Meet Larry
Larry W. Foy Sr. has an accomplished professional and public career in college and seminary instruction, pastoral ministry, social justice activism, public policy advocacy, non-profit management, and community organizing.
Larry has served as an assistant professor in Christian Theology and Church History at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California; as an instructor in Theology and Religion at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois; and as an adjunct instructor at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.
Most recently, Larry served as the Regional Director for the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, a faith-rooted organization dedicated to promoting racial justice and advocating for policy reforms in the criminal legal system.
Before his service with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Larry served as the Public Policy Director for the New Way of Life Reentry Project, a prominent and leading organization in the movement to end mass incarceration and the criminalization of women and people of color.
During his tenure at the New Way of Life, Larry led his policy team to successfully craft, sponsor, and ultimately persuade the Los Angeles City Council to adopt and implement the Fair Chance Employment Ordinance-which banned public and private employers in the city of Los Angeles from discriminating in hiring against people with criminal histories.
As a social justice advocate, Larry played a prominent leadership role while serving as the Director of Programs at the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (2001-06), a chapter of the National SCLC organization co-founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the organization that sparked the flames for social justice and racial equality in Larry during his high school years as a student member of the Franklin Parish Louisiana SCLC Chapter led by lawyer and preacher the late Rev. Elijah Brass.
While at the Los Angeles-based SCLC, Larry coordinated the GOTV election drive within the faith community, resulting in the election of several prominent Democrats to public office. As a passionate advocate for racial justice, Larry coordinated and led the SCLC Hate Crime Project, a collaboration with the Los Angeles County Human Relations Division that assisted victims of hate-related violence.
As a faith leader, Larry has served as a spiritual and denominational leader in the United Church of Christ. He also served in several pastoral capacities within local member churches in the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. Larry is highly regarded as an engaging public speaker and unafraid to "Speak truth to power." He has served as a guest speaker in numerous churches and faith traditions.
Larry Foy Sr. is a seminary and university-trained theologian and social ethicist. He holds a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from North Central College and an M.A. in Theology & Ethics from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Larry also completed studies toward an M.A. degree in Law at Regent University School of Law. Additionally, he pursued Ph.D. studies in Theological Ethics and Public Policy Formation at the University of Southern California (USC).
Larry and Sharon Foy are natives of Winnsboro, Louisiana. They are the proud parents of three children, LaTasha, Larry Jr., and Reginald (Maria, daughter-in-law); four grandsons, Brandon, Demarcus, Jaylen, and Zion; three granddaughters, Aaliyah, Lila, and Zoe.
Why is Larry Foy running for Congress?
"I am running for the U. S. Congress in Louisiana's Fifth District because I believe it's time for real change. Among the 50 states, Louisiana continues to rank last in every statistical category: health, education, natural environment, infrastructure, crime and correction, and opportunity. How is this so? Because Louisiana congressional leaders have failed to deliver for the people. Instead, Louisiana Republicans have put their party before the people and fixated on the failed policies of Donald Trump--a wannabe king and dictator. Louisiana Republicans prefer to "kiss the ring" and not improve the lives of their constituents. As a person of faith, I believe in the power of prayer and that "prayer changes things." That said, I also affirm that it is through legislation and the implementation of sound public policy that we bring about the change(s) we desire. As the Congressional representative of LA, D5, I will work every day to craft legislation that engenders a more prosperous, progressive, and vibrant region where all can thrive and live out the American dream. Together, we can bring about real change and chart a new future for D-5."
