Keynote Speaker Reverend Mira Sawlani-Joyner

We’re thrilled to welcome Rev. Mira Sawlani-Joyner, Minister of Justice, Advocacy & Change, of Riverside Church for a keynote address. Rev. Mira Sawlani-Joyner is a dedicated pastor, preacher, educator, and public theologian, whose ministry is deeply influenced by her immigrant heritage. She holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, where she was honored with awards for Excellence in Public Theology and Community Life.

Rev. Mira’s commitment to justice and advocacy is shaped by her decolonized perspective and her experience as a “third culture kid” with Philippine and Indian roots, raised in Hong Kong. Her ministry journey spans diverse multicultural communities across Australia and the United States. As a mother of three daughters, she is passionately driven to create a more just world, striving to make God’s kingdom a reality on earth. Currently, Rev. Mira serves as the Minister of Justice, Advocacy, and Change at The Riverside Church in New York City.

In this role, she works closely with organizations such as GreenFaith, the Poor People’s Campaign, Interfaith Commission on Housing Equality, and The Faith and Justice Network, bringing a faith-rooted approach to the pursuit of justice and social transformation.