our platforms to raise awareness, encouraging people in our communities to speak up, and shifting our purchasing habits towards sustaining the greater good.

For over twenty five years, Maurice Carney has advocated for the dignity and inclusion of Congolese civil society in all efforts towards peace, democracy, food sovereignty, and climate justice. Maurice provides consultation to political leaders in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Africa, the UN, as well as to international NGOs and funders.

Resources & Ways to Take Action:

Visit Friends of the Congo wesbite

Take Action with FOTC

Donate & Support FOTC

Urgent Support Needed for Goma

Fact Sheets on the Congo from FOTC

The Congo from Leopold to Kabila: A People's History by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaj

Climate Crisis and Congo

Basandja: The Living Wisdom of the Congo Rainforest

Stay Connected on Social Media:

Friends of the Congo on YouTube

@CongoFriends on Instagram

Congo Friends on Facebook

@CongoFriends on Twitter (X)

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

As activists and folks of faith, particularly in these challenging times, we must simultaneously commit to inner revolution and collective liberation. Prioritizing healing from these oppressive systems is also "the work." bell hooks reminded us often: "Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion." Last year I sat down with Kimberly Brazwell, a two-time TEDx speaker, author, CEO and founder of KiMISTRY for our Move It Forward Monday IG Live series to discuss trauma-informed activism. And it feels like a powerful moment to revisit this conversation.

We delved into healing as deeply connected to the work, softening around emotions instead of pushing past them, and guiding intentions to center for ourselves and others (grace, acceptance, and forgiveness). Kimberly worked with organizers in the wake of George Floyd's murder to create a healing container that still thrives today as they continue to build community. She calls us to remember: "We have to war for our wellness," and be intentional about calling these practices into our lives!

One of her latest offerings (which is a series of books) -Jotnal Book (The Phoenix Edition), grounds us in this practice. Created by KiMISTRY, Jotnal Books offer trauma-informed approaches to reflection and restoration, and aids folks through processing emotions while passively teaching how to journal. The Phoenix Edition offers brief writing prompts, questionnaires, wellness information, activities and exercises to inspire its owner to think, feel and grow. This Jotnal edition also highlights inspirational quotes and vibrant original artwork highlighting lifecycle stages of the mythological phoenix character. Its design especially embraces challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) women/femmes.

KiMISTRY is a story strategy consulting firm, which specializes in the art of storytelling to address the unique intersection of justice and holistic wellness for a trauma-informed experiential application to human engagement. Kimberly Brazwell is also the creator of the Nine Asks and KiMISTRY Labs.

Move it Forward Monday is a bi-monthly series @PrayWithOurFeet where we uplift conversations with folks working to make a difference in the world - activists, creatives, theologians / ministers and more.

As we honored Dr. King yesterday, we sit with the weight of this moment - stepping into another Trump presidency. Many of us remain committed to working towards a country rooted in collective liberation. In part two of our conversation, Mom and I chat with Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, writer and author (Departure Story), editor, entrepreneur and founder of Spoken Black Girl, and host of The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast, and Avril Somerville, writer, poet, and author of A Journey Of Life On PURPOSE.

Throughout both conversations (listen to part 1 here), we unpack building beloved community, why the church must divest from the false ideology of white supremacy, continually organizing for collective liberation, decolonizing, resisting the rise of global fascism, standing in active intersectional solidarity with all who are oppressed (because of race, disability, sexuality, gender, gender identity, etc.), the importance of soul work, and the many ways our faith in God, and creativity can propel us forward (Micah 6:8).

Action Steps:

- Check out Spoken Black Girl's Book Club which meets Saturday, Feb. 1, 1pm EST to discuss Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower. Sign up here.

- Connect with the Poor People's Campaign in your state today!

>>>> Learn more about Yaa and Avril by reading show notes on our website.

Soul Care Resources: >>> Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I.

