REV DV: Transformational Leader, Strategist and Connector
My Path
- A former law enforcement officer and lifelong learner, Rev. Donna Vanhook holds two associate degrees in Criminal Justice and a B.A. degree from Elon University, where she majored in Religious Studies-minored in Human Services. She earned a Master of Divinity degree from Shaw University Divinity School and has been named one of its Distinguished Alumni Preachers. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Management from High Point University.
- Reverend Vanhook uses a womanist lens in community work, forming a collaborative between academy and community to bring about transformative justice. She creates social justice projects for Elon University students through community partnerships with Shaw University Divinity School, local NAACP, Alamance Resiliency Coalition and Union Chapel UCC. A connector and networker, she formed a collaborative with Raleigh-Apex NAACP, Elon University and Shaw University Divinity School to help produce the Learning, Lifting, Leading: Social Equity For and By Black/Brown Girls & Women podcast project.
- A trailblazer, Rev. Vanhook was one of the first four women ordained by the Guilford Educational & Missionary Baptist Association at Elon First Baptist Church of Morgan Place. She now serves as an ordained associate pastor at Union Chapel UCC, in Burlington, NC. A Womanist Community Organizer formerly with the award-winning Morrow Town Task Force in Burlington, NC, she is well known for: transformational leadership to improve quality of life for underserved communities; building sustainable coalitions and community resilience. She also strategizes locally for systemic change in health and education equity, and food justice.
I Believe
God has called ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the world. I believe we all have some thing we can do to make transformation of oppressive systems possible. How are you answering the call to affect change in your community and in the world? Ask yourself, am I ready, willing and able to use my gifts and/or talents to fulfill my purpose?
My Community
Rev DV builds community near and far. During the ongoing pandemic, I have found great benefit in connecting with people on social media. I have also made good use of new media technology to connect with people prior to the pandemic. I use technology to form strategies for connecting people with people and connecting people with resources.
Academic Journey to Prophetic Ministry
How it started. How it's going!
Alamance Community College: Criminal Justice Corrections & Law Enforcement
Durham Tech Community College: Basic Law Enforcement Training
Elon University: BA-Religious Studies, Minor-Human Services
Shaw University Divinity School: MDiv-Master of Divinity
High Point University: MA-Nonprofit Management
2022 Social Justice Events
NC Black Alliance & Advance Carolina Present At Alamance County Polls On Primary Election Day
Shaw University Divinity School Alumni with NC Black Alliance
Advance Carolina at polls in Alamance County
Lecture: "A Practicum of Political Readiness and Activism for Churches"
POLITICIAN & POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Alamance For Good Government
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
First VP of local nonprofit for political representation of majority minority populations in the county
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
First 21st Century City of Burlington Black Woman Mayoral Candidate
Committee To Elect Donna Vanhook
City of Burlington Municipal Elections 2021
Committee To Elect Donna Vanhook
Generations from Morgantown
in Burlington, NC
Political Committee
For Mayoral Candidate Donna Vanhook
Souls To The Polls
Black Voters Matter
Committee To Elect Donna Vanhook
Helped Coordinate Souls To The Polls With Alamance County Community Members For Event Sponsor NC Black Alliance
Souls To the Polls
Black Voters Matter
Black Voters Matter
Representing NC Black Alliance During Early Voting For General Municipal Elections 2021
Black Voters Matter
Black Voters Matter
Black Voters Matter
Representing NC Black Alliance During Election Day Party At The Poll (North Park in Burlington, NC)
Down Home NC Fellow
2022 Local Elections
Down Home NC Fellow
First cohort for Down Home NC Fellowship in June 2022 at Burlington Office
Voices of Change
2022 Local Elections
Down Home NC Fellow
Second Cohort for NC Black Alliance & Meredith College Voices of Change Political Institute for Black Women
2022 Local Elections
2022 Local Elections
2022 Local Elections
Local elections candidate for Alamance Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor
First [Black] Woman Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor
Elon Univ/Shaw Univ Divinity School/Raleigh-Apex NAACP
Click the button to listen to the podcast>>>>
Learning, Lifting, Leading: Social Equity for and by Black and Brown Girls & Women. As part of the service learning courses Dr. Carmen Monico, Assistant Professor of Human Service Studies at Elon University, who teaches in partnership with the NAACP, she and Rev. Donna Vanhook, local minister and Elon Alum, captured the vision of extending the learning and wisdom from the Women’s Conferences held at Shaw University Divinity School in 2017 and 2018, in which Elon students participated. This project was funded by the Frueauff Foundation and supported through a Community Partnership Initiative (CPI) by the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement at Elon University.
It features mothers, teachers, community activists, clergy, scholars, students, and authors interviewed over a period of two months in coffee shops, by phone, in offices, and even a public library. The 18 episodes were chosen to broaden the voices of Black and Brown women and girls, specifically focused on experiences in the South. The podcast project was inspired by the work of the McSilver Institute in Chicago, who released a podcast series titled Black Boys and Men: Changing the Narrative in January 2018.
Thank you for walking this journey with us!
Building Community Resilience-Advocating for Social Equity
Rev DV’s Social Justice Ministry
Here is how Rev DV Builds Community Resilience:
- https://blogs.elon.edu/ondemand/why-black-lives-and-the-movement-matter/https://www.newsbreak.com/news/0PEj3jyq/the-rev-donna-vanhook-07-health-and-social-justice-class-at-elon-partner-to-support-elderly-population
- The Rev. Donna Vanhook ’07, health and social justice class at Elon partner to support elderly population
- https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2020/06/alamance-public-libraries-offers-free-internet-access
- https://www.elon.edu/u/elon-by-design/about/power-and-place-collaborative/
- https://www.thetimesnews.com/news/20190921/elon-is-local-host-for-first-national-day-of-reconciliation
- https://www.wunc.org/race-demographics/2019-09-19/an-attempt-at-reconciliation-in-alamance-county
- https://www.the-dispatch.com/news/20190425/burlingtons-morrowtown-area-plans-community-garden
- https://coaach.org/union-chapel-engaged-in-mission-to-inform-baby-boomers-of-resources/
- https://www.thetimesnews.com/news/20181008/burlingtons-morrow-town-martown-plans-2nd-community-fun-day-for-residents
- https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2018/06/13/students-advocate-for-progress-in-burlington-through-work-with-morrow-town-task-force/
- https://www.facebook.com/triadgoodwill/posts/yesterday-our-staff-had-a-great-time-serving-morrow-town-residents-and-connectin/10156534446016275/
- https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59d5446490bade96fa03da74/t/5d6bdb4bbe3d8f000185fb44/1567349586356/SOC_e-News_8-15-19.pdf
- Public Comment to Alamance Board of Commissioners about Toxic Policing in the County and Commissioners’ Oppressive Behaviors During a Meeting>>>>>Alamance County commissioner draws fire over police ...https://www.thetimesnews.com › county › 2020/06/02
- 'Unlearn' grapples with racism in Alamance County - Elon ...https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com › article › 2021/05 › u...
- https://www.dailyadvent.com/news/5ca359d9f6e6f095942356f1caeec7f6-From-Morgantown-to-Mayor
- https://www.thetimesnews.com/story/news/2021/09/29/burlington-candidates-mayor-primary-election-early-vote-majority-alamance-safety-equity-development/5901271001/
- Public Comment to Alamance County Board of Education about local law enforcement request for 17 new school resource officers https://alamancenews.com/critics-skewer-proposal-to-hire-17-new-sros-as-part-of-50m-abss-budget/
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
Chinese Proverb
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