M2M Newsletter May 2025

Greetings M2M Research Network,

May is here, and we’re listening. The past month has brought a wave of support, encouragement, and interest—from inside and beyond our original community. That response has made one thing clear: there’s a broader need for what we do. So we’re evolving to meet it.

🔥 What’s Happening in May?

✔️ New Writing Support Is Coming Your Way – We’re launching a blog series this month dedicated to academic writing support, especially for independent scholars. These posts will offer real strategies to help you build momentum, write with clarity, and stay motivated—because the process matters as much as the product.

✔️ Introducing the Scholars’ Sacred Circle – In response to high interest and repeated requests, we’re widening our reach. The Scholars’ Sacred Circle is a new initiative designed for a broader community of independent scholars, postdocs, and early career researchers in Theology and adjacent fields including scholars Ethics, Religious Studies, Feminist Theology, Church History, Womanist Theology, Black Church Studies, Buddhism, Jewish Theology, and more.

You can sign up now for the pilot session on April 30 at Calendly. The first 20 participants will receive free access to the full 8-week pilot program.

✔️ Sistah Scholars Relaunches This Fall – The full Sistah Scholars Program—designed specifically for women of African descent in religious scholarship—will officially return in October 2025. This gives us the opportunity to deepen the vision while continuing to serve a wider scholarly audience through the Sacred Circle.

This shift is a step into greater capacity, more access, and broader impact.

📢 We Keep Growing Because You Keep Showing Up

Here’s what else is happening across the M2M Network:

✔️ Field-Shaping Dialogue – Our latest conversations are redefining what religious scholarship looks like and who it’s for.

✔️ Career-Building Opportunities – Funding, jobs, fellowships, and calls for papers, all curated for scholars committed to justice and transformation.

✔️ Insightful Blogs & Features – Our new writing series launches this month—practical, honest, and grounded in the real-world challenges scholars face.

🚀 This Is Just the Beginning

We’re also preparing to introduce Bridge Builders, an initiative focused on shifting institutional culture in universities, churches, and research organizations. It’s not performative—it’s structural. And it’s coming soon.

💼 Institutional Consulting – We’re actively working with departments, seminaries, and research centers to support, retain, and elevate Black women scholars. Interested in bringing this work to your institution? Let’s talk.

🌟 A Community That Grows With Purpose

Whether you’re just finding us or have been with us since the beginning—thank you. Your presence builds momentum. Your scholarship shapes the future. Let’s keep building together.

With gratitude,

Dr. Nash
Director, M2M Research Network