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Community Renewal Society’s 13th Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Waltrina N. Middleton, a passionate preacher and keynote speaker, has shared a vision and message of faith, love, and justice in diverse settings across the world. Maintaining a commitment to human rights advocacy and social justice activism, Rev. Middleton established Walk on Water Global Ministries, Diaspora Dialogues, and Cleveland Action, respectively, in response to systemic needs in their community and society at-large.
Dr. Middleton served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ (Cleveland, OH) for six years as its National Minister for Youth Advocacy and Leadership Formation and the Program Director for the denomination’s National Youth Event, which brought together nearly 4,000 youth from across the country and four continents. Dr. Middleton served on staff of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago and led efforts around earth justice, creation care, and its connection to urban centers and food deserts. As a parent, poet, activist, vocalist, social critic, community organizer, and healer committed to actualizing the vision of a Beloved community; Middleton holds fast to the principles of Ubuntu, which declares, “I am because we are. We are because God is.” A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she resides in Chicago, Illinois.