2025 Presenters

Noah Anderson chose his stage name Vilij, a respelling of the word village, inspired by the famous African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child.”

Noah has been writing music for about five years and producing for three. Although the genesis of his music story was a human request and a divine gift, he hasn’t always done music for God, which is the beginning of his testimony and faith walk.

Noah felt he had to surrender music to God because it had been an idol. He felt content with dropping the dream forever, but “God picked me up turned me around placed my feet on solid ground” and has presented Noah another chance to do music for the kingdom, and is just getting started!

Sara Alvarado is a writer, entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for racial justice in real estate who believes that the way to handle challenges in life and business is to show up authentic, bold, vulnerable, and always ready for fun. Sara is the co-founder & director of Own It: Building Black Wealth, a groundbreaking initiative working to increase generational wealth in Black communities through homeownership. As an author, she has published a memoir, Dreaming In Spanish: An Unexpected Love Story in Puerto Vallarta, as well as the Racial Justice Toolkit for Real Estate Professionals, and a Guide for Change Agents. Sara is a free spirit who loves dancing, adventures, challenging the status quo, writing, and family fun.

Chris Brockel is the Director of Food Systems for Madison Northside Planning Council, where he' is responsible for the day-to-day operation of FEED Kitchens, a shared use commercial kitchen, food business incubator; the FEED Bakery and Training program, and for Healthy Food for All, a food recovery initiative. Chris is responsible for supporting the 88 food businesses currently working at FEED. Chris has over 30 years of experience working in Madison area non-profits, 25 of which have been spent in management roles. The past 20 years of Chris’s professional life have been spent working in the local food system. He has managed the Food and Garden Division at Community Action Coalition and been Executive Director of FairShare CSA Coalition prior to joining FEED Kitchens. Chris also serves on the City of Madison Food Policy Council. 

Mo Cheeks is a sourdough bread activist.  He is the founder of Bread & Justice; a philanthropic micro-bakery in Madison. He combines his passion for making a difference in his community with his love for baking, using his handcrafted sourdough bread as a vehicle for social justice.

Mo is a former elected member of the Madison City Council. He has been honored as one of Madison's "40 under 40", recognized as one of the top 28 most influential African Americans in Wisconsin, and in 2021 was awarded the Bread Hero of the Midwest recognition from the Tiptree World Bread Awards USA.

Leiah Fundell is a social media and public relations manager at the Wisconsin School of Business, where she crafts meaningful digital narratives and helps amplify faculty research. She is the co-founder and teaching pastor of Orchard Church on Madison’s east side, which she and her husband, Nick Ertz, planted to build a diverse, gospel-centered community. Passionate about cultural exegesis, mental health, and the power of prayer and healing, she seeks to bridge faith and emotional well-being. She is currently earning her master’s in Leadership and Evangelism at Wheaton College. Committed to intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth, she is dedicated to fostering deeper faith, healing, and understanding in every space she serves.  

Joe Gabriel is a Financial Advisor with Thrivent who works with individuals, couples, and families to guide them on their unique journey to be wise with money and live generously.  The Lord called Joe to ministry, and after receiving his M.Div with a focus on church planting, he began to feel a different call, a call to help Christians make the most of their time, talents, and treasures. “I am part of an organization where money is viewed as a tool to help others reach their goals, rather than a goal itself.”  Joe lives with his family in Verona, WI with his wife, 20 month old daughter and 2 golden retrievers.

Christine Jeske (PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a professor of Cultural Anthropology at Wheaton College and author of several books. She writes and speaks widely on topics of race, work, faith, and the good life. Her latest book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul (coming soon with IVP), presents firsthand research on how white Christians develop long-term commitments to racial justice.

For a decade prior to her current work, she lived in Nicaragua, China, and South Africa, where she worked with a variety of economic empowerment initiatives. Her current home is an old Wisconsin farmhouse named the Sanctuary. She and her husband have raised chickens, pigs, innumerable weeds, and two wonderful children.

Rev. Peder Johanson is ordained in the ELCA and serves as Director of Ministry at the Triangle Community Ministry in Madison, a non-profit committed to a ministry of presence among Wisconsin's second-largest subsidized housing developments. A 2010 graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary (M. Div.), Peder spent 11 years as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brodhead, WI, where he and his family still live. Since stepping away from congregational ministry, he has focused on ways to serve and advocate for his most vulnerable neighbors. Peder is also active with the Wisconsin Coalition of the Poor People's Campaign. 