>>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

As we honored Dr. King yesterday, we sit with the weight of this moment - stepping into another Trump presidency. Many of us remain committed to working towards a country rooted in collective liberation. Mom and I decided to root our discussion around Dr. King legacy, and his last book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? In this two part conversation, we chat with three phenomenal women, Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, writer, organizer, speaker, and Consulting Minister for Justice & Community Organizing at Middle Church, the founder of Raising Imagination, Avril Somerville, writer poet, and author of A Journey Of Life On PURPOSE, and Yaa Abbensetts-Dobson, writer and author (Departure Story), editor, entrepreneur and founder of Spoken Black Girl, and host of The Healing Entrepreneur Podcast.

Together we unpack - building beloved community, why the church must divest from the false ideology of white supremacy, continually organizing for collective liberation, decolonizing, resisting the rise of global fascism, standing in active intersectional solidarity with all who are oppressed (because of race, disability, sexuality, gender, gender identity, etc.) the importance of soul work, and the many ways our faith in God, and creativity can propel us forward (Micah 6:8).

Rev. Amanda is passionate about the intersections of race, faith, politics, and parenting and having conversations that move us towards a liberated society. She has presented nationwide on topics including systemic injustice, religion, raising white children as anti-racist, and involving young children in advocacy. You can learn more about her work here.

Way to Take Action -

Connect with the Poor People's Campaign which organizes across the country.

Soul Care Resources >>> Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I.

>>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

On the anniversary of Jan. 6th we are revisiting our conversation with Dr. Obery Hendricks, Jr. and the discussion of his book - Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021). Across the country, far too many church leaders are pledging allegiance to the false ideology of white supremacy, American nationalism, toxic greed and exclusion of folks living on the margins.

In Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals are Destroying our Nation and our Faith, he writes - "Trump's evangelicals carried a pernicious message directly counter to the faith they profess: that it is acceptable to commit transgressions of virtually any kind against other human beings simply because their skin bears a different hue or they speak in unfamiliar tongues. The extent to which Christians enact, support, or tolerate these behaviors is the extent to which they are at war with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Dr. Hendricks is a life long social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is a Biblical scholar at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. His other books include The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings , The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church, and the Body Politic, and the novel Living Water. Dr. Cornel West calls him "one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals."

Take Action -

Sign the Statement - Christians Against Christian Nationalism

Read our past blog on Christian Nationalism

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

We are living through unprecedented times; as each of us continues processing the election, and moving through waves of grief, disappointment, overwhelm, etc., it is vital to remain rooted in God, and come into beloved community with one another. Mom and I share a few of our thoughts post-election (check out two recent Instagram posts, Jesus Is… and Reclaiming Christianity), drop into discussing what soul care is, why it matters, and share two soul care practices you can lean into for support - breath prayer and meditating on verses of scripture.

Breath prayer helps us to focus on a short phrase (God, Give me strength to keep going…or uplift a verse of scripture). You say the first part of the prayer on your inhale, and the second part on your exhale. You repeat this over and over until you feel God's spirit. And Mom walked us through meditating on scripture which she breaks down into a 3 step process of which begins with prayer, and then we observe (write down what you think the verse is saying), interpret (go deeper here and ask >>> what does this verse mean?), and application (how does this verse apply to my life? How can I embody it within my everyday living?).

Sign up for our next Prayer Moment gathering: Thursday, Dec. 5, 8pm EST

Soul Care Resources >>>Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I.

>>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation - Check out our interview with Jonelle of Young Prophets Collective.

Middle Collegiate Church (my place of worship and community)

- Check out our interview with Rev. Jacqui, Senior Minister at Middle Church.

The Perch Place Check out our interview with Amy Jackson, founder of The Perch Place.

Light of the Holy Spirit by India Arie

For My Good (feat. Todd Gilbert & Chandler Moore) by Maverick City Music & Naomi Rein

Ways to Organize

When we put our faith into action and center justice, fighting for the rights of everyone, particularly those most marginalized, we embody Christ. Mom and I caught up with Lindsey Krinks, Advocacy Director and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, a non-profit and interfaith community based in Tennessee whose work includes four core pillars: "street outreach, education on issues of homelessness, a solidarity network, and advocacy with our friends on the streets."

