OUR SECRET SAUCE “We believe in the power of everyone's voice. That belief empowers us to be the agents of change we are on a mission to be. Without belief, nothing is possible.
-Joy M. England
Our Founder:
Joy M. England, MPA
Chief Executive Officer & Founding Advocate
Joy serves as the CEO & Founding Advocate at AIA. Joy holds a BS in Labor and Employee Relations from Rutgers University and a Master's in Public Administration from Rutgers University, Newark. Joy is currently enrolled at Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies, pursuing a Master's in Divinity and Social Justice.
Joy is missioned to bring the opportunity to raise your voice and tell your story to everyone. Joy founded Advocates in Action in 2016 with the mission to Be the Voice of those silenced. This mission has evolved into Advocacy work done throughout The Learning Academy and our premier course, The Pink Marker Movement.
Joy is a published author; her inaugural book I Am Joy was released in September 2019. Her inspiring story of courage and perseverance is sure to inspire many! I Am Joy is a peek into the life and the lessons that led Joy to become the woman she is today.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Joy is a dedicated mother of two young men, Owen & Nathanial. Her strong faith leads Joy in God, and it is this faith that drives all of Joy's projects.
When she is not taking on the world, you can find Joy binging on documentaries and reading as many books as she can get her hands on.
CORE VALUES:
We are advocates first. Empowering people to engage their voice, through a person-centered approach. AIA is the bridge builder between peoples’ needs, wants, and dreams. We are defenders with the understanding that advocating for others begins with empathy. We strive to take positive action to support others in their pursuit of excellence.
We promote a culture of respect and recognize that words and actions matter. We believe in equity, dignity, and inclusion for each and every person. We represent and value diverse identities, recognizing that our differences make us strongerー both while learning from each other.
We are visionaries and boundary-pushers. We innovate to challenge assumptions and create sustainable change. We are tenacious in our efforts to address employment inequality and injustices. We are determined to influence a positive impact on individuals, organizations, and systems.
We encourage growth and curiosity. We are lifelong learners who explore bold ideas that inspire a culture of trust. Passion is at the forefront of who we are and the work that we do. Being passionate requires vulnerability and courage to push outside our comfort zones. We believe that effective leaders are agents of change, that lead by example and promote success for each individual they lead. Leadership is an act of intention, integrity, and commitment. AIA believes firmly in these characteristics of the leaders we are and are becoming.
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