The Role of Faith in Advancing and Protecting Agency in Women and Girls

This session explores the philosophy of a Beloved Community rooted in a multi-faith womanist perspective as a framework to place faith and the moral compass of women of color at the center of efforts to build compassionate and just communities. There is a glaring gender disparity across multiple sectors in our global society, including religious institutions and structures but are grossly underrepresented in leadership. Globally women and girls continue to experience subjugation, oppression, loss of reproductive freedom, and violence. The presenters share parallel experiences and learnings from Latina, African, and African American women exploring the theological, physical, social, financial, and emotional implications of the marginalization of women and girls as the antithesis of faith across traditions and beloved community tenet and asks participants to engage in the cooperative casting of a vision for Beloved Community i.e. the affirmation of humanity, value, and agency for all.