Faith to Action:  Advocacy 101

Sunday, November 23, 9:30-10:30 AM, Elliot House Heritage Hall
Facilitator: Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook

Discover how to turn your faith into meaningful action in your community. Led by the Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, this introductory course will equip church members with practical skills to advocate effectively for policies that reflect your values at the state and local levels. You’ll learn how to navigate the legislative process, communicate with elected officials, and work alongside people of diverse faith traditions to create positive change on issues like affordable housing, health equity, and criminal justice reform. No prior experience required—just come ready to explore how your faith calls you to participate in our democracy and serve the common good.

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Executive Director  The Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook has more than two decades of experience leading advocacy and faith-based work in nonprofits, government, education, and the African American church. Cook leads Virginia Interfaith Center’s advocacy, outreach, development, and coalition-building efforts. As a faith-based practitioner and racial equity leader, she brings expertise in program administration, with a policy focus on criminal justice reform. She has spearheaded several successful legislative campaigns for VICPP, including helping lead the coalition that passed a historic bill abolishing the death penalty in Virginia in 2021, making it the first state in the South to end capital punishment. Before coming to Virginia, Cook worked at First Institutional Baptist Church and for the Kyrene School District in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved back to Richmond in 2011, where she held a variety of leadership roles at St. Paul’s Baptist Church. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Virginia Union University (VUU), and holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with a minor in religious studies, as well as a Master of Divinity from VUU. Cook also earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. In 2012, she completed her studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, earning a Doctor of Ministry degree as a Gardner C. Taylor Fellow.