TSU WESLEY 615 NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2O25 | SERIES 2
FROM THE DESK OF
REV. DR. AMY E. STEELE REV. DR. AMY E. STEELE
“A PROPHETIC FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGES A COALITION STRATEGY THAT “A PROPHETIC FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGES A COALITION STRATEGY THAT “A PROPHETIC FRAMEWORK ENCOURAGES A COALITION STRATEGY THAT SOLICITS GENUINE SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SOLICITS GENUINE SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SOLICITS GENUINE SOLIDARITY THOSE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ANTI-RACIST STRUGGLE.” ANTI-RACIST STRUGGLE.” ANTI-RACIST STRUGGLE.”
–CORNEL WEST –CORNEL WEST –CORNEL WEST
Preparing for the first meal I served at the Wesley, I cut my hand. I mean I really stabbed it good trying to cut open an individually wrapped English cucumber! In a split second, I imagined a trip to the hospital ER and missing our first Leadership Session. Despite wondering if I had hit an artery, I went to the bathroom to rinse off the blood and apply pressure. By the time I walked back to the kitchen, the cut had stopped bleeding, and I was able to find a band-aid. I had imagined the worst, but fortunately, the cells in my hand knew what to do, and they began acting quickly to heal the cut. It was a new knife. I should have calculated the risk.
FROM THE DESK OF
REV. DR. AMY E. STEELE REV. DR. AMY E. STEELE
When the executive orders began flying out of the White House: cuts to the Department of Education, decreases in funding for research, and slashes to the federal workforce these cuts felt like gashes to the main arteries of the body politic, a sure death sentence already projected in Project 2025. But at their enactment, I imagined widespread chaos like the closing of schools in Virginia in the 50s and 60s for five years as backlash to the Supreme Courts 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision to desegregate public schools. Schools remained closed for five years! Today as we go through the rinse, I wonder if the public square will coagulate to heal itself? Will we come together, drying bloody edges, but healing communally nonetheless?
People and organizations have activated methods for healing, fighting back with lawsuits, economic resistance, and boycotts. Faith-based groups have called for fasting and prayer. Artists have not ceased creating art. And our campus ministry continues to progress, hosting Bible Study, voting on leadership council officers, planning ministry, and walking and dancing in joy. We are moving with deliberate speed and we are resting. And strangely enough we are healing and telling our stories. True enough, my hand is still not completely healed. Two months later, it itches in hot water and tingles in cold. But there is no longer a scab. My prayer is that a coalition of community and campus groups continue to do what we naturally do, remembering that something about the cuts feel familiar, but something about the healing feels familiar too.
CAMPUS OUTREACH
The Tennessee State University Wesley Foundation is spreading love across campus by creating surprise bags for TSU students, filled with snacks, uplifting messages, and invitations to Bible study sessions. This thoughtful initiative seeks to foster a sense of community and support among students, encouraging them to deepen their faith during their college years. By distributing these surprise bags throughout campus, the Wesley Foundation hopes to brighten students' days and invite them to connect with others in a welcoming environment focused on spiritual growth.
MEET OUR RESIDENT ASSISTANTS!
TrinityGourdin
Trinity Gourdin is a proud graduate of TSU, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with a focus on Biotechnology. At TSU, she researched Sorghum plants and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Vanderbilt University in biomedical research, specifically working on pseudouridylate modified mRNA for COVID-19 vaccines.
Trinity is also committed to her community as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., participating in outreach programs, mentorship, and initiatives for mental health. These experiences have fueled her aspiration to become a physician dedicated to serving underserved communities.
In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, practicing yoga, and promoting mental wellness, believing in the importance of self-care. As she progresses in her career, Trinity is determined to merge her scientific knowledge with her passion for advocacy to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations, carrying her dedication and compassion with her in all she does.
Greetings, I am Elijah R. Bryant. A junior business information systems major from Lansing, Michigan. I am truly passionate about serving the Wesley foundation and promoting a Christ centered community. Outside of serving the Wesley in my free time I enjoy listening to music, being in nature, and spending time with loved ones. With that being said, I am honored to be serving as the resident assistant for the 2025-2026 school year and am excited to get to work!
