Joyce James LMSW-AP
Racial Equity Consultant
Joyce James is President and CEO of Joyce James Consulting, providing racial equity services to systems, institutions, and communities, across the country. She has a long history of advocacy, innovation, and leadership in systems transformation. Ms. James formerly served as the Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner of the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities and the Texas State Office of Minority Health at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Ms. James served as Assistant Commissioner of the Texas Child Protective Services program from 2004-2009. She introduced the work in Texas for addressing disproportionality and disparities and is credited with the creation and statewide expansion of the Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities and the Groundwater Analysis of racial Inequities. These models are nationally recognized for their effectiveness in reducing racial disproportionality and disparities for African American and Native American children and families involved in the Child Welfare System, producing overall improvements for all populations, and for their applicability in addressing racial inequities in law enforcement, education, health, juvenile justice, and other helping systems.
Under Ms. James’ leadership, Texas became the first State in the Country to pass groundbreaking legislation in Senate Bill 6, requiring Child Protective Services to address racial disproportionality and disparities. The impact of her work and her contributions towards transformation of the CPS System influenced additional and significant legislation in Senate Bill 501, in the State of Texas, requiring that disproportionality and racial inequities be examined beyond the child welfare system, to include education, juvenile justice, health, and mental health systems. Ms. James was charged by the Texas Legislature to lead these efforts by presiding over a legislatively created council made up of members representing the highest level of leadership in multiple state agencies and community and faith-based representatives. Under Ms. James’ leadership, a report with findings and recommendations from the Council was presented to the 83rd Texas Legislature.
Ms. James serves on local, state, and national boards and committees, bringing her expert knowledge and experience in leading anti-racist work. She has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels for her leadership and understanding of the role of institutionalized racism as the underlying cause of racial inequities across all systems and her ability to engage others in undoing racism work.
Ms. James served six years as a Commissioner on the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission on Children, Youth and Families, an appointment made by the Chief Justice of Texas. She also served on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee and served as a member of the Children’s Justice Act Task Force for over 15 years. She currently serves on the board of the UJIMA Think Tank for Black Families under the National Adoption Association, Austin Black Leaders Collective, Saffron Trust, the Steering Committee for the Black Fund, and is a co-founder and board member of Black Mamas ATX.
Ms. James introduced and invited Austin city and community leaders over 15 years ago, to participate in the Undoing Racism work she was leading at the state level. Many in the City of Austin’s community attribute the City’s advances in acknowledging and holding its leaders accountable for examining and addressing institutional and structural racism to her leadership.
Ms. James has been leading and supporting anti-racism work in various departments in the City of Austin. During the past 2 calendar years, she has worked closely with the Austin Police Department and Chief Chacon in supporting new and innovative models of practice; making the Austin Police Department a leader in innovative, bold, and courageous efforts to acknowledge and address the racism that has been embedded in the culture of Law Enforcement systems across the county. The difference is that with the support of JJC, APD has made the commitment and is working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to create an anti-racism culture that is visible in their relationships with all of the citizens of Austin.
Ms. James’ most recent awards include:
2016 Texans Care for Children Founders Award, in recognition of her “fearless leadership and
fierce commitment” to children in Texas.
2017, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Saint Joseph, CT.
2019 NASWTX Lifetime Achievement Award.
2021 NAACP Outstanding Community Service Award Dewitty/Overton Freedom Fund Banquet.
2022 Central Texas African American, Garnett Coleman Eternal Flame Award.
2022 Saffron Trust Phenomenal Black Woman Award
2023 Austin Woman Magazine, February Edition “Godmother of Equity in Austin, TX”
Joyce is married to John James. Together they have 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.
They worship at Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Austin, under Pastor Basil Aguzi.
Recent Comments