Jackson Free Press

Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago, visits Tougaloo College to speak to teenage girls this week.

Moss speaks Thursday at the Unita Blackwell Young Women's Leadership Institute at Tougaloo College near Jackson. The event is closed to the public. The Children's Defense Fund and its Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative for Economic and Social Justice sponsor the event.

More than 80 girls in grades 8 through 12 will attend the Leadership Institute June 23-27. Participants come from Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The program encourages girls and women to improve their economic and social status.

President Barack Obama attended Trinity when he lived in Chicago. Moss succeeded Rev. Jeremiah Wright at Trinity in 2008.

Moss often speaks to youth groups. He earned a bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy from Morehouse College, where he served as student government president. In 1995 he earned a master's degree in ethics and theology from Yale University.

Moss was not available for comment this morning.

The Trinity United Church of God webiste says Moss has preached in South Africa, Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Egypt. Newsweek magazine cited Moss as one of "God's foot Soldiers' committed to transforming the lives of youth. He is a frequent guest commentator on the Naomi Judd New Morning Show on The Hallmark Network.

Moss is married to Monica Brown Moss, a graduate of Spelman College and Columbia University. They have one son, Elijah Wynton Taylor Moss, and one daughter, Makayla Elon Moss.

For information about this private event, call 601 321-1966.