Ronné Wingate Sims
Director of Children & Youth Ministry for Imani Community Church

Her career serving youth in both faith-based and secular organizations has spanned over 12 years and has taken her to the east and west coasts. She spent several years working on research projects at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC with world-renound child psychologists, economists, and sociologists studying linkages between race and family poverty levels, immigrant status and children’s health, and the impact of early childhood interventions on educational success.  Her work appears in eight published books including Children of Immigrants: Health, Adjustment and Public Assistance (1999), From Neurons to Neighborhoods: Integrating The Science of Early Childhood Development (2000), and America Becoming: Racial Trends and Their Consequences (2001).
Impacted by her work at The Academies and recognizing the call of God on her life, Ronné moved from research to practice and began working directly with young people through non-profit organizations. She designed and managed programs for youth in a broad variety of harsh realities such as youth from homeless families, pregnant and parenting teens, and children with significant learning disabilities. Ronné founded two neighborhood youth centers, one of which was funded by Microsoft, and has chaired and been a board member of a number of church- and community-based youth organizations. Working in some of the poorest neighborhoods of Washington, DC, East Palo Alto and Oakland, she has counseled and advocated for youth in classrooms, courtrooms, shelters, and psychiatric wards, and is no stranger to ministering in times of crisis.
Ronné is also a gifted teacher, being a featured presenter and panelist at various youth retreats and forums. Ronné completed a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible Institute (Washington, DC) and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at California State University, East Bay. Ronné is blessed to share her life with a great man of honor and integrity Archie Sims, Jr. and together they are raising two young men of valor, Xavier and Gabriel.