Community Outreach Guru—A Black Genius profile of Joy Spencer

April 23, 2021

Artwork by Dr. Dawn X. Henderson

Here we do our best to give you a glimpse of the Black Genius who is Joy Spencer.

As it was told by someone who loves her: Joy was born into activism. Standing on her mother’s shoulders, who founded a nonprofit organization to advocate for her children, Joy is involved with several organizations, efforts, and initiatives that empower the Black community through direct service, relationship building, education, and advocacy. 

She is driven by passion and an avid supporter of authentic community engagement and community-based solutions. She serves the community as the Executive Director of Equity Before Birth, a Black maternal health charity organization.

Why don’t you check out a clip we pulled from one of our many sessions during the Dream Assessment process to get a feel for the energy Joy brings to a room?

Joy on Village of Wisdom’s Black parent research experience.

We asked Joy why Black Genius Protection is so important to her and what makes her a Black Genius protector. Joy explains, 

“Our lives and the quality of our lives depend on our ability to embrace our Black Genius. Unapologetic displays of Black Genius threaten white supremacy, thus threatening the fabric of our nation. We must protect Black Genuis because its mere existence threatens the way the world operates. Black Genius is Powerful. We must harness this Power for our Liberation. I am a Black Genius Protector because our legacy and the lives of future generations depend on it.”

We leave you with a quote Joy shared with us to affirm our collective Black Genius.

“There will be people who do not believe in you…don’t you dare be one of them.” — Stephanie Lahart