Interfaith Worker Justice Elects Rev. Nelson Johnson, President and Bishop Gabino Zavala, Vice-President

Chicago – Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) announces the election of Rev. Nelson Johnson, a Baptist pastor from Greensboro, North Carolina, as the new President of IWJ's Board of Directors and Bishop Gabino Zavala, a Catholic Bishop from Los Angeles, California, as its Vice-President.

Rev. Nelson Johnson is the director of the Beloved Community Center and Senior Pastor at Faith Community Church in Greensboro. He is one of the founders and key leaders of the Pulpit Forum that was instrumental in the Greensboro K-Mart worker struggle. He is active in supporting worker initiatives throughout North Carolina. Rev. Johnson is affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

Bishop Gabino Zavala serves as the Regional Bishop in the San Gabriel Pastoral Region in the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is also on the boards of A Place Called Home, The House of Ruth, Don Bosco Technical High School, and Mount St. Mary's College. Bishop Zavala is found at rallies and is involved in initiatives that support the rights of immigrants, workers and the incarcerated, their victims and family members.

"The Board leadership reflects the values of the organization," said Kim Bobo, Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice. "The officers reflect the religious pluralism of our nation and the deep commitment to workers expressed in all religious traditions."

Rev. Johnson follows Rabbi Robert Marx, of Congregation Hakafa in Chicago who currently resides in Saugutuck, Michigan, and served as Interfaith Worker Justice's President for the past four years.

Other newly elected Board Officers include: Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, from Cleveland, OH; Ms. Evely Laser Shlensky from Santa Barbara, CA; Imam Mahdi Bray, Washington, DC; Rev. Jim Sessions, from Knoxville, TN and Ms. Edie Rassell, Cleveland, OH.

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About IWJ

Interfaith Worker Justice is a network of people of faith who call upon religious values to engage the religious community in issues and campaigns to improve the wages, benefits and working conditions of workers in low-wage jobs. Interfaith Worker Justice has 60 local affiliate chapters around the country.

Interfaith Worker Justice, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 4th Floor, Chicago IL 60660, (773) 728-8400, fax: (773) 728-8409

Website: http://www.interfaithworkerjustice.org