The Honorable Reverend Nicolas V. O'Rourke is Philadelphia City Council’s Minority Whip, Pastor (Covenant) of the Living Water United Church of Christ in Oxford Circle and the 2nd Working Families Party member elected to Philadelphia City Council. Working at the intersections of faith and justice, he has served as the Faith Leader's Caucus Co-Chair for POWER. In that capacity, he has focused on dismantling the crippling effects of Mass Incarceration and Police Brutality on people of color, advocated for fully funded schools, championed better pay, as well as combating White Christian Nationalism, Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism within the city of Philadelphia. Nicolas studied Adolescent/Young Adult Education at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, Ministry and Leadership at the former Center for Urban Theological Studies  in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and continues studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Rev. O'Rourke is a licensed and ordained minister within several denominations/fellowships, working across wide ranging lines of thinking to highlight common ground for all people. As a strong proponent of social justice and spiritual awareness, he considers himself a "Sacred Activist" and contends for the rights of people with the guidance of God. Nicolas is married to the Mrs. T. Leslie O'Rourke and is a proud God-Father, Uncle, Son, and Servant.