The CreatureKind Fellowship Program helps participants develop leadership skills and deepen their theological understanding of Christianity and farmed animals. Each year, we receive applications from all over the globe. After facilitating a rigorous interview process, we have selected seven fellows for the 2022-2023 CreatureKind Fellowship cohort. The fellows are from Brasil, Norway, Zimbabwe, United States, and Nigeria.

As a cohort, fellows consider the ways that farmed animal issues intersect with other faith and theological concerns, including: environmental racism, eco-womanism, decolonial/decolonized Christianity and theology, disability and animal liberation, anti-speciesism, and climate change. In their learning materials, we center and lift the voices of Black, Brown, and Indigenous People of Color who are on the frontlines of food and creation justice, while being mindful of CreatureKind’s mission to raise awareness, change faith-community food practices, and strengthen Christian animal advocates.

We are thankful for all this year brought us! We praise God!

 
 

Beatriz Teixeira (she/her/hers) - Brazil

Beatriz (she/her/hers) is an aspiring intersectional environmentalist from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. She has grown up admiring the beauty of life’s complexity and diversity through nature, humans, and subjectivity – attributes she believes come from God. To her, caring about social-environmental injustice has always been a lesson of love from the Christian faith, so she has been engaged in projects that seek solutions and transformation. Currently, she is a coordinator at the communication lab of one such project, a youth engagement organization called Engajamundo. Through the CreatureKind Fellowship, Beatriz looks forward to learning how to promote the care of non-human animals more effectively and hopes to expand its importance among Christian people in Brazil. Despite holding an undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of São Paulo, she also loves writing, reading, appreciating different art forms, traveling, learning, and discussing life. Beatriz considers herself continually on a political, spiritual, emotional, and professional journey of self-discovery.

 
 
 

Brooklynn Reardon (she/her/hers) - USA

Brooklynn (she/her/hers) is committed to sustainable, regenerative agriculture and the liberation of all creation. As a member of the Ace (and LGBTQ+) community, Brooklynn has a passion for both agrarian and sexual ethics. She has spent the last year and a half working on small community farms in North Carolina, teaching people about agroecology and permaculture. Brooklynn recently graduated with her MDiv from Duke Divinity School and now lives in Florida. When she is not busy advocating for the land and fellow creatures, Brooklynn enjoys kayaking on freshwater springs, exploring local coffee shops, and browsing bookstores.

 
 
 

Alfred Ntando Sihwa (he/him/his) - Zimbabwe

Alfred’s (he/him/his) experience includes over eight years of teaching environmental science and six years in human rights advocacy as the Coordinator for Lupane Youth for Development. He has long been an activist and advocate for animal liberation, which led to the founding of Sibanye Animal Welfare and Conservancy in 2018, where he currently serves as the Director. Alfred passionately advocates that – to save animals in Africa – more research should be done on traditional vegan meals and that the existence of an Afrocentric approach to animal liberation in Africa is needed.

 
 
 

Nathan Brasfield (he/him/his) - USA

Nathan (he/him/his) is a Doctor of Ministry student in Land, Food, and Faith Formation at Memphis Theological Seminary. He co-chairs their Green Team Committee and is the caretaker of four young apple trees. Nathan grew up and currently lives in a rural area outside Memphis, known as Shelby Forest, near the Mississippi River. He enjoys hiking and kayaking at the nearby state park. He is happiest when outside and feels invincible against hot weather, although he counts down the days until winter ends. Wherever he goes, he carries a camera and his favorite book, Take This Bread by Sara Miles, which is one among many favorites. He values Eucharistic eating and extending communion to encompass foodways that are healthiest for the earth, placing these values at the center of his theological practice. He is a commissioned Earthkeeper in the United Methodist Church and is on the Creation Care Steering Committee of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference. Nathan aims to help educate members of his conference on the importance of plant-based eating in light of the moral and ecological problems with industrialized animal production.

 
 
 

Matthew Webber (he/him/his) - USA

Matthew (he/him/his) is a doctoral student at the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Matthew’s work in the ethical treatment of nonhuman animals began during active ministry, eventually leading him back to academia, where he studied under Dr. Bernard Rollin at Colorado State University. Hoping to join those already making a difference in theology and ethical studies, Matthew aims to further these efforts in both education and practical application. Having grown up in a rural small town, Matthew especially values the faith-work and education that CreatureKind offers related to farmed animal liberation, which is especially pertinent to his endeavors. Matthew and his partner Nicole share their home, time, and love with Huxley, the Anatolian Shepherd, and Milo, the Orange Tabby. They live in Colorado, just a few miles from where Matthew was born and raised.

 
 
 

Avweroswo Akpojaro (he/him/his) - Nigeria

Avweroswo (he/him/his) is a Nigerian from Delta State. He is a graduate of the Geology program at the University of Benin. He worked as a primary school teacher and administrator for over six years. Then, he began post-graduate studies in theology at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN). Avweroswo is very passionate about Christ-centered theologies that seek the glory of God in all things and the flourishing of all God’s diverse and wonderful creatures. In line with that passion, his project as a CreatureKind fellow is geared toward creating awareness about the liberation of farmed animals in his immediate community, TCNN. He also looks forward to learning about the place of farmed animals in the Christian theological tradition and practical ways to foster the flourishing of farmed animals and all of God’s creatures, by extension. Avweroswo enjoys singing, teaching kids, reading, and doing theological research, mainly focusing on historical and systematic theology. He is happily married to Adeola, and they currently live together in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

 
 
 

Ndlelende Ncube (he/him/his) - Zimbabwe

Ndlelende (he/him/his) is an animal lover. Growing up, he shared borders with wildlife at the biggest national park in Zimbabwe, The Hwange National Park. His love for animals developed from a tender age. He is the co-founder of Tikobane Trust, a community organization that seeks to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife. Over the past six years, he has worked diligently to champion working animal liberation in rural Zimbabwe. He believes that all creatures are created equal and should be treated with love and respect, leading to a better world for all. Outside of animal liberation, he enjoys working with young people to develop their God-given talents.