– Michele P. Ellison
A Pittsburgh resident for 19 years, Rev. Michele P. Ellison was raised in Wyandanch, New York, the daughter of civil rights activists James Monroe Ellison, Jr. and Ruby Miles Benton Ellison. She worked alongside her parents in the “movement” bringing justice, economic development, healthcare, housing, police accountability in community relations. A former chapter president of the Association of Black Social Workers, her commitment to humanity is known nationally and internationally. An advisor to governments and clergy leaders, Rev. Ellison has participated on local, state, regional and national task forces, committees and commissions; and assisted in development of local, state and national policies.
She has served as Senior Consultant to the Council of Churches of the City of New York; and Vice President of Program Services of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area serving Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Rev. Ellison has taught on the university level in New York, Washington, D.C. and Virginia; and served congregations in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania. While in Pittsburgh, she has served the region as a clergyperson; as part of Leadership Pittsburgh; and a member of the Planning Council of the Black Political Empowerment Project, Coalition Against Violence and Civic Engagement Initiatives. A motivational speaker, Rev. Ellison has provided inspirational moments for the Pittsburgh community through Pittsburgh Community Television (PCTV). She is the President of Life-Long Lessons LLC ‘Tools for a Lifetime’ that enhances the healing and social functioning of individuals, families and communities.
She is the author of Even the Stones Will Cry Out for Justice- Dismantling Institutional Racism, An Adult Forum Handbook for Congregations (Augsburg Fortress); and Rising – 100 Meditations, Affirmations and Prayers for Military Families (Xulon Press).
Rev. Ellison received her Master of Social Work from the State University of New York at Stony Brook; and Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Richmond Virginia. Her doctoral studies took place at Howard University School of Social Work and Virginia Union School of Theology.
She is listed in and International Who’s Who of Professionals and Who’s Who Among Human Services Professionals. A Benjamin E. Mays Fellow and P.E.O. recipient, she is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, Allegheny Harvard Yale Princeton Club and International Faculty of Peking University. In 1980’s she was invited to a conference at the Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta, GA and listed with her mother in the archives of Torchbearers, Trailblazers Women in the Civil Rights Movement.