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 for Expressable, 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.

Qualified.

  • Master of Education in Human Sexuality, Widener University

    Bachelor of Arts in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Columbia University

    MindBody Therapy Certification, Embodied Philosophy

  • Lydia Martinez Multidisciplinary Collaboration Award , Sexual Violence Preventionist, New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault

  • 1st Annual Maternal Health Equity Symposium – Future/Backwards, Strategic Plan Activity Facilitator
    New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, February 25, 2025

    The Power of We, Facilitator
    Volunteers for America, Seattle, WA, July 23, 2024

    Pride – Dialogs in Diversity, Host/Panel Moderator
    New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, June 12, 2024

    Pride 2024: Gender Expansive Allyship in the Workplace, Facilitator
    National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Washington, DC. June 12, 2024

    Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
    New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, May 29, 2024

    Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
    New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, May 23, 2024

    Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
    Casey Family Programs, Washington, DC, April 26, 2024

    Befriending Your Inner Critic, Facilitator
    Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, January 11, 2024

    Giving and Receiving Feedback, Facilitator
    Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, August 2, 2023

    Our Whole Lives: Queer & Trans Identities, Panelist
    First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, May 1, 2022

    Facilitating Groups: 5-Days of Skills Building, Facilitator
    The Advocacy Center, Ithaca, NY, October 2-8, 2021

    Trauma Informed Facilitation, Facilitator
    Courage to Care, Allentown, PA, February 1, 2021

    Intersectionality and Allyship, Facilitator
    CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Baltimore, MD, October 16, 2020

    Our Relationships, Sex & Intimacy, Subject Matter Expert
    #HealMeToo: Insights, Art & Activism to Change Our Culture, New York, NY, Podcast season 2 episode 5, June 26, 2020 

    No Means No, Subject Matter Expert
    Growing Gardenias, New York, NY, Podcast episode 33, January 8, 2020 

    Being 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, 2018 

    Being 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, 2018 

    Being 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, 2018 

    Being 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, 2018

    Exploring Masculinities, Panelist
    Columbia University Office of University Life & the School of International & Public Affairs, New York, NY, October 19, 2017 

    Professional Pause: Self-Care for Human Sexuality Professionals, Facilitator
    American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Conference, Las Vegas, NV, June 15-18, 2017 

    Masculinity, Media, & Sexual Violence, Panelist
    Columbia University Sexual Violence Response, New York, NY, April 17, 2017 

    Rewriting the Playbook: Engaging Men in Campus Sexual Violence Prevention, Facilitator
    American Men's Studies Association (AMSA) Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, March 30-April 2, 2017 

    Rewriting the Playbook: Engaging Men in Campus Sexual Violence Prevention, Facilitator
    National Sex Ed Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, December 7-10, 2016 

    Self-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

I teach on it