FOR USA’s executive director, Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson, delivered the 31st Annual Salem Peace Lecture was held online on Thursday November 19th. Dr. Jordan-Simpson’s topic was “Unfinished Democracy: Making Good Trouble for Racial Equity.”

Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson is the 26th Executive Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. Under her leadership, FOR USA is adopting a reparative lens to pursue justice and racial reconciliation in the United States.

Ordained by the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in 1989, her leadership among New York’s advocates and organizers has centered on advocacy for children. As Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund – New York, she worked with advocates to name and address New York’s cradle to prison pipeline crisis; prioritize youth justice within New York’s diverse faith communities; and close abusive youth prisons redirecting resources to invest in youth and their communities. Rev. Jordan-Simpson is a graduate of Fisk University, Union Theological Seminary, and Drew Theological Seminary.