Hi, I’m Joan.

I am a community advocate and connector who guides individuals, organizations, and coalitions to amplify their voices and drive lasting change.

As the principal of JGT Public Relations, I work exclusively with nonprofits, public interest organizations, and mission-driven enterprises to help them clarify their message, connect with stakeholders, and communicate with impact. Whether managing a campaign, preparing leaders for media interviews, or navigating complex communications in challenging times, my work sits at the intersection of social justice and strategic storytelling.

I served as District Director for Congressman Mondaire Jones, where I helped shape constituent engagement and connection during one of the most turbulent periods in recent political memory – the aftermath of January 6, 2021.  Prior to that, I led Sustainable Port Chester Alliance as volunteer Executive Director—connecting with residents and small business owners to build grassroots power to demand affordable housing, responsible development, and fair labor practices in our community.

As the first woman of color elected to the Port Chester Board of Trustees, I’ve learned what it means to sit at decision-making tables where your presence alone challenges the status quo. My goal was to reconnect the Village to its residents in a meaningful way. From the NAACP to interfaith justice circles to the front lines of racial equity work, I bring a consistent purpose: to help people—especially women and youth—be seen, heard, and valued.

After the massacre at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church, I founded Read, Talk, Act, an interfaith, social justice book club that reads to understand racism’s deep roots and responds with collective action. The community built through that space remains one of my greatest joys.

My desire to launch The Legacy Project, a cultural education and West African immersion initiative for Black youth, comes from my own incomplete knowledge of ancestral history—and my unwavering belief that every child deserves to know who they are and where they come from.

I believe in the power of words. That with the right story, told at the right time, we can move hearts, shift narratives, and open doors to opportunity.

Whether I’m at a podium, in a classroom, or around a kitchen table, my mission is the same: to build legacy, illuminate truth, and help others speak their own into existence.

Let’s connect and build something together that lasts.