Uncrowned Community Builders

Personal: Married to Rev. Dr. James Evans, Jr. with 3 step-children and grandchild.

Current Place of Residence: Rochester, NY

Occupation : Clergy/Educator/Community Activist

Education:
Doctor of Philosophy: Claremont School of Theology - Claremont, CA
Major: Theology and Personality ââ?¬¢ Cognate Field: Education; Master of Religious Education: Claremont School of Theology - Claremont, CA; Master of Divinity: Emory University - Atlanta, GA Major: Christian Education, Black Church Studies; Bachelor of Science: Jackson State University - Jackson, MS; Major: Special Education/Elementary Education

Community/Organization/Club/Volunteer Activities: Ordained Clergy, American Baptist Churches USA; Vice-President, Ministers Council-ABC Rochester Region; Progressive National Baptist Convention, Higher Education Advisory Committee; Member, Research Subjects Review Board, University of Rochester; workshop leader; and public speaker

Area of Accomplishment: Religion
I hold an earned PhD in Theology and Personality, but remember vividly my high school counselor saying my future was in a factory. That [prediction] arrived in my life AFTER my dream became resident to my Spirit; AFTER my "parents" and well AFTER my God assured me that "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me."

Minister of Congregational Care, St. Luke Tabernacle Community Church, Rochester, NY;
Interim Pastor, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Buffalo, NY, Sept. 05 ââ?¬â?? June 06;
Pastor, West Avenue United Methodist Church - Rochester, NY, January 2001 ââ?¬â?? 2004;
Director, Youth and Education Ministries - LaCanada United Methodist Church - LaCanada, CA 1998;Minister of Social Concerns ââ?¬â?? Central United Methodist Church ââ?¬â?? Atlanta, GA, 1994-1997;
Faculty Associate, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School-Rochester, NY, 2004 ââ?¬â?? Present;
Adjunct Professor, United Theological Seminary - Buffalo, NY, Fall 2004

Awards/Nominations:
Applicant, 2010-2011 Louisville Institute ââ?¬Ë?Pastoral Study Projectââ?¬â?¢ Grant. Project title: A Comparative Analysis of Pastoral Leadership
North American Doctoral Fellow, Fund for Theological Education, Inc.
Jonathan M. Daniels Memorial Fellowship Grant, 1998
Oââ?¬â?¢Conner Travel Seminar Scholarship, Israel, 1997
Woman of Color Scholar, United Methodist Church
Guest Lecturer, Tamiladu Theological Seminary, Tamiladu, India, 1995
Chairwoman, International Womenââ?¬â?¢s Committee on Labor, 1993-94
Bayard Rustin Fund Fellow1980
Claremont School of Theology, Board of Trustees, 1997ââ?¬â? 1999
Pastoral Care Team Member, Claremont School of Theology, 1998-99
Treasurer, Candler African-American Student Caucus1995-97
Deanââ?¬â?¢s Appointee-Personnel, Academic and Policy Committee1994-95
Dean Appointee-Faculty Worship Committee1994-97
Student Worship Committee1994-97

Biographical Sketch:
I was born in Mississippi and came of age in the tumultuous, segregated sixties. Of my biological family, I am the middle child, with an older brother and younger sister; however, I grew up as an only child.

Childhood, though idyllic might be considered quite complex. My parents were divorced when I was a toddler. Extended family stepped in to assist my mother and as a result, I was reared by great aunt and uncle who doted on, encouraged, and instilled within me that I was complete, competent, and compassionate--- made in the image of God.

My lifeââ?¬â?¢s tapestry has rich vibrant memories and relationships. I've known pain and sorrow, BUT I also know what it means to dream and be resilient. More than the tragedies (divorced parents, violent death of my father, and separation from my siblings), my early life was informed by altruistic people who, despite difficult social circumstances, found ways to give and make the lives of others better.

I understand my vocation to be that of a bridge-builder, bringing the academy, community, and church together, and am fulfilled in those roles simultaneously.

How Others Might Describe you: Thorough, compassionate and timely

Response to Adversity, Challenges and Negative Representations: I continue to be meââ?¬¦ and resist labels.

Description of African American Womenââ?¬â?¢s Roles: Purveyors and conveyors of culture

How other women can support AA women: [By] seeing all people and attending to what they seeââ?¬¦and be present with them [other women] in that moment [of seeing].

Song that best describes life: ââ?¬Å?It is Well with my Soulââ?¬

Favorite Quote About African American (AA) Women: ââ?¬Å?Lifting as we climbââ?¬ (Colored Club Womenââ?¬â?¢s slogan)

Favorite Books: The Holy Bible; I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America by Brian Lanker

Favorite AA Female Activists: Hon. Shirley Chisholm and Hon. Barbara Jordan

Favorite AA Contemporary Figure: Maya Angelou

Rev. Dr. Linda Hickmon-Evans served as a Community Torchbearer for students enrolled in the St. John Fisher course Assume[d] the Position[s]:Re/is/uncovering Resistance & Resilience in the Black Female Body. Assumed Positions refer to the myths, stereotypes, and controlling/disfigured images that often have characterized Black womenââ?¬â?¢s lives. Students in the course analyzed the representation, resistance, resilience, and reimagination of Black women in America by interrogating the historical and contemporary issues of their colonization, marginalization and subjugation. The course is grounded in Black feminist/womanist theories, enhanced by the use of fiction, non-fiction, films, discussion, and distinguished speakers including UQââ?¬â?¢s Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold. Students explored the work, contributions and agency of early feminists as well as contemporary scholar-activists and Black women leaders in the Greater Rochester community. The course was created & taught by Dr. Arlette Miller Smith (asmith@sjfc.edu).