Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Meet the Newest Members of the PPF Community! 🌍

We’re thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship family! Each of these individuals brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and dedication to our mission for peace and justice.

Hey Friends, Joining us are Mudit Suri as a new staff member and Chijioke Elekwa Agbaeze, Marissa Gutierrez, and Sheila Melendez as our newest residents. They each bring amazing talents and passion for peace and justice, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them better. You can learn more about them on our website.

Mudit Suri (he/him) Accompaniment Strategist Mudit is originally from India and is now based in Illinois with his family, Mudit brings extensive experience in peace-building and disarmament work. He previously served with the United Nations in Latin America and Colombia, focusing on violence prevention and peace accord implementation. Mudit speaks Spanish and Hindi, enjoys hiking with his family, and is always working to refine his cooking skills.

Marissa Gutierrez (she/her) Artist in Residence for 2024-2025 Marissa (she/her) is a human rights and peace-building activist, artist, educator, and advocate for youth. Recently, she was an Artist-in-Residence at the Initiative for a Just Society at the Center for Contemporary Critical Thought at Columbia University. Marissa also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at the City College of New York in the Art Education department.

Chijioke Elekwa Agbaeze (he/him) PPF Resident Supporting the Lost & Found Project Chijioke is a theologian, pastor, and ecologist dedicated to community-centered ministry and inspiring care for our common home. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology and Ecology at Princeton Theological Seminary, Chijioke explores the intersection of faith and ecological advocacy, aiming to foster resilient, faith-driven responses to social and environmental challenges.

Sheila Melendez PPF Resident Supporting the Lost & Found Project Sheila Melendez is a singer, conductor, and worship leader from the Baltimore/DC area. She grew up singing in various churches, directing praise bands for worship services, and studying music from a young age. Additionally, she has performed with Latin Jazz groups, held roles in Operas, and has been a soloist for major choral works. Ms. Sheila worked with several community choirs from beginner to professional chamber groups in the Denver area. She is currently the choir director at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, WV and an adjunct voice faculty at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD.

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