NEW YORK CITY — Nova, seven, and her mother Elizabeth Hamby led an activity at Judson Memorial Church in New York City on June 14, 2026. The activity integrated children into the church's justice-focused programming.

During the event, Nova read from the children's book "We Are the Builders" to congregants. Judson Memorial Church incorporates children directly into its Sunday service and activism activities rather than separating them into a traditional Sunday school.

Congregants also engaged in discussions regarding various roles within activism, such as documenting Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities, delivering groceries, and protesting the climate crisis. Steff Reed, the Sunday school director at Judson Memorial Church, said, "Children are not merely recipients of justice. They are participants in the work of justice."

Hamby, an artist and civil servant, formed a justice-oriented families group called Seeds in the Bronx. This group started around the time Donald Trump retook office and meets approximately once a month with up to dozens of families. The Seeds group reads children's books about civil rights, sings resistance songs, and discusses protests.

Hamby commented on the process of parenting through current events. "There's no roadmap for how we parent through this. There are no easy answers, and so having a space where we can talk about it, at least we can work on it together." She also described the experience of children leading activities with a megaphone. "We bought this little megaphone that they can hold, and watching them pass it between each other, and each leading songs and chants, it was awesome. It's super energizing for us, and I think for others too."

Following a recent Sunday service, children at Judson Memorial Church painted butterfly wings to wear to the Queer Liberation parade. Ada, who is nine years old, shared her vision for the future: "I imagine a lot of good things, but I also imagine things that probably will never happen, like water parks with ice-cream and not water. I would also like to see everyone helping each other, and more people respecting others, even though we're different."

Judson Memorial Church's approach integrates youth into social and political activism, departing from traditional models where children might be separated during such discussions. The church aims to foster early engagement in issues like immigration, climate change, and LGBTQ+ rights, aligning with its broader justice-oriented mission. The activities led by individuals like Elizabeth Hamby and her daughter, Nova, exemplify how families are seeking community and resources to navigate complex social challenges and teach their children about active participation in justice movements.