Rev. John D. Blackshire, Ph.D., is an educator, impact strategist, and minister who helps individuals and organizations identify small yet mighty ways to accomplish radical social justice goals. He is the founder and executive director of There’s Room of North Carolina, a grassroots organization that works to improve the economic and spiritual well-being of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals in the South. John formally served as an assistant professor of gender studies at Skidmore College and was an ACLS Leading Edge Fellow in 2021. Overall, he feels best when empowering others to leverage their agency to transform their communities for good.