Issue link: http://theflywire.uberflip.com/i/699630
in- reach and re-entry, homeless- ness, and social jus ce. The cu ng edge innova- ve concepts of these ministries put the church on a fast-track as being the 21st century flagship within the community and denomina- on. A forward thinker, Bryant opened The Empowerment Academy in 2003. The public charter school serves students Pre-K to 8th grade with mission to strive in excellence and empowerment. In 2012, the academy was recognized as one of only seven schools in Bal more City to be honored by Maryland CAN because of its designa on as an "Oppor- tunity School". March 6, 2012 ‒ A new chapter emerged in Bryant's life when he re- ceived a call from a fellow pastor inform- ing him that a teen, Trayvon Mar n, had been fatally shot while walking home from a convenience store. Bry- ant answered the call to address social injus ce and within 24 hours arrived in Stanford, Florida to meet with the young man's parents. While there, he met with a orneys, pastors and social leaders. Spearheading a six-week march, Bryant along with countless other leaders de- manded a full inves ga on and arrest of the shooter, George Zimmerman. No ng the injus ces of the poli cal system, he simultaneously launched a na onal 2012 "Get Out and Vote" presiden al cam- paign and "The Squeeze Is On" a na onal campaign to rally against the Florida Stand Your Ground Laws. August 9, 2014 ‒ A er yet another act of injus ce, Bryant received a plea for L e t ' s g o b a c k t o a c t i v i s t b e ginnings. For much of his adult life, Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, a 45-year-old African American Methodist Episcopal pastor, has been unknowingly preparing for the responsibili es and challenges he faces now as a modern- day pastor and social ac vist. His talents were first capitalized in 1997 when he was appointed by the NAACP President to head of the NAACP Na onal Youth Department. It was during this pivotal me that Bryant launched a na onal campaign tled, "Stop the Violence, Start the Love." Under his leadership, the NAACP youth division more than doubled its chapters from 120 to 250 in just one year! April 2000 Jamal Bryant founded Empowerment Temple A.M.E Church in Bal more, Maryland. Within seven years, membership had grown to 10,000 and the church was dubbed the "fastest- growing church" in the denomina on's history! Through Bryant's leadership, Empowerment Temple church developed over 30 ac ve ministries with a special- ized focus in community outreach, prison [ /Stop the Violence, Start the Love. TRAYVON