Ms. Joanne Jones is a highly accomplished nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience driving transformative initiatives and building impactful programs. She serves as the Executive Director of the Global Youth Excellence and Leadership (GYEL) Program, a multilateral and multistakeholder initiative comprising intergovernmental organizations, permanent observers, NGOs, and entities with special consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The program operates within the framework and ecosystem of the United Nations system and under the auspices of its members and organizations.
As a UN Credentialed ECOSOC Delegate, Ms. Jones represents and advocates for youth empowerment and sustainable development at the United Nations headquarters. She actively engages with global leaders to promote initiatives aligned with the UN’s goals, fostering transformative solutions that address critical global challenges.
Prior to her role at GYEL, Ms. Jones served as the Executive Director of The Dream Big Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Rob LoCascio, the CEO of LivePerson—a company recognized as the #1 Most Innovative AI Company in the World by Fast Company. During her tenure, she expanded the Foundation’s flagship program, FeedingNY, which now provides over 10,000 meals annually to families in need, transforming it into a vital resource for underserved communities.
Ms. Jones’s prior roles include serving as Executive Director of the March of Dimes and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well as her tenure as Director of Advancement at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School.
