Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez is a proud first-generation Mexican-American from the La Villita neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. She is a co-founder and Director of Training and Formation at the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), a Catholic and Christian-rooted community organizing coalition that advances community transformation through spirituality and grassroots organizing. She holds a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Fordham University, with a concentration in Spiritual Direction.
A writer, speaker, and formator, Joanna explores the intersections of spirituality, theology, organizing, and the historical Jesus. Her essays, reflections, and articles have appeared in a variety of Catholic and social justice publications, including Give Us This Day and the Center for Action and Contemplation. She has also served as a guest preacher with Catholic Women Preach. She is currently writing a series on the historical Jesus.