Vanessa McDowell-Atlas is a transformative leader, entrepreneur, and racial justice advocate with a passion for empowering marginalized communities. She made history as the first Black woman CEO of YWCA Madison, leading the organization through transformative growth, equitable initiatives, and the pandemic without layoffs. She is the founder of Madison Roots, LLC, dedicated to building generational wealth through Black homeownership, and VMA Entertainment and Consulting, LLC, offering DJ services and transformational leadership coaching for leaders of color and women. Currently serving as COO of Black Girl Ventures, Vanessa drives inclusive leadership and operational excellence. A recipient of the 2022 MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award, she holds a Sociology degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serves on its Board of Visitors. Vanessa resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband.

Alder Barbara Harrington-McKinney was elected to the Madison Common Council in April 2015 as the District 1 Alder and one of the two first African American women elected to the Common Council.  She was elected again in April 2017 to a second term, in April 2019 to a third term, and in April 2021 to a fourth term as Alder for District 1.

Alder Harrington-McKinney moved to Madison from St. Louis, Missouri in 2005 to support her son, NBC News Anchor Mike McKinney.

She previously has served as: an Assistant Teaching Instructor at Operation Fresh Start, a Coordinator for Community Restorative Justice Court at Dane County Timebank, an Associate Director at Madison Urban Ministry, an Adjunct Instructor at Edgewood College for the course “Community Building: Introduction to Restorative Justice",” a volunteer with Prison Ministry, and as the Diversity Outreach Coordinator for the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.

Erin Oakley is an acoustic folk-pop singer, songwriter, and worship leader who has served as Worship Director at Door Creek Church’s Northside Madison Campus since 2018. She writes and records in various genres and has shared stages with seven-time Grammy Award winner Al Jarreau, Peter Furler and Phil Joel of the Newsboys, as well as Christian rap artists Rip and Nicky Gracious. Before returning to Wisconsin, Erin lived in Nashville, where she was invited to sing at conferences and songwriting showcases across the country, including performing multiple times at the iconic Bluebird Cafe.

Erin’s authentic and relatable storytelling shines through her songs, which carry messages of hope, faith, and some lessons learned the hard way.

She and her husband, Mike, live on a small farm in DeForest with their two young daughters, and she is thrilled to be participating in KJS again this year. To learn more, visit www.erinoakleymusic.com.

Isaiah Oby is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where he earned a Bachelors of Music with a concentration in contemporary composition. During his time in school, Oby began a full-time missionary apprenticeship at Chicago City Life Center, located in the south-side community of Englewood. Since graduation, Isaiah’s work in the music industry took him on multiple world tours and even landed him television appearances on Fox, Netflix, and the Tonight Show. 

In 2019, Oby returned to Madison to become an Associate Pastor at Northside Christian Assembly (NCA), overseeing ministry operations, Sunday worship services, and regularly preaching. In addition to his work at NCA, Pastor Isaiah is a speaker, music producer, composer, and Worship-Arts and Technology consultant. He is married to Alina, and they have two young children, Zion and Shiloh.

Alaynah Sawczak is a social worker with Tellurian Behavioral Health, where she has spent the past 6 years providing intensive case management services for adults experiencing severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders. Recently, Alaynah stepped into an additional role where she is overseeing the relaunch of a permanent supportive housing program that will house 60 individuals that are chronically unhoused or at risk of being unhoused.

In addition to her role as a wife and mother of two, Alaynah is deeply involved in New Culture Church, where her passion for social work and faith comes together to bring justice, healing, and hope to those in need.

David Smith Jr. resides in Madison, WI, serving as a Worship Leader at Northside Christian Assembly. He attended Columbia College Chicago and, in 2017, received a Bachelor's in Music with a concentration in Contemporary composition and songwriting. Outside of his church role, David is a working musician, vocal arranger, and songwriter in a wide range of genres and settings. He has shared the stage with artists such as Jonathan McReynolds, Noname, Stevie Wonder, Jakaylan Carr, and many more. Married to Danielle for seven years, they are proud parents of four boys - Anias, Alijah, Armon, and Azekiel.

Qwantése Winters, a Doula, Writer, and Agriculturist, adeptly intertwines her passions to preserve, discover, and explore culture while fostering community. Inspired by her connection to the Gullah Geechee nation, she embarked on a journey to build a profound relationship with the land, learning foraging, farming, and herbalism. Passionate about imparting knowledge to the Madison community, Qwantese co-hosts PBS Wisconsin’s “Let’s Grow Stuff” and has taken on educational roles, including serving as The Madison Public Libraries’ 2023 Naturalist in Residence.

Affectionately known as The Food Doula, Qwantése seamlessly incorporates foodways and agriculture into pregnancy, birth, and postpartum healing. As a doula, she not only grows food, but also cooks nutritious meals for families. Her art magnifies the voices and experiences of Black women, celebrating concepts that uplift working-class communities through techniques like hand painting or using found items. Through her service, art, and culinary expertise, Qwantése passionately strives to encourage, inspire, educate, and empower communities in uniquely enriching ways.