MCC director named as Obama Foundation USA Leader

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2024

Contact: Jerad Morey, Director of Strategic Relationships; j.morey@mnchurches.org or (612) 230-3211

Rev. Jerad Morey of the Minnesota Council of Churches Announced as 2024-2025 Obama Foundation Leader

MINNEAPOLIS — Today, Rev. Jerad Morey announced that he is among 205 leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Rev. Morey will be one of just 100 Leaders participating in the Leaders USA program.

Jerad Morey is the Director of Strategic Relationships at the Minnesota Council of Churches. As part of his portfolio he leads the Respectful Conversations Project, a peacebuilding initiative that aims to boost empathy, improve social cohesion, and strengthen democracy through structured, facilitated conversations among people with diverse beliefs. He is and peacemaker who is passionate about leading people with differences to experience positive feelings toward one another and identify common ground to advance society. Jerad has dedicated his role as a clergyperson to build bridges between diverse communities on controversial issues, especially across differing viewpoints to further the role of religious pluralism in strengthening democracy.

As part of the six-month program, these dedicatedchangemakers will convene virtually each week for interactive sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. They will also have an opportunity to participate in various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation's global network.

The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program, now in its second year, was inspired by the leadership values and approach of President and Mrs. Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s ‘Hope to Action’ curriculum to support Leaders in engaging diverse perspectives, building collective power, and making tangible, sustainable progress towards a better world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture.

The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.

To learn more about Minnesota Council of Churches visit www.mnchurches.org.

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