On this episode I'm joined by Rev. Dean Cherisna Jean-Marie. On this episode we discuss her trauma experienced through the Haitian church and being called to pastor. Here's a little bit about Cherisna:

Born and raised in Newark, NJ, Rev. Cherisna Jean-Marie is the
newly elected Dean of the Disciples Divinity House at
Vanderbilt. She is the first woman and person of color to
occupy this role and begin her tenure there on April 1,
2024. She is a pioneer in her own right as she was the
first to serve as Director of Leadership and Organizing at
Children’s Defense Fund, first to serve as the Director of
Racial justice ministries at Scarritt Bennet Center, first
woman and person of color to serve as Dean of Chapel at
Bethany College, in Bethany West Virginia, first woman
to serve as Chaplain at Jarvis Christian College the only
HBCU affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of
Christ) and the first woman to be ordained by the
Chirstian Church (Disciples of Christ) at New Covenant Christian Church in 2012.

On November 3, 2022, she founded The Co-Conspirator Institute. A 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization that seeks to create space for individuals to confront and eradicate systemic,
social, structural, and institutional racism and provide opportunities for healing from
racial trauma. At the heart of her work with TCCI, is hosting grief retreat for Black
mothers who has lost their children due to gun violence. TCCI was started in honor of
her beloved nephew Christopher Aldy Morand who was murdered in 2019 due to gun
violence.

In 2001 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Communications from
Kean University in Union, NJ. In 2010, Rev. Jean-Marie completed her Master of
Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. During commencement, she was awarded the
coveted Florence Conwell Prize for outstanding preaching.
She is a co-contributor for 5 book projects, a mentor, social entrepreneur, community
organizer, antiracist activist, an international teacher and preacher but her most beloved
role is being “auntie” to her 9 nephews and 1 niece.

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