Joanne received her Master’s Degree in Social Work in !981 from Fordham University where she received a grant to develop services for underserved populations of women. Before returning to college when her own children were school age, Joanne began political action in the early 70’s working for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment as co-president of Northern Westchester NOW. After lobbying local Congressional leaders who were opposed to the amendment and getting them to change their vote and finally having it pass in New York State, Joanne’s passion for fighting for social justice was ignited.

Joanne was active in the Consciousness Raising Clearinghouse, setting up groups for women and learning of the difficult struggles women were experiencing in their marriages, their families and their work lives. She also volunteered at the Westchester County Women’s Jail and saw the harsher treatment the judicial system gave to women. It was during these years that the understanding of how different forms of trauma, abuse, prison, mental health, violence, and poverty, impacted women’s and children’s lives.

Joanne’s professional path in fighting for social justice centered on working for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as Executive Director of the Putnam Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center. From developing innovative programs on a grassroots level, shelter programs, non-residential services, children’s programs, support groups and hotlines, to developing a coordinated community response, including trainings for law enforcement, social services, judges, medical and mental health providers, to lobbying on a Federal and state level to understand and fund these social issues, Joanne understands the complexity of crating social change.

Joanne served on the Boards of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, former President, the Putnam County Child Care Council, the Veteran Feminists of America and as an advisory member of the Putnam County Child Advocacy Center.

The enduring gift from this work has been the witnessing of the resilience of the women and children who have benefited from these actions and services. In retirement, Joanne continues to advocate for, initiate, and educate best practices for the healing of trauma and creating a path for healing, one child at a time.