The John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation 10 Legacy Schools initiative is exploding with hope and potential! Ten incredible schools handpicked to embody the Perkins’ unwavering commitment to education, civil rights, and community service are shining beacons of progress. These aren’t just classrooms; they’re launchpads for future leaders! Students aren’t just receiving an education; they’re becoming catalysts for change, empowered to make a real difference in their communities. This network is transforming lives from Jackson State University, an HBCU with a 65-year Perkins legacy scholarship, to institutions focused on theological studies and leadership. Through mentorship, academic excellence, and community engagement, a new generation of changemakers is rising, ready to carry the Perkins’ legacy into a more just and equitable world!

 

Support Our 10 Legacy Schools

Join us in supporting our 10 legacy schools and institutions that have profoundly impacted many lives. Your donations will directly fund these schools, helping them continue to provide quality education and empower future leaders.

Alumni and friends, this is your chance to give back and invest in the next generation. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference.

To donate, please click on the school you are interested in giving to.

Thank you for your support!

 

Wake Forest University School of Divinity: John M Perkins Divinity Fund

The purpose of the Dr. John M. Perkins Divinity Fund is to provide a scholarship, or other financial aid which may be awarded in the form of stipends for internships, to students attending the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. The scholarships and financial aid will be given to students seeking a theological education to enhance – their ability to bring restoration to communities of need, bring dignity to the poor and create partnerships among Christian communities. Recipients may elect to intern at the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation in Jackson, Mississippi or elsewhere. Recipients may be given a published book by Dr. Perkins. Wake Forest will develop and maintain appropriate procedures as necessary to accomplish the Fund’s purpose.

Click here to visit the Wake Forest University School of Divinity

Moody Bible Institute: The John M. Perkins Chair

The John M. Perkins Chair in Christian Community Development, Biblical Justice and Reconciliation honors the work of Dr. John M. Perkins’ life in the areas of gospel-centered community transformation, biblical justice, and reconciliation.
Motivated by his love for the Lord and the transformational power of the gospel in his own life and family, Dr. Perkins has dedicated his life’s work to coming alongside men and women in their communities, preaching the good news that God is just and His plan, redemptive (Ps. 33:5, Luke 4:18–19, Matt. 23:23, Rev. 20:4–6, Zech. 8:4, Isa. 58:12, Gal. 2:10). His 3 Rs of Christian community development (Relocation, Reconciliation, and Redistribution) have literally revolutionized communities across the globe, equipping many in these most marginalized communities to experience the love of Christ in the everyday experience. Through a strong commitment to practically demonstrate this truth, Dr. Perkins has lived a life dedicated to holistic church and community revitalization, biblical justice, and gospel-centered human flourishing. Moody Bible Institute is
pleased to recognize the indelible mark Dr. Perkins has left on the global church through this endowed chair.

Click here to visit the Moody Bible Institute

Calvin University: Perkins Fellows

Are you a justice-seeker? Do you want to alleviate poverty, stand up against racism, and change a culture embedded with materialism? At Calvin, the John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows program, named for civil rights activist John M. Perkins, equips students to deeply embrace the servant-leadership style of Christ. After graduation, Perkins Fellows will take their skills and knowledge into communities to empower others through Christ-like leadership.

Created in Fall 2012 and implemented in Fall 2013, the John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows Program aims to identify, develop, and retain students who have the potential to be transformational leaders for Christ’s kingdom, academia, and society.

The program is designed specifically for first-generation students and those passionate about serving their communities.

The Perkins Fellows are a select group of students who participate in leadership development opportunities during their first two years of college. This includes specially designed leadership courses, dinners with prominent Calvin leaders, an all-expenses-paid spring break service trip to the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, and an immersive summer experience before they begin at Calvin.

Click here to visit Calvin University

Ontario, Canada: John Perkins Centre

The Perkins Centre opened in Ontario, Canada in 2011 with 46 studio apartments, a community centre, and commercial rental space.

The Perkins Centre has beautifully transformed what was once a derelict nightclub and rooming house into a vibrant community development centre and a home for forty-six individuals. The building was stripped down to its core, a third storey was added, and both the façade and interior spaces were realigned. The result is highly functional and stunningly simple, yet beautiful spaces that reflect the building’s history, including polished original concrete floors and repurposed marble elements that now serve as window sills.

Tenants enjoy regular programming and activities organized by our dedicated staff and volunteers in the community development centre. Accessibility is ensured with an elevator reaching all floors, including eight barrier-free apartments. Indoor parking for bicycles and mobility scooters promotes convenient transportation. Additionally, barrier-free meeting rooms and a teaching kitchen are available for individuals, neighborhood groups, and other events.

Please visit their website for more information!

