International / Africa / US & African Politics / Education
Brief Bio.
From a diplomatic and public service family background, Ms Evelyn professional and public services are largely devoted to community development, public advocacy and social justice. An accountant, entrepreneur, free lance writer, political strategist and public speaker, she combines her executive management, strategic development and international relations skills to effectively work across communities, ideological persuasions toward community empowerment and revitalization.
Challenged by the need to promote the inclusions and contributions of the emerging transnational indigenous African community in all facets of development and inspired by the opportunities to advance its enlightened welfare, Ms Evelyn Joe founded and funded the start-up of the Continental African Union Community Development Services, which is also known by its trade name as the Community African Community. The mission of the organization is to foster and promote Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in order to improve the advancements and quality of life of Continental African constituents and foster self-empowerment through: 1) action research; 2) public education and advocacy; 3) program development and community service; 4) partnerships and networking.
In 2007, Ms Joe led an unprecedented partnership of African professionals and organizations in developing and presenting the comprehensive Needs Assessments and Recommendations requested by Montgomery County Government. In the late 1980s, she was among the pioneering group of African immigrants who advocated for the eventual legislative success in the establishment of the Office of African Affairs in the District of Columbia.
Realizing the need for collaborative developments in order to improve coordinated outreach, maximize resources and promote concerted voices on vital causes germane to enlightened community interests, Ms Joe founded a consortium of operating 9am-5pm non-profit service African organizations, which include standard setting entities such as the African Women Cancer Awareness Association and the Ethiopian Community Development Council/ African Community Center; the Roger Milla Community Philanthropic Services. This group meets at least once a month on “Strategic Assessments and Collaboration.”
On the international front, Ms Joe was an advisor to the late Dr. Calvin Rolark, Founder of the United Black Found and the Washington Informer Newspaper in the District of Columbia on US-Africa relationships on cultural, cultural and business exchange. She has also served on the Board of Visions-In-Action, a US-based non-profit organization committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers. She currently advises US NGOs and links them to local groups and resources in Africa and a consultant/writer for Dual Language Immersion Charter School Program Models.
Ms Joe is the Chair of Montgomery County’s NAACP’s African Africans Committee, among other non-profit boards on which she serves. As her own personal contributions to society, she provides free consulting services to non-profit organizations and unemployed persons who need assistance with resume writing and professional planning. She does not accept fees for speaking engagements on behalf of community development. Ms Joe can be reached at msjoe21st@aol.com.
