Our Mission
Faith for Justice is a St. Louis based organization for Black working class people striving to see local congregations and faith-rooted organizations affirm a theology of abolition and Black liberation.
We connect people of all faiths and all races to their roles in Black-led movement by confronting religious supremacy so often present in the Christian worship tradition. Our primary points of confrontation are blatant and internalized racism, bigotry, misogyny, ableism, ageism, the carceral state, and poverty.
At its founding in 2014, during the Ferguson Uprisings, Faith for Justice was a coalition of interfaith activists who built spiritual shelters around the St. Louis region where people gathered to amplify, support, and connect churches to the work of Black-led organizations and liberation campaigns. We continue to believe that protest and building Black political power are spiritual practices.
Our Values
We interpret the Afro Future as freedom from colonized spirituality, affirmation of inclusive healing practices; emotional, relational and material abundance for all people who have been abused by carceral, capitalist Christianity. We strive for this future through organizing work, policy advocacy, training, and collaboration.
We believe in mobilizing people to lead the charge for transformative change in our own spaces, returning control to the communities who know what services will be the most beneficial in establishing social justice, educational access and economic mobility, as well as meeting emergent needs.
Our Team
Michelle Higgins, Executive Director
Pronouns: She/Her
Rev. Michelle Higgins is a St. Louis native pastor, organizer, and worship director, and founding member of Faith for Justice. She is the Senior Pastor at St. John's Church - the Beloved Community, a Black-led, open congregation in North St. Louis. She is the co-founder and Board Chair of Action Saint Louis and also serves with the Electoral Justice Project of the Movement for Black Lives. Michelle focuses her work on campaigns centering Black radicalism in prison abolition, building political power, and supporting Black mothers. She earned an M.Div at Covenant Theological Seminary and lives with her family in their hometown of St. Louis city.
Nicole Ellis, Creative Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her
Nicole Ellis is a performing and teaching artist who has worked in the creative nonprofit space for more than 10 years with experience in marketing, event design, and social media. She works as a teaching artist for Freedom Arts & Education Center and sings on the music team at St. John's Church - the Beloved Community. Nicole has worked as a touring performer and session singer for several jazz, gospel, and r&b artists. She is currently focused on developing skills as a visual artist. Born in Baltimore and raised in Chattanooga, she graduated from Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts and earned her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from University of Mobile in 2009.
Andrew Gibson, Director of Partnerships
Pronouns: He/Him
Andrew Gibson is a St. Louis native artist, educator, and organizer, and founding member of Faith for Justice. He has taught at several area schools and music centers, recorded on nationally acclaimed albums, and shared stages with Grammy winning artists. He is the co-founder and Executive Director of Freedom Arts & Education Center and the Music Coordinator for St. John's Church - the Beloved Community. His works focuses on youth liberation, organizational partnerships, and anti-racism particularly in the educational and artistic spaces. Andrew holds a BA in Music and double minor in Philosophy and Audio Production from Webster University and has been recognized for his artistic and social achievements by several local and regional institutions.
Isabella Gomes, Administrative Organizer
Pronouns: She/Her
Isabella Gomes is a public health journalist and medical student from Ontario, Canada. Isabella previously earned a BA in Disease Ecology from Princeton University, an MA in Investigative Reporting from Columbia Journalism School, an MPH in Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University, and is currently enrolled in medical school at Washington University. Isabella is also a two-time grant recipient with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, winner of the Society of Professional Journalists' 2020 Regional Mark of Excellence Award, and winner of the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists' 2021 Excellence in Journalism Award. As a queer, multiracial woman of color, Isabella hopes to channel her public health advocacy toward fighting institutional violence, human trafficking, anti-immigrant/LGBTQ+ persecution, and barriers to healthcare.
Miles Dela Cruz, A/V Technician
Pronouns: He/Him
Miles Dela Cruz is an artist, educator, audio/video engineer, and youth mentor. He is the co-founder and Director of Program Integrity of Freedom Arts & Education Center and works as the lead audio/video technician at St. John's Church - the Beloved Community. He is an inaugural member of the Great Rivers Greenway Artists of Color Council judge for the annual South Grand Chalk Walk, and a 2016 fellow of the Regional Arts Commission’s Community Arts Training Institute. Miles earned his Associates in Computer and Electrical Engineering from ITT Technical Institute and has been widely recognized for his creative and community efforts.
Aaron Rogers, Board President
Jai Johnson, Board Secretary
Erica Johnson, Board Treasurer
