Willie Bodrick is senior pastor of the historic Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, Mass., which traces its origins to the First African Baptist Church, founded in 1805, making it one of the oldest Black congregations in the nation. A tireless advocate for social and economic justice, Bodrick led Twelfth Baptist Church through the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing a vaccination clinic in partnership with Boston Medical Center that served over 2,500 individuals and expanding food programs that support more than 15,000 residents annually. He is also president and CEO of The American City Coalition, where he launched Roxbury Worx, a workforce development initiative focused on connecting Roxbury’s untapped talent with careers in bio-tech/life sciences, health care, and green/blue tech. Bodrick draws inspiration from the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is deeply committed to building a beloved community.