With race dominating the headlines and with the need for positive reconciliation to be created in and through the church (not just within the secular community), this is a timely and necessary project that requires a degree of outside funding given the socio-economic status of many of the participants and leaders involved.

General Objectives:

• Provide scholarship money for leaders of color
• Generate seed money for a 5 volume series of self-published books by leaders of color
• Enable spiritual formation for urban leaders of color
• Facilitate relationship building between traditionally white evangelicals and communities of color

Funding Objective: $25,000

• Finances will be managed and dispersed by Kilns College who will be accountable for the strategic deployment of the resources according to the stated budget & objectives.

• $10,000: Seed money for a 5-volume self-published book series written by leaders of color, edited by Leroy Barber, and published in conjunction with The Voices Project, Kilns College and The Justice Conference / Timeline: To be completed within 24 months
• $6,000: Scholarships to joint Voices Project / Kilns College retreats for leaders of color / Timeline: 4 retreats in Bend, Oregon in the next 18 months (We have already successfully held four such retreats with great success with leaders from Baltimore, Ferguson and more.)
• $5,000: Scholarship for an urban leader of color to enroll in a masters program at Kilns College / Timeline: Fall 2016 enrollment
• $3,000: Overhead and administration costs for Leroy and Donna Barber for leading retreats and equipping leaders / Timeline: To be used over the same time period as events
• $2,000: Communications, marketing and advertising, web support and social media / Timeline: To be used over the same time period as events and publishing work

Who is Kilns College?

Kilns College is a graduate only school located in Central Oregon with an international distance education presence. The school’s focus is on theology, history and contemporary application—or what we would call “practical theology.” As such, one area of focus close to our heart and mission is to equip, disciple and connect leaders of color within the broader evangelical community (which has been traditionally very suburban and white). If many of the issues of poverty, race and immigration will reach a healthier resolution, it will only come when we aren’t discussing or strategizing around these issues in silos, but doing it in relationship across racial and economic lines.

Who is The Voices Project?

The Voices Project brings together African American leaders from around the country that influence the church, education, art, entertainment, politics, and business for important conversations about the current challenges and triumphs of the Black community and our role as leaders and influencers in today’s culture.