In honor of Black History Month, we asked a few of our Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council members to reflect on who has inspired them to be their best selves – making Black history right here in CNY. Here’s what LaToya Jones said:
The person in Central New York who inspires me the most is my son, NyShaun, a 17-year-old traumatic brain injury survivor. He is history in the making! No matter what he has been through, his heart is open to helping his classmates, teachers and his community understand and cope with traumatic experiences.
He is transforming into a resilient Black man and is one of the reasons I founded The Joe Family Foundation for Disability Advocacy, where our mission is to be a catalyst of change for minority youth with disabilities. We support the youth and their loved ones, by providing a trusted platform for networking. We hope to ensure that no matter the disability or racial ethnicity, life goals can be achieved through education, advocacy and partnership building. The Joe Family Foundation will bring light to the unique issues faced daily by youth of color with disabilities and their loved ones.
NyShaun’s passion pours into my healthcare advocate vocation at all levels. He inspires me to have focus, continuous drive and a smile, even if I am exhausted! My son is a survivor, and I am thankful for what he continues to teach me in life. Our tears help create futures for our youth that will allow them to make history. Through life circumstances, our children can often teach us how we should be the history in the making.
LaToya M. Jones
Proud!
Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council Member
Regional Healthcare Organizer with Healthcare Education Project
The Joe Family Foundation for Disability Advocacy, founder
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Click HERE for more information on the Black Equity & Excellence Fund.
