3.3 Inspiring Community Change through Faith, with Dana Robb, Shelli Spotts, and Gloria Ezeonyeasi

Currents: the Big Ocean Women Podcast

Danna Robb, Shelli Spotts, and Gloria Ezeonyeasi discuss being a woman of faith.

“Our faith tenet with Big Ocean really focuses on the fact that through our faith, we feel inspired to act in our communities and to be involved.” - Shelli Spotts

“That’s how we grew up . . . knowing that our faith is everything that we have; God is everything. [My mother] taught us to depend on God completely.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“I can’t imagine a life without faith. Because when you’re faced with a challenge, where do you go for that … peace of mind?” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“I’m convinced that there’s nothing better than my faith, so it’s a treasure. It’s something that I treasure so much.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“Faith should unify us, and not divide us really.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“I think God has a very wonderful way of leading us down the path that he wants us to go.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“I do think we grapple with those kinds of questions, of what are you willing to give up for your faith? … As I’ve gotten older, though, I’ve decided I actually think living with your faith is almost more of an ask for me as an adult, right? How am I living my faith in my everyday, and dedicating myself every day to this faith and to changing the world around me and trying to make it better and looking at the world with hope?” - Shelli Spotts

“If I’m a good mom and a good wife it is because of my faith, because my faith will remind me to forgive, to love without any reservation. So again, everything I am and I’m able to do in this relationship with my husband, with my children, is all deeply rooted in my faith.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“The faith aspect of the Big Ocean Women stood out, and I liked how that was wrapped in with motherhood and family life and how with your faith as a woman, how you can actually challenge some of the thing that you see in your society, in your community and how you can stand in solidarity with other women of faith.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“Whenever I talk about the Big Ocean Women, the first I say to people that I’m trying to get to join, I say to them, this is a group about faith. It’s a group about faith, about women and our faith. And the fact that it’s not just the Christian faith is also very liberating. So I don’t have to worry about somebody saying to me, ‘Oh, I want to join, but I don’t, I’m not a Christian.’ I’m free to say, ‘Oh, yes, of course you can join us. You don’t have to be a Catholic or a Christian to be part of us.’ But you need to be authentic in your faith.” - Gloria Ezeonyeasi

“We may not have exactly the same faith, and we may practice our faith differently, but we are all drawn together by the fact that our faith tells us that we can act to strengthen our families, and we can act to strengthen our communities, and that globally we can change things by acting together, and that we make real change happen.” Shelli Spotts

“Let’s use our faith to unite us and to work together. We can accomplish so much more when we are united. Even if we have differences, we find those commonalities and we work together.” - Dana Robb

Gloria Ezeonyeasi is 51 years old and married with daughters aged 23, 21, 20 and a 17 years old son. She has lived in London, UK since 1993. She has a Masters degree and presently works as a Social Worker with Children and Families.

She is an active member of her Church and has the privilege of serving in different groups in the parish. She has an unwavering passion for education and lifelong learning. She has a special love for young people and the whole family.

Her mission as a Big Ocean Women WAVE leader, is to empower women and girls to live their fullest potential as women. Her vision is to start a WAVE wherever she goes.

Whenever presented with the opportunity for adventure, Dana Robb is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset.

Shelli Spotts is an advocacy writer and creative writing teacher. She loves to spend time with her husband (usually in the garden) and their four almost adult children. She also loves to sew, to read, to write, and to drag her family outside to look at the sky. Shelli is passionate about poetry, Broadway show tunes, and telling stories—of ourselves, our families, and our communities.