“you are all the face of the Black Christian Civil Rights movement”

Konyka Dunson is an author, speaker, facilitator and gifted leader. She brings her skills and gifts to help lead the first group of The Witness Fellows. The Fellows all gathered in Little Rock to meet in person for the first time and spend time together refining one another, encouraging and collaborating. Konyka opened their time together with a powerful prayer time and asked Stanley to pray, “God, everything we need you are. We are a royal priesthood and you have given us the grace to carry the mantle of the things you created us to be. We can do nothing apart from you. May we never forget where we were so that it leads and guides us to where you are leading. We can walk free and bring liberation to others. As Institution builders may we glorify you; our actions, motives, and intentions being led by You.”

Konyka echoed Jemar Tisby’s thoughts the first night of the retreat by reminding this group of leaders, “you are all the face of the Black Christian Civil Rights movement.” She invited the fellows to participate in peer coaching and a mastermind. The in person time at the retreat was special and so needed after primarily being meeting on zoom for most of the year. Konyka shared, “This time is filled with solidarity moments – we have known each other in so many ways but just now in each other’s space.”

Konyka has spent time with each Fellow individually coaching this past year and she spoke much encouragement and challenge to them. She shared from a place of knowing their individual journeys and shared with Monique, “you’ve been a one woman wonder.” Monique reflected, “I have evolved over this year, it was building me up as a leader.  The money helped me be more sustainable. I needed this opportunity to build on self. I needed to grow and cultivate that with the support of the foundation and I realized in new ways I cannot do it all myself and I was not meant to.” She is working towards sustainability by getting others involved to care for their community, “Jesus did not call me to work 7 days a week.”

“Please don’t miss the opportunity to talk” Konyka said to Stanley and added, “share freely what you are doing and share the heart of what you are doing.”

Konyka is part of innovating this new program and the Fellows are pioneering these new leadership roles, “Because of the fellowship of leaders fellowship of leaders, the experiential opportunity allowed you all to be equipped, and connect and impact one another with your gifts and being present with each other. She adds, “Pioneering and the grace to know the missteps are all divinely orchestrated to bring you all together.”

After the historical tour of Little Rock Central High School Konyka shared, “I was changed seeing their (the students who integrated Little Rock Central High School) inner resoluteness and their fortitude- it was a Civil Rights decision.

She was the leader of the group but also experienced and shared vulnerably during eth retreat, “I prayed and came here and I have such a new respect for you all; the personal leadership and spiritual sustainability as we cultivate leadership. I see you.” Choosing to see each person is the mark of a true leader and Konyka will continue to make an impact with The Witness Foundation.

“I’m smiling ear to ear with the absolutely fabulous Roxanne photojournalist extraordinaire. After a retreat together in Little Rock, Arkansas where I led the first ever The Witness Foundation Fellowship retreat, we were relaxed and celebrating! Yet, on this start of Women’s history month, I must celebrate Roxanne. She captured beautiful images, but most importantly she captured beauty and soul. I was momentarily worried about fixing this or that and extra pounds here and there. Roxanne, told me to just BE, beautiful, free, and smile. What a gift! To be present within yourself, fully, soulfully, freely, lovingly and beautifully. What a powerful message to women—be you, all of you, beautifully.”