Marcia Dyson

The Reverend Marcia L. Dyson has been hailed as one of our nation's foremost religious figures, spiritual writers and noted civic-social activist. Her special brand of wisdom and insight has been shared in leading pulpits across America, on lecture stages at many of the nation's outstanding universities, and on the pages of some of our country's most provocative magazines and books. As an ordained minister, stirring public speaker and gifted writer, Dyson has carried out a ministry of healing to wounded women, neglected children and suffering men throughout America and around the globe.

Dyson is a native of Chicago, where she attended high school and the University of Illinois and Chicago State University. She served as the first chief of staff for Operation Push’s International Trade Bureau under the leadership of Rev. Jesse Louis, Sr. where she was also editor of the bureau’s monthly report and newsletter, organized international conferences, and created programs for women in the inner city of Chicago. Dyson became a prominent media and public relations specialist, serving as a vice-president of some of Chicago's leading public relations firms, including the Margie Korshak and Robert J. Dale agencies. In 1992, she was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as the Public Information Officer for the Mayor's Office of Special Events for the City of Chicago, where she helped to create the Viva! Chicago Festival honoring the city’s Latino communities and was liaison to the Mayor’s Press Office and the Chicago Tourism Bureau. She also served as the City’s representative to the Chicago McCormick Board Authority.

President William J. Clinton selected her to be on his 2008 Clinton Global Initiative delegation team which traveled to Africa and Mexico. Former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, selected Dyson to be on the Women’s Global Summit Leadership Board in 2007.

Dyson actively serves on many advisory boards including: Washington Redskins football player Chris Samuels’ Foundation, which provides housing to single mothers; Sanctuary of Moses, a non-profit concerned with education and child trafficking in Benin, Africa; Rhythm of Hope, a cultural outreach program for poor children in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and the executive board of the World Mayor’s Conference whose primary objective is to stimulate positive and constructive relations between mayors internationally, based on interlocking interests and concerns. Through a network of international municipal associations, mayors and units of local governments, the World Conference of Mayors plans, designs and manages an international, intergovernmental communications system, promoting trust, trade, tourism, technology, treasury, training and twin city programs and services between mayors and cities of the world. Additionally, Dyson is a board member of the Middle East Peace Project, an Israeli/Palestinian conflict resolution organization and Innocents at Risk a non-profit aimed at eradicating human trafficking.

Dyson is also the national spokesperson for the Congressional Black Caucus’ universal healthcare bill, HR676 and was selected to be a faith member and advocate of Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Project.

Dyson is busy at work on several books, including a novel entitled Don't Call Me Angel that explores the spiritual development of an African American woman, as well as the cultural and racial elements of the sixties and seventies, The Women Who Would Be King: Female Socio-Civic Activists, and a memoir of her travels as a surrogate for Senator Clinton for President entitled The Rough Side of the Mountain: Trials on the 2008 Presidential Primary Trail.

Dyson is currently a political strategist, social entrepreneur and is an affiliate at the Center for Social Justice and Policy at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is a Presidential Scholar at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC. She is represented by the American Program Bureau, Inc. which handles all of her public speaking requests. In addition, she is a contributor to Essence Magazine, womensradio.com and theroot.com where she addresses issues concerning race, gender inequality, and national concerns.