Keynote Speaker
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls
Executive Director, The Freedom Center for Social Justice, Charlotte, NC
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls is a national faith leader and social justice activist who has focused the majority of her work on culture shifts in the Southeastern United States, fighting oppression and discrimination.She established the first Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte, and was consecrated as one of the first women Bishops in the Los Angeles-based Unity Fellowship Church Movement’s history. She founded Sacred Souls United Church of Christ, a diverse congregation of progressive Christians in Charlotte.
Her work beyond the walls of the church is extensive. She is the Founder and Executive Director of The Freedom Center for Social Justice (FCSJ) and is the architect of the FCSJ Do No Harm Campaign.. She is one of the leaders of the NC Moral Monday Movement which was created by Rev. Dr. William Barber.
Bishop Rawls is a graduate of Duke University and did post-graduate work at Episcopal Divinity School in Boston, MA. She is a two-term member of the Governing Board of the North Carolina Council of Churches, and was selected as one of Charlotte’s 50 most influential women by Charlotte Woman Magazine. She is passionate about working closely with local and national leaders and organizations to create a more just world.
Featured Speaker
Moises Serrano
Political Director El Pueblo, Inc., Associate Producer, Forbidden Documentary
MOISES SERRANO is an openly undocumented and queer activist and storyteller. Since “coming out” as undocumented in 2010, he has relentlessly pursued equality for his community through the sharing of his narrative. His mission is to decriminalize and humanize the issue of migration while advocating for immediate relief to migrant communities.
Moises quickly became one of the most requested speakers in the state of North Carolina. Described as a “consummate orator,” his advocacy led him to present a Tedx Talk in Greensboro and to be named a notable Latino of the Triad. His advocacy has been filmed in the feature length documentary, Forbidden: Undocumented & Queer in Rural America and was one of seven programs honored by the Television Academy for creating awareness, enlightening, educating and/or positively motivating audiences.
Moises officially became a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in May of 2018.