Lawndale Community in Chicago: John Perkins Center

In 1975, Dr. John M. Perkins’s close friend and co-founder of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Wayne Gordon, moved to North Lawndale located in Chicago. At that time, North Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the United States. Wayne and Anne Gordon, along with some local high school students, founded Lawndale Community Church. Since then, Lawndale has grown to include the Lawndale Christian Health Center, the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, and the John Perkins Center.

Click here to visit Lawndale Community Church’s website and learn more about their ministry in Chicago.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: Dr. John M. Perkins, Chair Endowment

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary joined the Perkins Legacy in October, 2018 by establishing the John M. Perkins Chair. This chair endows a professor who embodies, teaches and researches the life principles of John M. Perkins.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Northern Seminary of Illinois: John M. Perkins Fellows

 

Northern Seminary of Illinois has the John Perkins Fellows, who are a part of the Master of Divinity program with an emphasis in Christian Community Development. Throughout the course of the program students are mentored, participate in urban ministry internships, and receive first-hand training from top urban ministry leaders. Benefits of the program include the mentorship provided along with in-context learning for practical ministry training, as well as community building designed to allow participants to create a network of supportive peers.

Click here for more information

Seattle Pacific: John M. Perkins Center

The John Perkins Center at Seattle Pacific University was founded in 2004 with the goal of cultivating students into leaders within the contexts of justice, racial reconciliation, and Christian community development. SPU strives to equip students with the skills to become diverse leaders who work to improve the wholeness and wellness of the communities in which they live. The center is also part of an interdisciplinary research facility at the university, seeking to comprehend structural disparities and methods to overcome these differences.

Click here for more information

University of Virginia/Theological Horizons: Perkins Fellows

In 2017, the University of Virginia selected five third-year students to reside in The Perkins House Charlottesville, a home located in the 10th and Page neighborhood less than half a mile northeast from the university. These students strive to build relationships with their neighbors by committing to a weekly “Neighborhood Sabbath,” which may include practices such as sharing meals, performing acts of service, and meeting and talking with neighbors. With the support of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, these students are able to work towards racial reconciliation and cultivate a Christian community in an ethnically diverse, mixed income, and inter-generational neighborhood.

Click here for more information!

Wesley Seminary: John & Vera Mae Perkins Leadership Masters Program

Wesley Seminary began the John & Vera Mae Perkins Leadership Masters program in March of 2018. This masters program is a leadership specialization honoring Dr. John M. Perkins. The leadership masters program is designed for ministry work in multi-cultural settings.

Click here for more information

Wheaton College: Shalom Community

The John Perkins House: Wheaton College, Illinois has a multi-national, multi-racial learning community known as the Shalom Community. This intentional community seeks to use Biblical framework to address diversity, cross-cultural restorative dialogue, educational programming, discipleship, and self-awareness through living in a diverse residency. Resulting in students who are whole, effective Christians who strive for interracial healing and remove racism within the church and society. Students participating in the Shalom Community take a class dealing with racial and ethnic relations while fostering community through weekly meals and plan events designed to impact the Wheaton community.

Shalom Community

Jackson State University: Endowed Scholarship

Jackson State University is the recipient of a $200,000 donation from Pinelake Church in partnership with the Perkins Foundation. The funds have been used to create the John and Vera Mae Perkins Scholarship at JSU to help economically disadvantaged men and women obtain a college education. The contribution has been matched by Title III funds bringing the endowment to $400,000.

Named for Dr. John M. Perkins, a minister, civil rights activist, best-selling author, and community developer, and his wife, Vera Mae, the Perkins Scholarship is specifically designed for students in need of financial assistance who are likely the first in their family to attend college, and who demonstrate good character.

“It’s an honor to partner with my friend and Christian brother Dr. Perkins. Our shared faith is the foundation and inspiration for creating this scholarship,” said Dr. Chip Henderson, senior pastor of Pinelake Church. “I heard recently that ‘if we live lives of generosity, others can live lives of opportunity’ and that is what we want to be a part of.”

The Perkins Scholarship was formed as a way to cultivate the next generation of leaders who are interested in the improvement of their local communities. It is “meant to be an example of how love wins, how unity overcomes history,” said Priscilla Perkins, co-president of the Perkins Foundation.

“We are truly blessed by this partnership with Pinelake Church,” continued Perkins. “Our hope is this initial endowment grows immeasurably and changes countless lives through education and spiritual enrichment.”

Jackson State University was selected as the recipient of the Perkins Scholarship because of Dr. Perkins’ historical relationship with the university and in recognition of its many excellent academic programs that will benefit Perkins scholars. Though this scholarship is available through JSU, the hope is for it to be a model for other communities to create similar endowments that honor Dr. Perkins and invest in the next generation of local leaders.

Jackson State University