Seeking to expand its outreach, advocacy, and volunteer engagement efforts, the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center’s (GIPPC) board of directors, a community of Georgia lay and ordained faith leaders, has appointed Wesley E. Myrick as executive director. Founded in 2019, GIPPC is an ecumenical advocacy nonprofit that strives to unite Georgia’s people of faith to educate, empower, and advocate for the common good. It identifies issues of interest to people of faith, magnifies their voices, and mobilizes concerned citizens around common values of love, justice, mercy, and hospitality.

A nonprofit leader with nearly two decades of experience specializing in strategy and nonprofit financial operations, Myrick most recently served as a senior policy analyst in the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office. While there, he led the development of city-wide initiatives such as the Mayor's Faith-based Development Initiative which engaged faith leaders to create a pipeline of more than 2,000 affordable housing units. Additionally, he led engagements with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Treasury. He further supported other critical initiatives such as the Rapid Housing Initiative, the Mayor’s Town Hall series, and the Mayor’s Summit on Neighborhoods.

With family origins in Monroe County, Ga., Myrick is an alumnus of Georgia State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Myrick also serves as vice-chair of the board of trustees for the Interdenominational Theological Center, chair of the board of directors for the Common Market Southeast, and board treasurer for the LB Legacy Network, Inc.

“The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center enables Georgians to put their values of love, justice, mercy, and hospitality into action,” said theReverend John R. Moeller, Jr., GIPPC board chair and president & CEO of Inspiritus. “We are excited to have Wesley Myrick join us as executive director and look forward to the leadership he will bring to the Center.”

As executive director, Myrick will be responsible for the organization’s overall management, strategic direction, and growth. He will work closely with the board of directors to advance the GIPPC mission and strategic plan. He will work to inspire and mobilize constituents, policymakers, coalition partners, and the public about issues important to the faith community and the organization’s mission.

"The state's faith community has so much to contribute to conversations about issues of most impact to the future of all Georgians," saidWesley E. Myrick, executive director of the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center.  “I look forward to using my experience in government and expertise in managing strategic partnerships to build impactful coalitions that amplify the voice of Georgia’s community of the faithful through the work of the Center."

Currently, the Center is an active ally in coalitions to expand healthcare access, provide second chances to the previously incarcerated, provide alternatives to the death penalty, make housing safe and affordable, and other issues of justice and mercy.

Myrick succeeds The Venerable Carole Maddux, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, a co-founder of the Center.

“The Center owes a debt of gratitude to Carole for her pioneering and sacrificial leadership that poised it to make this move,” said Moeller.  “We appreciate her years of service and commitment to spreading the word about the mission of the organization.” 

Information about volunteer opportunities with the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center is available at https://gippc.org/volunteer-form/.