Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds is a much sought after minister, doula, principal, officiant, counselor, and choreographer. She has been invited to share all of her services throughout the nation, bringing her passion and commitment for excellence along with her compassion and love for people. She offers counseling for all ages and situations in a professional and safe environment, including thru e-counseling. Affectionately known as Mama Mayowa, she uses the performing arts as a vehicle to promote awareness, unity, cultural pride, and personal excellence for the youth of Detroit. She is grateful for the privilege to fulfill her calling as a minister, an educator and an artist.
Rev. Dr. Reynolds was ordained in 2005 and is an active member of Fellowship Chapel where she serves as Associate Minister under the mentorship and direction of her Pastor, Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony. She is a vacation bible school teacher; liaison for Women’s Christian Fellowship, Christian Education and the “Intonjane” coming into womanhood – “Rites of Passage” program at Fellowship Chapel. She serves as Chair of the James E. Wadsworth Jr., Community Center (JEWJCC), a not-for-profit community-based organization of Fellowship Chapel.
As an educator, Dr. Reynolds is currently the principal of Detroit School of Arts. Previously, she was the former dance teacher at Cass Technical High School of arts from 2015 to 2018, as at Detroit School of Arts from 1999-2011. As an administrator she has served as the Dean of Enrollment, Arts and Accountability at the Detroit School of Arts and Dr. Reynolds was the Assistant Principal at Glazer Elementary school with New Paradigm for Education. She began her career in education at Aisha Shule Affirmative School for Gifted Children and the W. E. B. Dubois Prep school under the mentorship of founder, Mama Imani Humphrey.
As an artist, Mama Mayowa recently performed in the one woman play “Passing” the life story of Minerva Roulhac, written by Dara Haper, which deals with issues of race, education, family and love. She lectures and facilitates workshops on history, religion and culture. Dr. Reynolds creates original works of choreography for pre-professional and professional dancers and actors. She performs dance as a soloist and has worked with Plowshares Theatre Company as an actor, dancer, choreographer and director. Her mentors in the arts include Clifford Fears, Ron Milner, Kim Weston, Carolyn Jones Rowland, Penny Godboldo, and Jawole Wila Jo Zollar.
Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds is a product of Detroit Public Schools and a graduate of Mumford High School. Having successfully obtained the Radio and TV certification at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. Dr. Reynolds has accrued many credits in radio and television broadcast productions. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Education, with a minor in Humanities from Marygrove College. She also obtained her Masters in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove. Dr. Mayowa Lisa Reynolds received many awards including the Catherine Bicknell Fellowship to Benin, West Africa, Distinguished Student, and Who’s Who among American Colleges and Universities. Rev. Reynolds has completed post graduate studies with a concentration in Pastoral Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary. She received her Doctorate of Ministry degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary her dissertation title is “Womanist Theology for Spiritual Transformation”. After years of studying in New Orleans, LA with the Urban Bush Women of Brooklyn, NY, Mama Mayowa served on the faculty of their Summer Leadership Institute. She has studied leadership and anti racists community organizing from Urban Bush Women, and The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond in New Orleans, Louisiana.
For Mama Mayowa, life is ministry and is expressed through the mediums of dance, speaking, living, and supporting people and their families from birth through all of life’s changes to end of life transition. Rev. Reynolds is a servant and leader in constant transformation towards the goal of a beloved community.
Dr. Reynolds resides in Detroit, Michigan, along with her husband, Lumumba Reynolds, three children and one grandchild.