Dear FaithActs Family, Partners, and Friends,
We are thrilled to share extraordinary news that reflects FaithActs for Education’s remarkable growth and our bold vision for the decade ahead.
At our fourth quarter Board of Directors meeting, the FaithActs Board unanimously voted to elevate Jamilah Prince-Stewart to Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. This historic moment marks not just a title change, but a powerful recognition of FaithActs’ evolution from a passionate startup to Connecticut’s leading Black-led, faith-based organization fighting for educational equity—and our readiness to scale this impact nationally. As we grow toward a national footprint, Jamilah’s leadership will guide our expansion, bringing our proven model of faith-rooted community organizing to communities across the country.
From Founding Vision to Transformational Institution
Ten years ago, FaithActs was born from a bold declaration: that people of faith could build the power necessary to get our children the education they deserve. Under Jamilah’s founding leadership, what began as a vision has become a movement that has fundamentally changed the landscape of education advocacy in Connecticut.
Over the past decade, we have:
- Secured more than $150 million in increased education funding for Connecticut’s children—one of the most significant education equity victories in our state’s recent history
- Built a base of 8,000+ committed voters who show up with voter turnout rates 3X higher than peer organizations
- Represented over 100 congregations and 11,000+ congregants across Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven
- Trained 45+ homegrown community organizers through our nationally-recognized FaithActs Organizing Institute
- Earned the trust and sustained investment of leading national, local, and community foundations.
- Positioned ourselves for national expansion through partnerships with Columbia University’s Center for Public Research & Leadership.
These achievements aren’t accidents. They are the fruit of Jamilah’s visionary leadership, strategic excellence, unwavering commitment to our communities, and her deep faith that when we organize with purpose, we can move mountains.
Leadership That Reflects Our Growth
As FaithActs enters our second decade with an ambitious 10-year vision, our organizational structure must reflect both our maturity and our aspirations.
Jamilah Prince-Stewart’s elevation to Chief Executive Officer recognizes her role not just as Founding Executive Director, but as the strategic architect of an institution that is building generational change. As CEO, Jamilah will continue to lead our policy advocacy, community organizing, and strategic vision while positioning FaithActs for national impact and influence and even deeper local impact in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford..
Additionally, our Executive Leadership Team roles have evolved to reflect our organizational growth:
Duanecia Evans Clark will now serve as Chief Strategy & Communications Officer, leading our strategic planning, communications, and fundraising excellence that has secured historic investments and positioned FaithActs as a thought leader in education equity organizing.
Edisha Brandy will now serve as Chief Finance & Operations Officer, bringing the financial stewardship and operational excellence through increased credit access and a healthy operating reserve, positioning us for sustainable, strategic growth.
Together, this Executive Leadership Team—three Black women backed by churches and grounded in faith—represents not just organizational capacity, but a model of what’s possible when proximate leadership meets strategic excellence.
What This Means for Our Future
This leadership evolution comes at a pivotal moment. As FaithActs enters what we’re calling our “Foundation Building Year” in 2026, we are:
- Expanding our organizing capacity through another Organizing Institute cohort and engagement of 250 young voters (ages 18-25) who will carry this movement for decades
- Pursuing meaningful policy progress on education funding equity or the BET on Bridgeport framework—building on our $150+ million victory with consistent wins
- Diversifying our revenue by launching earned income through our Organizing Institute nationalization while maintaining our strong foundation partnerships
- Deepening our impact by relocating our operations back to Bridgeport, rooting ourselves even more deeply in the communities we serve
- Preparing to celebrate our transformative first decade with a 10th Anniversary Gala in September 2026
With Jamilah as CEO and our strengthened Executive Leadership Team, FaithActs is positioned not just to survive the shifting philanthropic and volatile political landscape but to thrive—building toward our 2036 vision and a Connecticut where educational equity is lived reality, not aspirational rhetoric.
Our Gratitude and Invitation
This milestone wouldn’t be possible without you—our partners, funders, member congregations, community leaders, and supporters who have believed in this vision and invested in this work.
To our funding partners: Your sustained investment has made this growth possible. As we enter this new chapter, we invite your continued partnership in building an organization with national presence and local soul.
To our member congregations and community partners: Your faith, your organizing, your showing up consistently—this is what makes every victory possible. We are building this together.
To our Board of Directors: Your 100% financial participation for three consecutive years, your strategic guidance, and yesterday’s unanimous vote reflect governance excellence and true partnership.
To our founders: Your vision planted seeds that have become a mighty tree. This evolution honors your founding commitment to faith-based organizing for justice.
What Remains Unchanged
While titles evolve, our mission remains constant: We are people of faith, building power, to get our children the education they deserve.
Our commitment to organizing “at the pulpit and in the streets” remains unwavering. Our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to graduate from college, take care of their family, and fulfill their God-given potential remains our North Star. Our model of building relationships, building leaders, and building power through community organizing and civic engagement remains our pathway to change.
And most importantly, our faith remains at the center. Our organizing is an act of worship. Our liberation work is sacred. This is who we are—and who we will always be.
As CEO, Jamilah Prince-Stewart often reminds us:
“Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” — Amos 5:24
With this leadership evolution, FaithActs is preparing to be that river—moving people, moving policy, and moving Connecticut toward a future where every child has what they need to thrive.
We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and partnering with us in the transformational work ahead.
If you’d like to connect with CEO Jamilah Prince-Stewart, Chief Strategy & Communications Officer Duanecia Evans Clark, or Chief Finance & Operating Officer Edisha Brandy about partnership opportunities, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The best is yet to come. Let justice roll.
In faith and partnership,
Bishop John Thompson
Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple Christian Center Ministries (Bridgeport, CT)
Board Chairman
FaithActs for Education
Pastor William McCullough
Senior Pastor of Russell Temple CME Church (Bridgeport, CT)
Founder
FaithActs for Education
