Gregory James Edwards
NationalityAmerican
Alma materGeneva College, University of Delaware, New Brunswick Theological Seminary.
Occupation(s)Minister, clergy, community activist, politician, and author.

Gregory James Edwards is an American minister, clergyman, community activist, progressive politician, and author.[1]

Education

Edwards earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Ministry from Geneva College. He later received certification in Community Economic Development from the University of Delaware, a Master's of Divinity from Drew University, and a Doctorate in Ministry from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary.

Career

Religion

Edwards was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (1969–1987), and licensed for ministry in the Baptist Church (1995). In 2002, after graduating from seminary (Drew University Theological School) he founded Resurrected Life Community Church (RLCC).[2] In 2019, the congregation became affiliated with the United Church of Christ. In 2011, he establish the Resurrected Community Development Corporation (RCDC), a 501(c) non-profit organization based in Greater Lehigh Valley.[3]

Community education

In 2011, Edwards established the Resurrected Life Children's Academy, an early education center licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; and in 2014, he established the James Lawson Freedom School in partnership with the Children's Defense Fund.[3] Both programs are initiatives of the Resurrected Community Development Corporation.

Politics

In 2018, Edwards became one of six Democratic candidates to run for the U.S. House of Representatives Pennsylvania District 7 (formerly District 15) seat, following the retirement of Republican representative Charlie Dent.[4]

On April 29, 2018, Edwards's congressional campaign was endorsed by Vermont Senator and former U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. He also received endorsements from other political groups.[5][6]

In a tight Democratic primary race, Edwards followed candidates Susan Wild and John Morganelli, and ultimately, the U.S. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chose Wild as its candidate.[7]

Although Edwards did not win the race, he made history as the first African-American in the Lehigh Valley to run for a federal office position and was featured in Battleground, the PBS documentary covering Lehigh Valley politics.[8]

Edwards remains active in local, state, and national politics.[9] He was named Chair of the Lehigh County Democratic Black Caucus in 2019,[10] and he was appointed to the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee in 2020.[11]

Activism

Edwards is a community organizer and activist for the civil and human rights of all. He is most vocal on issues concerning the African-American and Latinx communities and low-income families.[12] Throughout his career, Edwards has been known to participate in protests, write open letters and op-eds to oppose corrupt policies and politicians, and organize groups of people to take non-violent, direct action.[12]

In 2015, when the Allentown School District ranked 487 out of 500 Pennsylvania districts, Edwards led a rally calling for a sweeping change that would correct the curriculum, leadership, racism, and sexual harassment issues and claims that were prevalent at the time.[13]

In 2017, Edwards was arrested along with eight other demonstrators when he protested outside Pat Meehan's Washington D.C. office to oppose the controversial GOP tax bill.[14] The same year, he was the keynote speaker at a rally held in memory of Trayvon Martin.[15]

In 2020, following the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, Edwards organized a protest in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to bring attention to racial injustices and the need for police reform.[1]

During Donald Trump's presidency, Edwards was also a speaker at the May Day rally at the Pennsylvania Capitol building.[16] He joined hundreds of immigrants opposing the administration's anti-immigration policies.[16]

Edwards serves as a board member for several local and national non-profit. across the United States.[17]

Awards and honors

References

  1. 1 2 Marcus Espinoza,"Church, clergy members walk with protesters in Allentown". fox29.com. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Rev. Gregory J. Edwards Present Talk at Moravian College on "The High Cost of Educational Apartheid"". moravian.edu. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Your View by Rev. Gregory Edwards: How 'Something Inside So Strong' inspired me to help found a Freedom School in Lehigh Valley". mcall.com. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Paul Engelkemier,"Minister Enters Race for Open 15th District Seat". politicspa.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  5. ↑ Nicole Radzievich,"Monroe County Young Democrats endorses Greg Edwards for Congress". mcall.com. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Kurt Bresswein,"Bernie and more: Who's endorsing Lehigh Valley congressional candidates". lehighvalleylive.com. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "Storm a hindrance on primary election day in the Lehigh Valley, but the voting goes on". mcall.com. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Battleground". worldchannel.org. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Laura Olson,"Greg Edwards says national Democrats tried to push him from Pennsylvania 7th congressional race". mcall.com. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Nicole Radzievich and Emily Opilo,"See how they run: Six Democrats compete to replace U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent". mcall.com. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  11. ↑ David Weigel,"Democratic group faces backlash after intervening in crowded House primaries". washingtonpost.com. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Community must join together, press Allentown School District for change". fox29.com. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  13. ↑ Laura Olson,"Politics as Usual". fox29.com. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ↑ Patrick Lester,"Group alleges 'racial toxicity' in Allentown School District after alleged use of slur". mcall.com. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  15. ↑ Daryl Nerl,"Teen Trayvon Martin remembered on anniversary of shooting death". mcall.com. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. 1 2 Katie Meyer,"Immigrants rally in Harrisburg to oppose Trump's policies". whyy.org. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "About Rev. Dr. Gregory James Edwards". rcdclv.org. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  18. 1 2 "Greg Edwards U.S. House, Pennsylvania 7". democracyforamerica.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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