The Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson (she/her/hers) is an ordained minister whose credentials are recognized by the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and American Baptist Churches USA. She is an educator, counselor and social activist. Donnie lives in Senate District 1, Providence.

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        She enjoys the opportunity to present and moderate conversations in social justice issues of race, poverty and gender. In Rhode Island, Donnie is the Co-Chair of the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias, a member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, a Board member of SAGE RI, and now serves on the Executive Committee of the Rhode Island Democratic Womens' Caucus.

        Formerly, Donnie served as Executive Minister of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC) for almost 13 years, which is comprised of churches from eleven Protestant denominations, and numerous other local congregations working in partnership with affiliated Muslim and Jewish organizations.

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        Over the past two decades, she was frequently seen at the Rhode Island State House fighting for drivers' licenses for undocumented residents, for affordable housing, for "ban the box" legislation for formerly incarcerated persons, against the scandalous interest rates charged by payday lenders, and in defense of the rights of the LGBQT+ community, and instrumental in the statewide effort for marriage equality. She also worked in support of numerous bills for low-income tax credits for families with children. She's been fighting for a better Rhode Island for years and now she wants to work for the people in her home district in the Senate.

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        Previously she served as pastor in congregations in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Recently she served as the pastor of the Provincetown United Methodist Church in Provincetown, MA, and  now serves a Pastor at Pilgrim United Church of Christ (UCC) in New Bedford, MA. ###

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