The Queen of Equity Speaks and Saffron Trust Listen
My life story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of advocacy and community support. Born into a family that valued kinship care, from a young age, my siblings and I learned the value of helping others. These values guided my journey from my birthplace in Opelousas, LA to Port Arthur, Texas, where I grew up, and eventually led me to the Texas Capitol. In those corridors of power, I dedicated myself to combating systemic racism within the Texas Child Welfare System and addressing institutional and structural racism that impacts various aspects of people’s lives, from education and criminal justice to healthcare, housing, law enforcement, and beyond.
My commitment to racial equity isn't confined to my professional life. I've personally witnessed societal disparities and have dedicated my life to addressing these issues. Thousands of children and families in marginalized communities have benefitted from my work in Austin, Texas, and across the country. My unwavering commitment to organizations like Saffron Trust will never cease. Their mission and my belief that systems must be held accountable and that the power of change is necessary, fuel my energy and drive.
My experiences with racism and segregation in Port Arthur shaped my understanding of structural racialization, a concept that refers to the ways in which systems and processes produce unequal outcomes along racial lines. This understanding played a critical role in my work as a Racial Equity Consultant, where I encouraged clients to look beyond surface-level differences and examine the ways in which structural racialization and systemic injustice have shaped the world we live in.
The demographics of Austin are diverse, spanning across various sectors of society. However, the disparities in access to quality education, health care, and community resources among different racial and ethnic groups are evident. Systemic barriers and unconscious biases often perpetuate these disparities, leading to resistance to addressing racial equity.
With my company Joyce James, LLC, I aim to expose and address these disparities. I remain steadfast and true to this mission by ensuring that the work is implemented within my company Joyce James LLC. For instance, in the education sector, we have developed programs that aim to provide quality education to underprivileged children, many of whom come from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.
In the health and well-being sector, the organization has focused on serving communities that lack access to basic healthcare facilities, a problem that disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. We have also been instrumental in fostering partnerships with other organizations that share the same vision, thereby amplifying the impact of our work.
In the area of community development, the mission is to empower individuals and groups who lack the resources or knowledge to bring about sustainable change in their communities. This includes many racial and ethnic minority groups who have been historically marginalized and disadvantaged.
In Austin, these efforts have earned me the title of "God Mother of Racial Equity". People served in Austin and across the country come from diverse backgrounds and sectors of society. My work isn't limited to a single area; instead, by helping institutions to understand their relationship with each other and their collective impact on poor communities of color, I strive to make a significant impact across various sectors.
As the "Godmother of Racial Equity" in Austin, being summoned to the mission of exposing racial inequity due to my deep-rooted belief in justice, fairness, and the inherent dignity of all individuals is a challenging, but necessary undertaking. As a matter of fact, this work requires a level of risk-taking. I made a commitment to take the risk, recognizing the backlash associated with the work of undoing racism. I decided the benefits outweighed the risks. I see the fruits of this work constantly, not only in what I do, but in the work of the many organizations that have come to embrace and acknowledge the work of undoing racism. Saffron Trust is a great example of an organization in the trenches working to break generational poverty and promote healthier lifestyles for women and their families.
My approach to the Groundwater concept was one of the strategies of work that has been particularly impactful in the realm of racial equity. To address racial issues, I believe that we must first understand and address the systemic issues that contribute to these disparities. My work with the Austin Police Department (APD), where I have been instrumental in developing programs for APD that align with the mission of my work, reflects my deep understanding of the divisions and disparities that exist within our communities. This unique approach involves addressing systemic issues at its roots. This work has been able to bring about a significant shift in the Austin Police Department's approach to racial equity. Austin Police Chief Chacon embraced this idea and played a critical role in ensuring this work was done while under his leadership.
By fostering a culture of understanding, respect, and appreciation for racial diversity within the police department, engaging the communities most disparately impacted, and inviting the community in workshops with officers, Austin is better and is shaping up to become a model for other cities. The support provided to the Austin Police Department by Joyce James’s Consultant is making a positive impact on the department's internal dynamics and has also positively influenced its interactions with the diverse communities it serves. Though there is much more work to be done, it starts with leadership’s acknowledgment of the existence of institutional and structural racism and the commitment to “turn the mirror inward” to examine systemic rather than individual factors of racism.
The Groundwater Analysis for Addressing Racial Inequities and the Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities are both models I developed and use in my work, along with multiple helping systems. These models were developed based on research and examination of the principles and practice models that led to a reduction of racial disproportionality and disparities for Black and Native populations and overall improved outcomes for all populations in Child Welfare.
These nationally recognized and unprecedented outcomes led to a second piece of legislation in SB 501, creating the Center for the Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities and the Texas State Office of Minority Health at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. SB 501 also resulted in my appointment as the Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner. Under my leadership, many lives in the diverse communities we serve have been positively impacted, enhancing the city for all its residents. I don't merely understand the mission; I live it. Through my foundational work, I've used my influence to ensure that underprivileged communities, individuals without access to basic healthcare, and groups lacking resources or extensive knowledge are not forgotten. I've supported the leaders of the APD to initiate a significant shift in the Department's approach to racial equity, ensuring that these initiatives are comprehensive from the ground up. Our greatest hope is that the combined efforts of working with APD and multiple other City of Austin departments will lead to a better Austin for all citizens.
In conclusion, I believe it is my God-given calling to promote racial justice and equity. I have witnessed and participated in the racial oppression of my own people. In the absence of a clear analysis and understanding of racism and the absence of a racial equity lens, I look back at the harm that was done. My eyes were opened over 25 years ago; they shall never again be closed to observations of racial discrimination or disparities.
My ongoing work is a testament to my dedication to the mission and my commitment to creating a more equitable society. My impact on the community and my unwavering commitment to the mission have rightfully earned me the title of "Godmother of Racial Equity" in Austin. Almost 20 years ago, I introduced the ‘Undoing Racism’ work of the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond by inviting systems that touched the lives of vulnerable children and families to engage with the Texas Child Welfare System in undoing racism. The Austin Police Department under Chief Stan Knee participated in those early workshops. The Undoing Racism Principles of The People Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB) serve as the foundation for the work I do. I am grateful to the many other advocates in the Austin community and across the country who join me in working for a more just society for all people.
