Dr. Kit Evans Ford (MDiv, 2012) is one of the recipients of the 2022 Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award. The Award is issued by the Wesleyan Investive, an organization that specializes in spiritual leadership and social entrepreneurship. Evans-Ford is the founder of Argrow’s House of Healing and Hope, a bath and body social enterprise that employs female survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. She is a trainer and activist working in the areas of nonviolence education and healing from abuse. She holds a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Direction and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Theology at St. Ambrose University. Dr. Kit is the author of 101 Testimonies of Hope: Life Stories to Encourage Your Faith In God and A Children’s Book on Bishop Richard Allen: A Nonviolent Journey.
The award is named after Wesleyan Investive President Tom Locke who holds a strong belief that investment in bold, enterprising leaders with inventive approaches to ministry not only advances the church but creates communities of genuine human flourishing. And by doing so, changes the world. Our aim is to honor spiritual entrepreneurs who have envisioned a broader mission field and have taken risks to make their God-sized dreams a reality.
In addition to the recognition, The Tom Locke Innovative Leader Award includes an invitation to participate in a cohort with fellow 2022 award recipients, so that they may continue to learn from each other and grow together and a cash award to honor their innovation and dedication.