Onleilove Alston, M.Div, MSW

Apostle Onleilove (pronounced: “Only Love”) Chika Alston, Founder of Prophetic Whirlwind Ministries, was born and raised in East New York, Brooklyn. Onleilove is a global community organizer, speaker, and writer. After experiencing poverty and homelessness in her youth, Onleilove developed a compassion for people and justice and knows that the gospel is truly “good news to the poor.”

She is one of the first African-American women to visit Jews in West Africa where she studied, learned from and researched these communities for 6-years. This resulted in her book: Prophetic Whirlwind: Uncovering the Black Biblical Destiny. To date, “Prophetic Whirlwind” is one of the few books written by an African-American who has spent time with Jews in West Africa. In September 2020, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Zoe Life Theological College, an accredited theological college in Nigeria and India, on account of the research she conducted for her book. 

After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a minor in African-American studies from Penn State University, she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps Public Allies New York. In 2011, she received her Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University School of Social Work, respectively. She is currently a Doctor of Ministry Candidate at The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University (STVU) where she is focusing on Global Leadership and Institutional Reform. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, The Hebrew Academy International, Hope International University, NY Theological Seminary and Voices for Liberation and Transformation. 

For over a decade, Apostle  Onleilove has worked as a faith-based community organizer and advocate. In 2015, she was appointed as the youngest  member of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Inaugural Clergy Advisory Council and is currently serving on the Faith Transition Team Committee for NYC Mayor-Elect Eric Adams. In 2016, Onleilove testified before the United Nations Working Group for People of African Descent on Mass Incarceration’s Impact on Black Women & Girls. Currently, she works as the Director of Organizing for FaithActs for Education a Black led faith based educational equity organizing federation .In 2018, she founded Her Wisdom LLC, a consulting firm, where she advises non-profits, NGOs, and other companies on women’s leadership, faith-based organizing, diversity, and inclusion. Currently HerWisdom is the NYC Civic Engagement TRIE Neighborhood Coordinator for Hamilton Heights and Morningside Heights leading the #Vote4Harlem Coalition. 

Aside from ministry and organizing work, Rabbi Onleilove is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice for Hope International University and is a Professor at The Hebrew Academy of Detroit.

 

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