Sandhya Rani Jha

510-451-8822

111 Fairmount Ave., Oakland, CA 94611

sandhya@oaklandpeacecenter.org

 

Experience

Director |2011 -

Oakland Peace Center | Oakland, CA

Founder of the Oakland Peace Center, a collaborative of over 30 peace organizations in Oakland that provides joint programming and networking opportunities.

 

Senior Pastor |2006 -

First Christian Church | Oakland, CA

Mayor’s Peacemaker nominee, 2010. Public speaking; volunteer coordination; strategic and long-range planning; resource development; budget management;  grassroots collaborative network organizing with partner non-profits; management of historical property. Chief of staff for four paid staff and two interns and Board of Directors. Now co-pastor (effective 2011).

Minister of Transformation and Reconciliation | 2005 -

Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ)| San Ramon, CA

Anti-racism and congregational engagement consultant; event planner; public speaker; educational resource developer.

National consultant providing research, demographic data and social trends to engage organizations in strategic redevelopment.

Religious Outreach Coordinator  | 1999 –2001

The Interfaith Alliance | Washington, DC

Collaboratively developed national policy strategies on religious liberty and social justice issues. Mobilized prominent religious leaders from 50 different faith traditions to influence policy and gain media attention. Edited interfaith journal. Coordinated board meetings.

Staff Assistant  |1997 – 1999

Office of Congressman Tom Sawyer | Washington, DC

Legislative research, constituent relations, constituent correspondence, staff support, briefing book preparation, newsletter editing, basic data analysis. Supervised interns.

 Additional experience and skills

  • Fellow, Multicutural Alliance (fundraising training for minorities, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Gate Chapter)
  • Vice President, California Council of Churches
  • Chair, Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (affiliated with EBASE)
  • Board member, North American Pacific and Asian Disciples
  • Working knowledge of: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Pagemaker.

Education

Master of Public Policy, Harris School, University of Chicago  |2005

  • McCormick Tribune Fellow, President’s Scholar

Master of Divinity, Divinity School, University of Chicago  |2005

  • Master’s Thesis: “Public Goods, Public Bads, the Common Good and the Common Burden: Environmental Racism as a case study on the intersection of public policy and theological ethics.” Co-founder of the annual Ministry Conference.

Bachelor of Arts, Johns Hopkins University  |1998