Joy Ford Austin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joy Ford Austin
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Joy Ford Austin at Uline Arena by James Kagley
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| Education | St. Rose's High School |
| Alma mater | McMaster University Trinity Washington University |
| Occupation | non-profit executive, philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Bobby William Austin |
| Children | Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen |
| Parent(s) | John Meredith Ford Sarojini Janki |
Joy Ford Austin is an important leader from Guyana and America. She helps non-profit groups, gives money to good causes, and supports arts and culture. She worked to save and share African-American history and culture. From 2000 to 2020, she led an organization called Humanities DC. This group is connected to the National Endowment for the Humanities. After leaving that role, she started her own companies. These are AustinFord Associates and Joy Ford Austin Arts and Humanities Advocacy.
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Joy Ford Austin's Early Life and School
Joy Ford Austin was born in Georgetown, Guyana. Her father, John Meredith Ford, was the mayor of Georgetown from 1970 to 1972. Her mother, Sarojini Janki Ford, worked for the Ministry of Education. Joy's grandparents on her mother's side came from India. They arrived in Guyana as indentured servants during colonial times. This meant they worked for a set period to pay for their travel.
Her Family and Faith
Joy's family joined the Canadian Presbyterian Mission. Her grandfather, Thomas Janki, was the first Presbyterian elder in Demerara, British Guiana. Joy grew up in the Presbyterian faith. She went to Burns Memorial Presbyterian Church. This was the first church of the Guyana Presbyterian Church.
Her Education Journey
In 1968, Joy graduated from St. Rose's High School. This was a Catholic school run by the Ursulines. She then studied English literature at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She finished her degree there in 1972. Later, in 2002, Austin earned a master's degree. She studied organizational leadership at Trinity Washington University.
Joy Ford Austin's Career and Work
Joy Ford Austin has had a long career helping communities. From 1998 to 2000, she was a program manager. She worked at the Center for Arts and Culture in Washington, D.C..
Leading Humanities DC
From 2000 to 2020, she was the executive director of Humanities DC. This organization helps people learn about history and culture. In 2005, she started the D.C. Community Heritage Project. This project worked to save historic buildings in D.C. It also recorded the stories of people who lived and worked there. As a leader, she also created the D.C. Digital Museum. She also managed a program called Culture Capital.
Helping African American Museums
Joy Austin was also the first director of the African American Museums Association. She held this role from 1980 to 1987. She helped many museums that focus on African-American history. These included the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. She also worked with the Boston African American National Historic Site and the Anacostia Community Museum.
Her Consulting Work
Today, Austin is the founder and president of AustinFord Associates. This company helps many important groups. These include the Presidential Commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It also works with the Smithsonian Institution. Since May 2020, she has also been the CEO of Joy Ford Austin Arts and Humanities Advocacy.
Joy Ford Austin's Personal Life
Joy Ford Austin became an American citizen when she was twenty-six years old.
She is married to Bobby William Austin. He is a sociologist and a writer. One of their daughters is Ariana Joy Lalita Austin. Ariana is married to Prince Joel Dawit Makonnen. He is a great-grandson of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. Joy Austin is also the aunt of Priya Dadlani, who works in culture and community organizing.
