Thank you for being here.
Joli is a dynamic educator, strategic communicator, and learning and development leader who specializes in building just and joyful learning spaces. With over a decade of experience across nonprofit, higher education, and healthcare sectors, Jo has carved out a niche in transforming complex ideas into accessible, action-driven learning experiences— in-person and remotely.
Jo’s work is rooted in equity and intention. Whether developing ASHA-accredited CEU courses and speaking on panels about supporting families of autistic children, or designing leadership lectures that center cultural humility for Columbia University graduate students, or facilitating Pride month discussions on trans/nonbinary affirming medical care for New York Presbyterian Hospital, Joli aims to create learning that resonates and drives results.
They bring expertise in adult learning theory, instructional design, and change communication—along with a signature touch of emotional intelligence, humor, and storytelling.
A proud Harlem resident for 15+ years, Jo’s background includes work with higher education professionals, college students, medical professionals, sexual violence prevention and response teams, law enforcement personnel, building/construction tradespeople, corporate leadership, fitness instructors, various clinical teams, and grassroots community-based organizations— nationwide! They hold a Master’s of Education in Human Sexuality and are a passionate advocate for anti-oppressive education and lifelong learning.
Education Ethos
Universal Pursuits
Safety: Physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual safety are entitlements even if they are not guaranteed
Love: Behaving in support of our own or someone else’s safety, authenticity, and liberation from oppression.
Relational Pursuits
Individual Pursuits
Allyship: Support the liberation of others from individual prejudice and oppressive systems through action.
Equity: Relational energy and labor is adaptable, reciprocal, and voluntary; professional energy and labor are properly compensated for.
Accountability: An opportunity for healing; the privilege of growth; a personal responsibility with far reaching community impact.
Pleasure: Physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual experiences of joy.
Embodiment: Presence with and connection to an entire present experience— physically, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.
Courage: Ability to behave with integrity even when experiencing discomfort.
“I had the pleasure of working with Joli for over a year. As a manager for a large department, I often worked in an interdisciplinary capacity with other departmental leads, and Joli was the Director of Education and Communication for the company. We not only worked closely together on multiple leadership projects, but I also attended many of Joli’s trainings and continuing education courses.
Joli exemplifies a professional who brings 100% effort and creativity to every project, no matter how small. One of the recurring highlights for me was the monthly newsletter that Joli organized, particularly their insightful, moving TEDex feature. I’ve read a lot of company newsletters in my career, and none have been as memorable and impactful as these. They were invaluable for fostering dialogue among team members, boosting morale, and enhancing engagement among employees.
Additionally, Joli’s continuing education courses were stellar. I attended one of their classes on trauma-informed care, and I reference the information I learned from that course almost daily in my own practice.
Perhaps more importantly, Joli’s warmth, authenticity, and kindness as a fellow colleague cannot be overstated. You immediately feel like you are in a safe space with them, where you can let your guard down from a place of true vulnerability. In addition to being an expert wordsmith, Joli has an uncommon ability to actively listen, treating each team member with respect, dignity, and unconditional positive regard in every conversation.
Any team would be unbelievably lucky to have the opportunity to work with Joli. They are driven, highly skilled as an educator and content creator, and will do what it takes to get results. I give them my highest recommendation, without hesitation. Please feel free to connect with me personally for an even more detailed, glowing reference! Joli is one-in-a-million.”
Ashley Elaine McCurry, Owner & Co-founder @ Carefree Speech
Qualified.
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Master of Education in Human Sexuality, Widener University
Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Columbia University
MindBody Therapy Certification, Embodied Philosophy
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Lydia Martinez Multidisciplinary Collaboration Award , Sexual Violence Preventionist, New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
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1st Annual Maternal Health Equity Symposium – Future/Backwards, Strategic Plan Activity Facilitator
New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, February 25, 2025The Power of We, Facilitator
Volunteers for America, Seattle, WA, July 23, 2024Pride – Dialogs in Diversity, Host/Panel Moderator
New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, June 12, 2024Pride 2024: Gender Expansive Allyship in the Workplace, Facilitator
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Washington, DC. June 12, 2024Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, May 29, 2024Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, May 23, 2024Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
Casey Family Programs, Washington, DC, April 26, 2024Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, January 11, 2024Giving and Receiving Feedback, Facilitator
Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, August 2, 2023Our Whole Lives: Queer & Trans Identities, Panelist
First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, May 1, 2022Facilitating Groups: 5-Days of Skills Building, Facilitator
The Advocacy Center, Ithaca, NY, October 2-8, 2021Trauma Informed Facilitation, Facilitator
Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, February 1, 2021Intersectionality and Allyship, Facilitator
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Baltimore, MD, October 16, 2020Our Relationships, Sex & Intimacy, Subject Matter Expert
#HealMeToo: Insights, Art & Activism to Change Our Culture, New York, NY, Podcast season 2 episode 5, June 26, 2020No Means No, Subject Matter Expert
Growing Gardenias, New York, NY, Podcast episode 33, January 8, 2020Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Understanding & Managing Resistance, Facilitator
New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, Enough is Enough Provider Meeting, June 12-13, 2018Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Understanding & Managing Resistance, Facilitator
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Student Summit, Portland, OR, January 20, 2018Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Understanding & Managing Resistance, Facilitator
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Student Summit, Portland, OR, January 18-20, 2018Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Understanding & Managing Resistance, Facilitator
Manhattan Sexual Assault Task Force Campus Subcommittee Cultivating Safe Campuses: Intersections of Higher Education, Community-Based Organizations, & the Laws, New York, NY, January 19, 2018Exploring Masculinities, Panelist
Columbia University Office of University Life & the School of International & Public Affairs, New York, NY, October 19, 2017Professional Pause: Self-Care for Human Sexuality Professionals, Facilitator
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 15-18, 2017Masculinity, Media, & Sexual Violence, Panelist
Columbia University Sexual Violence Response, New York, NY, April 17, 2017Rewriting the Playbook: Engaging Men in Campus Sexual Violence Prevention, Facilitator
American Men's Studies Association (AMSA) Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, March 30-April 2, 2017Rewriting the Playbook: Engaging Men in Campus Sexual Violence Prevention, Facilitator
National Sex Ed Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, December 7-10, 2016Self-Care for Human Sexuality Professionals Round Table, Host
National Sex Ed Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, December 7-10, 2016 -
Action for Racial Justice, March 2021-March 2022, Racial Wealth Gap Simulation Facilitator, Community Pod Facilitator
Exhale to Inhale, June 2018-July 2019 , Young Professional Board Member
Cultivating Safe Campus: Intersections of Higher Education, Community-Based Organizations, & the Laws, January 2018, Manhattan Sexual Assault Task Force Campus Subcommittee, Summit Co-Chair & Organizer
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), September 2017, 2018 NASPA Strategies Conferences Program Reviewer
Manhattan Sexual Assault Task Force College Campus Subcommittee, April 2017-November 2018| Co-Chair & Summit Planning Team Member, Contributing member since January 2017
OutSmartNYC Curriculum Author, February 2016- January 2019, Lesson Plan Author & Contributor to OutSmartNYC Training Manual: “Sexual Violence Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training for Nightlight Community”, www.OutSmartNYC.org
OutSmartNYC Collective Member , February 2016- January 2019, Contributor to OutSmartNYC Training Manual: “Sexual Violence Prevention & Bystander Intervention Training for Nightlight Community”, Curriculum Facilitator, Trainer of Trainers, www.OutSmartNYC.org
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children, UNICEF/United Nations, June-August 2012, Summer Communications Intern
Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), 2009, 2010, 2011, Summer Intern