SPEAKER BIOS

Rev. Carol L Devine is an ordained minister and the founder and co-minister for the creation care program, Green Chalice in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Carol has served as a pastor in Kentucky for 14 years. Creation care and climate justice was at the heart of Carol’s call to ministry. She is blessed and honored to now serve as the Director of ecoAmerica’s faith program, Blessed Tomorrow. She is the mother to three young adult children (Benjamin, Elijah, and Sarah) and loves to hike, kayak, cycle, garden, cook and read. 

Rev. Dr. Gerald L. Durley was born in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in California and graduated from high school in Denver, Colorado. While earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, playing on a championship basketball team, and serving as student government president at Tennessee State University, he became very active in the civil rights movement. After graduating, Dr. Durley became one of the first Peace Corp volunteers to enter Nigeria, West Africa. From Africa he ventured to Switzerland where he enrolled in postgraduate studies at the University of Neuchantel. When he returned to the United States, Dr. Durley enrolled in Northern Illinois University where he again became intensely involved in the struggle for human dignity, and earned one of the first Masters Degrees in Community Mental Health. He earned a Doctorate Degree in Urban Education and Psychology from University of Massachusetts and a Master of Divinity Degree from Howard University. Dr. Durley recently retired as Pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta and is a highly sought speaker on civil and human rights issues and the environment. He and his wife, Muriel, have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Jacquelyn Dupont Walker is the youngest of 5 children born to Rev. King Solomon Dupont and Eleanor Jiles Dupont in Tallahassee, Florida.  Early in life she was impacted by the models an entrepreneurial and visionary father (an AME Itinerant Elder, civil rights leader and logging truck company owner) and a maternal grandfather (a local AME church leader, shoemaker and farmer) who taught her self- determination and self- reliance. Her mother (public school teacher) and maternal grandmother (seamstress and homemaker) modeled educational excellence, nurturing a family, and volunteering in under-supported causes. All instilled in “Jackie” the importance of knowledge, skills, and human values needed in the context of a strong faith and a commitment to community service. A pioneering Black graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree “Jackie” holds the Master of Social Work degree from Atlanta University and has done post-graduate studies (credentialing) as a developer at USC (U.S.C. Commercial Dev. program), and as substance abuse advisor (Washington University in Maryland). Jacquelyn is a licensed clinician (LCSW) in California and holds national certification (ACSW).

Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker is founding president of the Ward Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in Los Angeles which has built/remodeled/managed low income housing in the city (120 apartments for seniors at Ward Villas, 91 units of family and singles housing at Tuelyn Terrace, 6 scattered sites and 60 senior apartments at Rosa Parks Villas which is Phase I of Crenshaw Gateway – a mixed use community).  Currently, WEDC has two projects in pre-development – Rosa Parks II, a multi-family community and Casa De Rosas, a campus for formerly homeless single-parent veterans. Under her leadership, WEDC has initiated an intergenerational asset mapping project, engaged in community empowerment, activated a census count initiative for two de-centennial efforts, led in community education re the Affordable Care Act, and been involved in the construction of Chesterfield Square, the first retail mall in South LA in over a decade creating approximately 600 jobs.  Civic engagement that leads to community empowerment is a key focus. Jackie has served in many trailblazing roles including the de-segregation of Fla. State University, and with REBUILD LA in 1992. She pioneered in defining banking needs in the community as a member of the Bank of America’s Social Policy Board and the District 11 Federal Home Loan Social Policy Board and Bank of America’s first Advisory Board for community input. Civic and Volunteer involvements: Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed her to serve on the LA County METRO board in 2013 and is the only non-elected official member.  Gov Jerry Brown appointed her to Baldwin Hills Conservancy where she continues to serve. Other service: Appointed to California Housing Partnership Corporation Board by Speaker Herb Wesson and re-appointed by Speaker Fabian Nunez, Appointed to LA City Council Re-Districting Commission (1999), Elected to Charter Commission for the City of Los Angeles (2000), Appointed to Housing Authority of city of Los Angeles, Service on LISC National Board of Directors, Vision LA Board, UNCF – LA Advisory Board, 2nd District R.E.D. Inc Board and A.M.E V-Alert Coordinating Team. Again in 2011, she was appointed to the LA City Council Re-Districting Commission at a critical time for the African American community. “Jackie” has participated in Lafayette Square Association activities since 1977, and served as president from 2005 – 2014. Known for tireless energy, firm allegiance, and integrity in the trenches, “Jackie” is proud of her involvement in both Rebuild LA and Charter Reform for the city of Los Angeles which sought to improve the quality of life for all Los Angelenos. After more than 40 years in various professional responsibilities, she is now one of most highly respected and influential lay persons in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Jackie” is a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E) and has been an active member of Ward A.M.E Church in Los Angles for 39 years.  At Ward, her ministries include: Lay Organization Cleo B Love Unit of the WMS, Social Action Commission, Steward Board, Liturgical Dance Ministry, and Sunday School. In 2004 the AME General Board elected her as the Consultant to Social Action.

In 2008, Jackie was elected the Director-Consultant of Social Action and has led in stimulating the social action/justice initiatives for the AME Church in the interfaith, ecumenical, civic, public and secular spheres. In 2011, she led the AMEs On the Hill to its first advocacy day in Washington, DC where 100 individuals traveled from across the country to a high level White House briefing and visit with the US Congress and Senate.  At the 2012 General Conference she organized a voter mobilization effort reaching the 10,000 attendees and at the 2016 50th quadrennial session, a voter mobilization training was held for 145 registrants along with the passage of a Climate Change Resolution, a first for a historic Black faith group. Jackie’s interfaith works finds her serving as the AME Church’s representative on the board of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC) and the UM Church’s GBCS. When Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker is passionate, there are no barriers insurmountable nor horizons unconquerable; her reach is broad & diverse.  She thrives by creating viable communities, thus “Jackie’s involvement is sought nationally in community economic development and social justice. She selflessly devotes skills and resources, utilizing networking as a strategy for creating strong diversified linkages from a faith-centered perspective, engaging in policy formation, facilitating economic and social empowerment, mentoring new leadership, advocating for cutting edge solutions, and encouraging institutional change that enhances the quality of life for all people. She is married to Buford “Sonny” Walker and in their blended family they have raised and nurtured 8 children and 24 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

Bruce Gillette is Moderator of Presbyterians for Earth Care.  He wrote the overture approved by the 2016 PC(USA) General Assembly and Presbyteries that amended the Book of Order by adding the phrase “caring for God’s creation” to the responsibilities of all church members.  He also wrote the original draft of the “Creation and Unity” report approved by the World Communion of Reformed Churches’ 2017 General Council meeting in Germany.  Bruce co-founded Delaware Interfaith Power & Light.  Bruce and his wife, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, were the co-pastors of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Delaware when it installed 180 solar panels on its sanctuary roof and built community and rain gardens.  They earlier served the First Presbyterian Church in Pitman, NJ, a community that was once the number one clean-up site for the EPA Superfund.  They serve now as the pastors of the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, New York.