Throughout this episode we discuss Lindsey's spiritual journey and embrace of liberation theology, and how it led her to the work she does now through Open Table Nashville (OTN) which focuses on collective liberation. OTN understands that without a systemic analysis of homelessness and poverty, we cannot, as a society, shift away from these issues. We also dive into the many ways scripture and spiritual teachers such as Saint Francis of Assisi ("Preach the gospel at all times; use words when necessary."), call us out of the pews and into purposeful action. Lindsey shares practical tips for showing up in our church spaces, and within our day-to-day lives in support of our friends experiencing homelessness.

In addition to her work with OTN, Lindsey is the author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Street which invites readers into her story as a street chaplain, activist, and nonprofit leader standing at the margins of American society, and on the front lines of social justice movements where faith means getting your hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. You can support the work of OTN by making a donation (at any level) , signing up for an educational training session (so you can show up in your community and make a difference), or reach out to them to do a speaking engagement at your church / within your community.

Stay Connected with Lindsey's Work:

Lindsey KrinksOpen Table Nashville

Instagram: Open Table Nashville (@opentablenashville)

Facebook: Open Table Nashville, Inc.

Twitter: @OpenTableNash

Resources / Info. Mentioned:

The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12

Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets by Lindsey Krinks // Watch the book trailer here.

Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness by Kevin Nye. Check out our interview with him here.

Some of Lindsey's spiritual teachers:

• Dorothy Day

• Archbishop Oscar Romero

• Richard Rohr

• Walter Bruggemann

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

Church hurt is widespread, and there are still many congregations which remain closed to Christians living on the margins because of sexuality / gender identity, disability, race / ethnicity, class, education level, etc. Young Prophets Collective, a growing online church and community, founded by JJ Warren, is working to shift this through building an affirming and intersectional space which welcomes all, and excludes none. I caught up with Jonelle Brown, an active member of Young Prophets Collective.

Throughout this episode we discuss -

• Jonelle's faith journey and what it felt like to find an LGBTQIA+ supportive faith space in college, and how this led her to found the first open and affirming campus ministry for fellow LGBTQIA+ Christian students.

• Young Prophets Collective, why they center, equip and empower the voices of young people (although older folks are part of the community) — we cannot forget that Biblical prophets such as Jeremaiah started out young, too!

• Why intersectionality is a critical part of Young Prophets Collective ministry, and their focus on growing intentionally vs. quickly.

• Key components of building a digital faith community - time, energy and emotional investment, and how Y.P. Collective taps into this to guide their ministry.

• How their weekly church service calls folks to the gathering practice (in the Methodist tradition) of sitting with and discussing pastor JJ's sermon, and also asking one another," How is your soul?

• Jonelle's background as an educator, and how this experience led her to found NelleRose Educational Services, which "empowers BIPOC scholars + their families to get through high school with confidence & success." As a success liaison and mentor, "she aims to address the systematic educational challenges faced by marginalized students of color in the U.S., especially those co-identifying as English learners, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals and neurodivergent students."

Stay Connected & Further Resources -

• Young Prophets Collective (website) and social media: Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Donate to supoort their work.

• Rev. JJ Warren (pastor and founder of Young Prophets Collective), he is the author of Reclaiming Church: A Call to Rejection for Religious Rejects and Where Two or Three are Connected.

• Rev. JJ Warren's 2019 speech at General Counsel, United Methodist Church

• Learn more about Jonelle's work as an educational consultant, and founder of NelleRose Educational Services here and stay connected to her on Instagram, @nellerose_edu.

• Rafiki Project, an iniative of Y.P. Collective - United Methodists in Kenya and United Methodists in the U.S. united together in friendship and mutual aid.

Help Us Spread the Word!

If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms.

BE in Community with Us:

Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our online store.

Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.

Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.

Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.