Starsky Wilson

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Starsky Wilson
Dr. Starsky Wilson 10-2020.jpg
Wilson in 2020
Born
Starsky Wilson

(1976-08-02) August 2, 1976 (age 45)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationPastor, Civil rights activist
OrganizationChildren's Defense Fund
Spouse(s)Dr. LaToya Smith Wilson, St. Louis Children's Hospital[1]
Children4

Starsky Wilson (born 1976, Dallas, Texas) is an American activist and minister who is the president of the Children's Defense Fund.[2]

Education[]

Wilson, a native of Dallas, traveled to Xavier University in New Orleans and entered the NAACP's ACT-SO oratorical competitions when he was a teenager. He later earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Xavier.[citation needed]

His master's degree in divinity was earned from Eden Theological Seminary and his doctorate in ministry from Duke University.[3]

Career[]

Wilson worked for the United Way, which led to him moving to St. Louis, Missouri.[4]

In 2008, Wilson took over as pastor for St. John’s Church, an interracial, inner city United Church of Christ congregation in St. Louis. Wilson was the fourteenth pastor and the second Black pastor to lead the church since its founding in 1855 by German immigrants.[5][6] In 2012, Wilson joined with other Missouri faith leaders to advocate for a ballot initiative to regulate payday lending in Missouri.[7] In 2011, while serving as pastor of St. John’s, Wilson became President and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation in St. Louis.[8]

When Michael Brown was killed by police in 2014, St. John’s Church was at the forefront of the peaceful protests that followed. As Pastor of St. John’s Church, Wilson played a key role in orchestrating the 2014 Freedom rides.[6][clarification needed]

Wilson was later appointed[when?] by Missouri governor Jay Nixon to serve as a co-chair to the Ferguson Commission. The Commission released a report based on the four categories of "Citizen-Law Enforcement Relations", Municipal Courts and Governance", "Child Well-Being and Education Equity", and "Economic Inequality and Opportunity."[9][10]

Wilson received the Annie Malone Legacy Award in 2019.[11]

In December 2020, Wilson took over as CEO and President of the Children’s Defense Fund from founder and civil rights leader Marian Wright Edelman.[4]

In addition to leading the Children's Defense Fund, Wilson serves on the board of: the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (chair), the Atlanta-based Forum for Theological Exploration (vice chair), and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.[12][13]

References[]

  1. ^ George, Cindy (2020-10-26). "The Rev. Dr. Stasky Wilson of St. Louis tapped to Lead Children's defense fund". The Crisis.
  2. ^ "Xula Alum, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson Named President and CEO of the Children's Defense Fund". Xavier University of Louisiana. Retrieved 2021-08-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Magazine, The Crisis (2020-10-11). "The Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson of St. Louis Tapped to Lead Children's Defense Fund". crisismagazine. Retrieved 2020-12-28.[dead link]
  4. ^ a b Stewart, Nikita (2020-09-03). "Marian Wright Edelman Steps Down, and a New Generation Takes Over". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  5. ^ George, Cindy (2020-10-26). "The Rev. Dr. Stasky Wilson of St. Louis tapped to Lead Children's defense fund". The Crisis.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b King, Chris (2018-10-17). "The Rev. Starsky Wilson stepping down as pastor of St. John's Church". St. Louis Public Radio.
  7. ^ Kiel, Paul (2013-08-02). "The Payday Playbook: How High Cost Lenders Fight to Stay Legal". ProPublica.
  8. ^ Barr, Diana (2020-09-02). "CEO of St. Louis-based Deaconess Foundation leaving to head Children's Defense Fund". St. Louis Business Journal.
  9. ^ Bosman, Julie (2014-11-18). "Missouri Governor Announces Members of Ferguson Commission". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Rev. Dr. Starsky D. Wilson". National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  11. ^ "Rev. Starsky Wilson to receive 2019 Legacy Award". St. Louis American. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  12. ^ Rotermund, Maggie (2020-12-02). "Starsky D. Wilson to Keynote 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute". Saint Louis University.
  13. ^ "Rev. Starsky Wilson elected as NCRP chair. St. Louis American". St. Louis American. 2017-10-04.
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