YEO Frontline News 3rd Quarter, 2015 - 10th National Convening Recap | Page 16

COVER In Memoriam The YEO Network honors the life and legacy of State Sen. and Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the tragic shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. Rev. Pinckney attended our first two National Convenings and was a beloved member of the YEO Network. NETWORKING Rev. Pinckney answered a call to service at a young age, preaching by 13, ministering at 18, serving in the state legislature at 23. In 2000, he made history as the youngest African American to be elected to the state senate in South Carolina. He was a transformative and inspiring leader, advocating for gun violence prevention, supporting domestic violence survivors, and protecting the environment. He stood for all the best things our Network aspires to. We will strive to honor and remember him as an individual and his legacy in the work that we do to further understanding and promote peace in our communities. ME MB ERS HIP POLICY In a 2013 speech about his church, Emanuel AME, Clementa said: “Could we not argue that America is about freedom whether we live it out or not? Freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. And that is what church is all about: freedom to worship and freedom from sin, freedom to be full of what God intends us to be, and to have equality in the sight of God. And sometimes you got to make noise to do that. Sometimes you may have to die… to do that. Sometimes you have to march, struggle and be unpopular to do that.” YEO F r o n t l i n e N e w s • Q3 2015 • PG 16 w w w .YEON e t w o r k . o r g