Ecowomanism: Resilience, Eco-Theology, and Justice
Ecowomanism: Resilience, Eco-Theology, and Justice
March 25 | 5:30 Reception | 6:30 Presentation MDT | $5
Climate change isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a spiritual one.
Overview
Join us for an evening with Dr. Melanie Harris and Dr. Amy Erickson as they move from sacred theory to local action. The voices we’ve been missing are the ones we need most. Through a powerful blend of sacred song, contemplative practice, and intellectual deep-dives, we’re moving beyond “sustainability” and toward sacred connection.
Following her lecture, Dr. Melanie Harris will sit down with Dr. Amy Erickson for a dynamic conversation about what these ideas look like in everyday practice. Together, they will explore how eco-womanist spirituality and relational ways of understanding the world can foster healthier food systems and stronger communities.
This dialogue will bridge the gap between theology and action, highlighting the concrete implications for food justice initiatives within our own Colorado communities.
The Details
- Wednesday, March 25 2026
- 5:30 PM: Reception | 6:30 PM: Conversation
- Iliff School of Theology| 2323 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, Colorado 80210
- Refreshments provided with RSVP
- Cost: $5
Why Attend?
- Center the Voices: Prioritize the voices of women of color in the climate justice movement.
- Restore the Sacred: Rediscover the ancestral and spiritual bond between humans and the Earth.
- Explore Local Impact: Learn how relational justice can transform food systems and land stewardship in Colorado.
- Find Resilience: Reconnect with the beauty in yourself and your community to sustain long-term activism.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Dr. Melanie L. Harris: Rooted in Faith, Justice, and the Earth
Dr. Melanie L. Harris is a scholar-activist, poet, and minister who lives at the intersection of Black feminist wisdom and environmental justice. As a Professor and the Director of Food, Health, and Ecological Well Being at Wake Forest University, her work isn’t just about theory—it’s about the sacred connection between our bodies, our plates, and the planet.
A leading voice in Ecowomanism, Dr. Harris champions the idea that honoring the Earth is inseparable from the fight for racial and gender liberation. She centers the voices of Black women who have long been the stewards of the land, weaving together her background as an AME minister with her artistry as a singer and writer to call for a more just and soulful world.
Dr. Melanie L. Harris’ Work in Motion
- The Ecowomanist Center: As the founding director, she leads this non-profit in celebrating the activism and brilliance of environmental writers of color, bridging the gap between climate justice and community leadership.
- Voice for the People: A former broadcast journalist for ABC, CBS, and NBC, she knows how to tell the stories that matter. She uses those skills today to consult for organizations like the Ford Foundation, ensuring that social justice remains at the heart of education.
- Authored Wisdom: She has penned transformative books including Ecowomanism: Earth Honoring Faiths and Gifts of Virtue, which explore how we can live ethically and sustainably in a broken world.
From the halls of Spelman and Harvard to the pulpits of the AME church, Dr. Harris remains a community leader dedicated to the idea that liberation is ecological. Whether she is teaching, preaching, or mothering, her life’s work is a testament to the power of faith-led activism.
Dr. Amy Erickson: Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Iliff School of Theology
Erickson teaches a range of courses in biblical interpretation, including The Body and Sexuality in the Hebrew Bible, The Hebrew Bible and Ecology, and Jonah and Its Afterlives. Her research interests include Hebrew poetry, poetic and mythological texts in ancient West Asian literature, and the Hebrew Bible’s history of interpretation.
She has a BA from Bates College, an MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary.
She has completed a commentary on the book of Jonah and its history of interpretation entitled Jonah: Introduction and Commentary (Illuminations; Eerdmans, 2021), and has written articles on Job, Jonah, the Psalms, Zechariah, and Amos for academic journals and edited volumes. Erickson is also a regular contributor to workingpreacher.org, the Huffington Post ON Scripture, The Christian Century, and The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyter). She is currently working on a book on the Hebrew Bible and ecology.