Date: May 21, 2026
On March 9, 2026, I had the distinct honor of addressing the Alexandria City Council during its Budget Meeting in advocacy for affordable housing initiatives. In this public witness, I represented both the Virginia Theological Seminary’s Saint Nicholas Center for Faith and Justice and VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement), two communities deeply committed to justice-centered civic engagement. Below is an excerpt from my remarks:
“We know Alexandria has real constraints. But we also know this city operates with nearly a one-billion-dollar budget. That means the housing crisis we see around us is ultimately a matter of priorities. When difficult decisions are made about where to spend or where to cut, we urge you to remember that budgets are moral documents. Our faith teaches us that justice requires courage. Tonight we ask you to be bold, and to place the dignity of human life at the center of this budget.”
As a Saint Nicholas Fellow with the Center for Faith and Justice, I am being formed and equipped to cultivate faith-based organizing efforts that strengthen the intersection of faith and community activism. My advocacy is also deeply informed by my service as the VTS Student Body Chaplain and International Student Proctor, roles that continually remind me that ministry must not only attend to spiritual care, but also to the material realities that shape human dignity. My faith compels me to stand alongside those whose voices are too often marginalized. The prophetic tradition of the Church calls us to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8), and it is within that sacred calling that I remain committed to advocating for policies and practices that uphold the dignity, humanity, and wellbeing of all people.
To God Be the Glory, the bills passed and will soon be law!
Rev. Jasina Wise,
Saint Nicholas Fellow
2028 MDiv Student