Press Release: Invested Faith Announces 19th Class of Fellows
Invested Faith Announces 19th Class of Fellows
Washington, DC — Invested Faith announces its 19th class of Fellows, expanding a growing national network of faith-rooted social innovators working for justice and community transformation. With this new cohort, Invested Faith has now awarded more than 90 Fellowships to leaders across the United States.
These innovative leaders are addressing systemic injustices in their communities while developing sustainable models for long-term impact. Fellows are working across a wide range of issues, including economic inequity, mental health, environmental justice, community healing, food access and justice, and belonging.
The Invested Faith Fellowship includes an unrestricted grant, opportunities to share their work through the Invested Faith network, and participation in RESOURCED, a national peer community connecting Fellows across the United States for support, collaboration, and shared learning.
Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler
Invested Faith Fellows are now active in 28 states and the District of Columbia. The organization awarded its inaugural class of Fellows in July 2021.
Invested Faith Founder Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler notes:
“The work of these Fellows reminds us that meaningful change is often rooted in local communities, courageous leadership, and deep relationships. We refuse to stop networking these changemakers, as they hold our shared future at the heart of their work.”
The following individuals were selected as Invested Faith Fellows in May 2026:
Rev. Dr. Mary Brown and Erica Podrazik
Rev. Mary Brown and Erica Podrazik
Silence Broken
New Orleans, Louisiana
Silence Broken is a faith-based organization dedicated to the emotional and spiritual healing of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and to equipping faith leaders to build inclusive, trauma-informed, survivor-centered communities. Through education and pastoral formation, Silence Broken works to dismantle cultures of silence within faith communities that have historically protected abusers while isolating survivors.
Jacqueline Jackson
Jacqueline Jackson
Mattie’s Garden
Birmingham, Alabama
Founded by Jacqueline Jackson, Mattie’s Garden is a Birmingham-based urban farm providing fresh, sustainably grown microgreens, seasonal produce, and farm eggs to the local community. Through its presence at local farmers markets and its commitment to teaching urban farming and seed-saving practices, Mattie’s Garden is helping expand access to healthy food while cultivating community knowledge and self-sufficiency.
Ryan Jones
Ryan Jones
goodlync
Winston-Salem, NC
goodlync is a digital ecosystem platform that connects founders, investors, mentors and entrepreneurial support organizations into one unified network. Founded by Ryan Jones, the platform provides organizations (incubators, accelerators, universities) with tools to host white-label communities, manage events, and track measurable founder progress through analytics dashboards. Founders use goodlync to attend workshops, complete challenges, find services, connect with other founders, build achievement records, and gain crossregional visibility to investors and collaborators beyond their local ecosystem.
Donna Loo
Donna Loo
Laulima No Na ʻOhana
Lihue, Kauai, Hawai’i
Laulima No Na ʻOhana is a faith-rooted, community-centered initiative dedicated to removing social, economic, and systemic barriers that prevent kūpuna (seniors) and their caregivers, particularly those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, from aging in place with dignity, connection, and hope. Grounded in the Hawaiian value of laulima (“many hands working together”), the project supports seniors through transportation access, caregiver support, navigation of essential services, and community-based resource connection.
Rev. Autumn Wiggins-Merrill
Autumn Wiggins-Merrill
Faith and Recovery Network
Richmond, Virginia
Faith & Recovery Network equips faith and community leaders to respond compassionately and effectively to mental health and addiction challenges through evidence-based training, advocacy, and partnership building. Led by Autumn Wiggins Merrill, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist specializing in family support services, the organization works to expand equitable access to recovery resources while helping faith communities become informed, supportive partners in healing and recovery.
About Invested Faith: Invested Faith is a fund for faith-rooted social innovators founded by Rev. Dr. Amy Butler in 2019 in response to declining church attendance and the need for a new model of philanthropy. Invested Faith is a bridge between traditional churches and social innovators who are creating new expressions of faith and community.
For additional information and photos, visit the Press Center at Invested Faith.
Media Contact:
Anita Flowers, Coordinator
investedfaith.org/press-center
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