Rev. Sharon Risher
Speaker & Author, Sharon Risher Speaks; National Volunteer, Everytown for Gun Safety; Emanuel AME Church shooting survivor
2025
Rev. Sharon Risher, from Charleston, SC, is a sought after respected preacher, public communicator passionate about social justice. She was catapulted into the limelight, after her beloved Mother, 2 cousins and a childhood friend was killed in the Emanuel AME Church, in Charleston, SC, June 17th, 2015. With experience in leadership, chaplaincy, and authorship (For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness After the Charleston Massacre, 2019), Sharon energizes and enlightens every space she enters. She is known for linking faith to action, inspiring others to think big and act with purpose, as a National Spokesperson for MOMS Demand Action for Gun Safety/Everytown Survivor Network, past Chair of the Board for one of the largest grassroots organizations to abolish the death penalty, Death Penalty Action.
At the Summit
The Summit was more than empty words – it made clear that a solution-driven approach is the only way to fight hate. That’s why the working group activities, which are results driven are going to be critical in defeating violent extremism. The Summit brought together the best minds in government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Being surrounded by these experts sparked new ideas – some of which I’ve already implemented or have written about.
