ICNY’s Racial Justice Organizing Fellow
Minister Onleilove Chika Alston
Minister Onleilove (pronounced Onlylove) Chika Alston, has organized faith communities for over a decade. She is the Co-Founder of Daughters4Justice a faith-based community organizing nonprofit for women clergy to radically change policing in New York City. She is also the founder of Prophetic Whirlwind Ministries, a ministry is dedicated to uncovering the African roots of the Bible, combating gender violence, and supporting African Jews. Minister Alston is one of the few African-Americans that has visited and studied Jewish communities in West Africa. In April 2019, her first book, Prophetic Whirlwind: Uncovering the Black Biblical Destiny, focusing on her research of African and African American Jews was published. In her former role as the Organizer for Bronx Connect, Minister Onleilove helped to build an organizing and advocacy program that included court-involved youth and their allies. Results of her recent work at BronxConnect included the City Council’s vote to close Rikers Island, the passage of Renewable Riker’s legislation, and the founding of two coalitions: NY Faith Leaders for Criminal Justice Reform and the #Right2RemainSilent Coalition of 67 organizations throughout New York state.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Min. Onleilove has compassion for people fueled by her passion for justice. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a minor in African-American studies from Penn State University. In 2011, she received her Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University School of Social Work, respectively.
Passionate about Africa and her diaspora Minister Alston serves as the U.S. Coordinator for Mothers of the Nations, a network of African and African diaspora women faith leaders in 10-nations dedicated to gender justice. Furthermore, she is the Faith-Based Coordinator for the Global African Business Association. Minister Onleilove currently lives in Harlem, has five siblings and a large extended family. After many years of collaboration and the co-founding of Daughters4Justice with Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer Minister Onleilove is very excited to join the Interfaith Center of New York as the Racial Justice Organizing Fellow!
