Kids in Common is pleased to welcome Joy Murrieta as Co-Executive Director. Joy will join Dana Bunnett in shepherding Kids in Common in its mission to serve the Santa Clara County community.
Years ago, Judge Len Edwards (now retired), convened a group of leaders to focus on the needs of children in Santa Clara County. At one of the first meetings, a captain from the San Jose Police Department commented, "You know what brings us all together - we all have kids on our minds - we should be called Kids in Common". That name stuck. Judge Edwards has been involved with KIC from the beginning, being most proud of the annual Children's Summit and Data Book. As KIC looks to the future, Judge Edwards said, "Joy brings a new and creative voice to KIC. She we will add to our strengths with her work in the arts and her experiences in different communities."
Joy comes with nearly 13 years of experience founding and leading the Main IDEA Youth and Arts non-profit in Worcester, MA. Through this art program she demonstrated that she knows children not only need shelter, food, and safety, they also need connection and joy. Her extensive experience also includes co-founding and serving as steering committee member for the Casita Cultura Latina. Most recently, Joy relocated to California to pursue non-profit leadership roles in the Bay Area.
Joy has a bachelor of arts degree in music performance from Crown College and holds a certification in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. She has received a number of awards including the 2022 Non-profit Leader of the Year from the Worcester Business Journal.
Dana said, "I am so excited to co-lead Kids in Common with Joy. She brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience to the role and she is passionate about creating a community where children thrive."
Joy was drawn to Kids in Common due to its recognition of youth as both the present and future of the community, its collaborative and informed strategy to fulfill its mission, and its value of centering equity at the heart of its work. She is deeply passionate about the kind of impact that Kids in Common makes in Santa Clara County and wanted to be a part of it.
Joy said, "Having worked with youth, advocates, and community leaders over the past 12 years, I believe wholeheartedly that ‘we’re all in this together’. I am excited to be the newest part of the amazing legacy of Kids in Common."
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