Erwin Kamuene is a reporter for the 2025 Sojourners Journalism Cohort.
Erwin (he/him) is a writer and journalist currently based in Boston, Mass. While in college, he got his start by contributing to local publications such as Boston Hassle, The Quinobequin Review, and Decadent Cosmos literary zine. His work explores art, culture, and politics, always aiming to find the connective tissue between these topics.
During his time as an editorial intern at Beacon Press and as a 2024 Art Writing Fellow at Boston Art Review, he gained ample experience working with artists and writers from underserved communities. He hopes to further implement these experiences to better highlight neglected and overshadowed histories.
Erwin holds a bachelor's degree in writing, editing, and publishing, and personally enjoys reading, biking, and dancing. When he is not in the process of writing something, you can probably find him worrying that he should be.
Posts By This Author
Faith Leaders Share Why They Joined Zohran Mamdani’s Transition Team
As Zohran Mamdani prepares to take the New York City mayor’s office, he’s tapped several NYC faith leaders to work on his transition team, centering affordability and day-to-day needs of New Yorkers.
Mamdani’s election was one of the most successful in recent memory. Mamdani, who entered the race as a relatively unknown upstart, defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a primary and general election—becoming the first candidate since 1969 to earn over one million votes. Over a month after Mamdani’s victory, much of the excitement behind his campaign has yet to waver.
Mamdani’s transition team, made up of 17 advisory committees and more than 400 people helping to advise his incoming administration, received more than 50,000 applications. Among those selected to facilitate his transition are at least 18 faith and religious leaders from a range of traditions.
Of the Christian leaders listed, the denominations represented include Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and Episcopalians, spread across committees focused on housing, youth and education, and community safety. Those faith leaders told Sojourners they looked forward to working with the Mamdani administration.
Black Pastors Discuss the Promises and Perils of AI in Church
As the ubiquity of artificial intelligence grows, Black spiritual leaders find themselves navigating its perils and promises.
Amid ethical concerns over the sourcing of AI materials, the role of technology in creative endeavors, and the environmental consequences of AI, there’s a significant demand for the technology among church leaders. A 2024 survey by Barna Group found that 78% of pastors are comfortable using AI to assist with marketing and that 58% of pastors are comfortable using AI to assist with communication.
Rev. Heber Brown III, founder of The Black Church Food Security Network, interprets this demand as a symptom of increasing workloads.
Trump Negotiated a Ceasefire in Gaza. Peacemakers are Hopeful—And Wary
Faith leaders working toward peace in Israel and Palestine have met the ongoing ceasefire with wary hope—grateful for a step toward peace, but anxious about long-term justice.
“Our organizational position and a part of the sentiment I’m experiencing is a cautious hope,” said Rev. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace. “We’re not using optimism, we’re using hope.”
On Oct. 8, Israel and Hamas agreed to commence the first stage of a 20-point peace plan drawn up by President Donald Trump with the assistance of Middle East allies. The Trump-led plan marks the third cessation in fighting between Israel and Hamas since October 2023, after Hamas’s terrorist attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, and Israel’s following offensive on Gaza which has killed more than 67,000. Israel’s military violence and blockading of aid and food have led to a humanitarian crisis that the UN and other groups have called a genocide.