Rev. Dawn Bowles is a native of Petersburg, Virginia, and a product of the Petersburg Public School System. She has served in the fields of both education and the Gospel ministry, for twenty-five years, and her educational and ministerial careers have allowed her to be used by God throughout the U.S.

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Educational studies allowed Rev. Bowles to attend Hampton University, Virginia State University, Yale Divinity School, University of Missouri, American Intercontinental University, and Walden University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Education, and a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently pursuing the Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration.

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Rev. Bowles is a champion for equity and student rights, and a true practitioner of varied pedagogical techniques. She has served education through the arts, as an acclaimed Director of Bands, and she holds years of classroom and administrative education experience, ranging from primary to collegiate levels. Noted as a transformational leader and school turnaround specialist with an emphasis on Social and Personal Responsibility, Ms. Bowles has successfully worked to change the trajectory of life for trauma-informed students and families, as well as challenge the status quo in defining what true academic excellence can look like and how it can be achieved. Ms. Bowles is the founder of the Proud to Partner Community in Schools Initiative, of Huntsville, Alabama, and now founder of the Proud To Partner Leadership Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Having received multiple leadership and community service accolades, she views every opportunity to work with people as her ministry. Most recently, she was awarded the “Outstanding Women in Our Community” Award from the Oklahoma City Chapter of Chums, Incorporated.

 

As an Ordained Minister of the Gospel, Rev. Bowles has allowed her calling to be the foundation for her life.  She has served as Minister of Music, Sunday School and Bible Study teacher, Director of Christian Education, Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor, and Senior Pastor, working diligently with the Nursing Home, Prison, Music, Women’s, Children’s, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries. 

Rev. Bowles currently serves as the Youth Pastor of Fifth Street Baptist Church, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, under the liberating leadership of Pastor A. Byron Coleman, III, & First Lady, Min. Dr. Sharri L. Coleman. Rev. Bowles has three brothers and one sister, and she is a proud auntie and Godmother.  Rev. Bowles believes that she has been called to live a life of sacrifice, so that others might see and experience the true love and transformative power of Jesus Christ, while being educated in the movement of the moment, all while keeping it real.

Reverend Keith Jossell is an associate minister at Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church, where his profound commitment to sharing a Bible-centered justice message resonates deeply. He is proud to hold the title of ordained minister, having undergone the necessary training and certification to serve his community in a spiritual and practical capacity. With a fervent advocacy for equitable systemic solutions, Reverend Jossell’s calling encompasses transforming identity, family, and community.

 

Education has been a cornerstone of Reverend Jossell's journey. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Loyola University, New Orleans. Seeking to broaden his understanding and impact, he earned an Executive MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Reverend Jossell is on the verge of completing his Master of Arts in Social Justice from Phillips Theological Seminary, with an expected graduation date in May 2024.

 

Within Fifth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Jossell advocates for justice, guides the congregation toward profound spiritual understanding, and empowers individuals to actively participate in transformative actions. His commitment to fostering equitable solutions and his multifaceted expertise make him a valuable leader within the church and the broader community.

 

Reverend Jossell's dedication transcends the academic and vocational realm; it is woven into the fabric of his occupational pursuits. He channels his expertise into developing and implementing innovative approaches to unlock human potential for vulnerable populations and catalyze community change.

 

Reverend Jossell staunchly believes in the collective resilience of individuals and communities to reignite hope, leading them toward spaces of liberation and the embodiment of true freedom where all can thrive and become the best versions of themselves.