PROGRESSIVE MILLENNIALS FOR ACTION
In doing so, she learned that she is more than enough. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech from Jackson State University and a Master of Arts Management degree with a focus in Nonprofit Management from Columbia College Chicago. Later, at the age of 28, Bianca answered the call to ministry and matriculated to Chicago Theological Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2013.
An emerging womanist, Bianca is committed to the survival and wholeness of the Black family. In addition, to her pastoral ministry, Bianca serves as a Community Outreach Specialist and Health Educator, where she provides health education, community outreach, testing/counseling, and early intervention services to at-risk communities and clients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. She is skilled at designing strategic programs, preparing thought-provoking workshops and seminars, facilitating community- based campaigns, and improving overall organizational productivity. She is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, and has worked in the nonprofit industry for nearly 10 years.
Bianca Davis
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Reverend Bianca R. Davis affectionately known as "Rev. B." serves as Pastor for Millennials at God Can Ministries United Church of Christ. In this role, she is responsible for providing holistic ministry to the millennial generation that guide them to a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ in an environment that promotes empowerment, faith, spiritual formation, interfaith engagement, and hip hop social consciousness. In her preaching, teaching and mentoring, she makes it abundantly clear how important it is for young people to know who they are, whose they are, and to commit themselves to something beyond themselves. Her favorite quote & message to the young people under her care is, "It's not how you start but how you finish!" She represents the 3rd generation to serve as clergy in her family and the 2nd generation to serve in ministry at God Can Ministries United Church of Christ.
Bianca understands firsthand the many challenges that young women go through on a daily basis. She experienced the loss of her mother at age 13, being a near casualty of youth violence at age 17, and becoming a single parent at age 19. Determined to challenge a narrative that suggested that she would not succeed, Bianca set out on a journey to discover her life's purpose.
Melvin Lovelace
Melvin Lovelace credits his mother for teaching him the golden which is to, "treat others the way you want to be treated" and that is what Melvin's activism is based upon. He grew up in Gurnee, IL (Northern Chicagoland Suburb) in a two parent household. Melvin's parents instilled in him the need to fight for justice and to stand up for what is right. His mother endured the Jim Crow era while living in Macomb, Mississippi and his dad was a U.S Marine who served in the Korean War. His dad was one of the first African Americans in a desegregated unit, after President Eisenhower issued an executive order to desegregate the U.S. Military. Following in his father's footsteps, at the age of 18, Melvin enlisted into the United States Marine Corps in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom. He is the 3rd generation on his father side to fight for America during time of war. He worked with telecommunication equipment during his time in the US Military. Melvin did two tours to Iraq which fundamentally changed him in ways he could not understand at the time.
During his time as a Marine, Melvin ended up going to 15 different countries and meeting people from all over the world. This taught him that regardless of where you are from, what religion you practice, or culture, we are all still humans with the same basic needs at the end of the day. This taught him that even though we have our differences most people have more in common with each other than the differences they hold.
In 2008, Melvin decided to make a difference in a new way and enrolled in college. In 2011 Melvin was accepted to DePaul University, a school known for its commitment to community service and social justice, where he majored in Political Science. DePaul University is where he developed his love for activism and advocacy. During Melvin's time at DePaul, he was asked to create a community service organization centered around helping disabled veterans in Chicago. He accepted this challenge and created an organization called The Serenity Warrior program. From March 2012 until around the time he graduated the Serenity Warrior program went to the V.A. hospital in Chicago 3-4 times a month to visit veterans that had health challenges. They read, played games, and just talked to the vets to help them keep their spirits up while they were in the hospital. It was important to Melvin that the veterans had an opportunity to tell their stories. After Melvin ended his one year tenure with Serenity warrior program he graduated DePaul University with a Bachelors of Liberal Arts in Political Science.