Spotlight on Project Joy: Q&A with Founder & CEO Kim Watson

This month, we’re shining a spotlight on Project Joy, an organization dedicated to empowering, educating, and encouraging promising youth and families. We had the opportunity learn from Founder and CEO Kim Watson about the organization's recent growth, commitment to equity, and engagement with Promise.

What do you wish more people knew about Project Joy?

Project Joy has had another growth spurt. We now have 30 team members and expected to double by the end of this year, allowing us to expand our reach and programming to families with young children in the Antelope Valley (Northern Los Angeles County).

One new program is the Joy of Play! We offer this six week, play based educational program centering infant brain development at LA Care Community Resource Center in Palmdale, CA.

How have you put equity at the center of your work this year?

We are committed to fulfilling our vision of poverty alleviation, through robust job creation, for those facing employment barriers, including single parents of young children.

Project Joy has a new financial scholarship program available to team members who meet the criteria, including financial need and resiliency in pursuit of their life goals.

How have you engaged with Promise this year?

I attended [EC LOC’s] R.E.S.T conference this year. It was restorative, inspiring and I appreciated the space which allowed me to be more transparent and exploratory. I am extremely grateful to Promise for curating restorative events that uplift us as movement builders.

To learn more about Project Joy, visit their website here.

Kim Watson, Founder & CEO of Project Joy