Joyell Johnson of Harp & Sword Co. appeared on the Tamika Hall Radio Show.

ABOUT JOYELL:

Joyell is a racial and gender justice strategist, educator, and restorative justice practitioner. Her professional background is in education, reproductive justice, international civil and human rights law, race and equity, transitional justice, community outreach, and reconciliation. She has worked with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon, government agencies, nonprofits, and public schools in Baltimore, Eastern Shore, Boston, and abroad. Joyell combines her eight years of experience in education, ten years in nonprofit organizations, and seven years of social justice advocacy to create harp + sword, which focuses on bringing equitable change and joy in tandem by using restorative justice cross-generationally. Additionally, Joyell currently serves as a board member for Community Law in Action and member of Circle of Restorative Initiatives for Maryland.

Joyell received her B.A. in Black Studies from Washington College and her J.D. from New England Law | Boston. She utilizes her legal and public interest skills to address the intersections of race/ethnicity, equity, gender, incarceration, and health.

ABOUT HARP & SWORD CO: www.harpandsword.co

After working in education for seven years, the nonprofit sector for nearly ten years, traveling and working in twelve countries (and counting), we noticed a common narrative -- we live as individuals rather than community members by merely existing together instead of living together. This separation can especially be seen inter-generationally and across racial lines. For women and girls, the absence of intentional spaces for our identities and experiences to be fully embraced is far too prevalent. And so, harp + sword began. By focusing on the marginalization of women and girls of color, we tackled all related forms of marginalization impacting various underrepresented groups.

In addition to addressing institutional and systemic issues, harp + sword curates joy for women and girls to show up as their whole selves. harp + sword is partially inspired by Zora Neale Hurston, a pioneer in racial and gender dialogue, folklore, and culture during the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston chose to hold space for herself in a world that would not return the favor.

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