This is an example announcement
Our work is carried by people who volunteered once and never really stopped. Every few months, we introduce you to one of them.
300 volunteers a year
Executive Director and Co-Founder Mark Smith’s past trials and tribulations inform his approach to persons in need: he supports and uplifts them with honor, honesty and decency. He also knows what it takes to reach the homeless, ex-offenders, chemically addicted, mentally challenged, and myriad others who experience life’s difficult periods.
Mark is a leader whose visionary qualities propel the organization. A charismatic communicator, he is responsible for carrying out the mission of Joi’s Angels and for inspiring volunteers, staff and stakeholders to believe that achieving big dreams is, in fact, possible.
As architect of all organizational goals and objectives, he shepherds organizational resources. He approaches these responsibilities with an unrivaled and infectious passion and energy, aimed at the service of others.
At the operational level, his management style is simple: he would never ask another to do something that he would not do himself. Leading the Angel Crew, he manages the properties and coordinates bulk food transport, as well as furniture and toy pickup/distribution.
Where Mark is the leader, Joi Smith, Co-Founder and Assistant Director, is the manager. Her background in finance, purchasing and event planning enables her to manage all administrative, organizational and outreach efforts. She began her service career as a volunteer with The First Presbyterian Baptist Church, Elizabeth, New Jersey. Shortly after joining the church as a volunteer, the pastor asked Joi to join the organization as a paid staff member, where she continued her pantry and event planning work. Her affinity for order and ability to get the job done right made her the ideal partner to help Joi’s Angels spread its wings.
She approaches both clients and volunteers with compassion, neither judging nor refusing any person who asks for help. From soliciting toy donations for the annual Christmas Carnival (which has outgrown its former location and is now held at Essex County College) to washing and ironing t-shirts for the volunteers to making care packages, Joi is an indefatigable community organizer.
Mission-driven, Mark and Joi labor diligently. And their humble approach to work and to all whom they encounter leaves most unaware of literally countless accolades and awards bestowed upon them by governmental and community organizations. Both Mark and Joi sit on boards as trustees of several organizations.
President
Natasha S. Alford is an award-winning journalist, host, author, and media executive recognized for harnessing the power of storytelling to inspire and educate.
Currently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer at TheGrio, Natasha leads with a commitment to amplifying overlooked stories. A former CNN Political Analyst, Alford is a trusted voice in media, regularly providing insightful commentary.
Natasha’s work has been featured in major outlets such as MSNBC, The New York Times, The Guardian, Oprah Daily, TIME Magazine, and Vogue.
A former Teach For America educator, Natasha holds degrees from Harvard University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She also earned a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University, focusing on domestic and urban policy.
In 2024, Natasha published her critically acclaimed memoir, American Negra (HarperCollins), which earned an International Latino Book Award.
A regular mentor, Natasha volunteers to help aspiring journalists and writers via TheOpEd Project and a established a scholarship for high school students in her hometown of Syracuse, NY.
After working as a volunteer with Joi’s Angels in 2024, Natasha was elected to serve as president of the board for the 2025-2027 term.
Toni Ince is a strategic thinker, community advocate, and longtime volunteer with a passion for uplifting families. As Vice President of the Board of Joi’s Angels, she brings over 18 years of experience in social services, a strong background in community organizing, and a heart for service.
Toni is currently pursuing a degree in Black Studies and plans to earn her doctorate in the near future. During the pandemic, she created weekly virtual support circles to help people process grief and anxiety in community. Her leadership extends to serving on multiple boards, including the Newark Caribbean Commission, where she was elected to the Executive Board in 2024, and founding the first Family Association at her son’s school.
A proud mother to her son Tyler, Toni finds joy in skating, reading, traveling, and living by Philippians 4:13. She has volunteered with Joi’s Angels since 2012 and was elected Vice President of the board in 2024.
Toni’s leadership is rooted in a deep belief that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported—especially children and families navigating hardship. Whether facilitating community dialogues, mentoring parents, or guiding organizational strategy, she leads with empathy and purpose. Her service at Joi’s Angels reflects a lifelong calling to advocate for those without a voice and to ensure that every act of care is met with dignity.
Mark Young serves as Board Chaplain for Joi’s Angels, bringing decades of spiritual leadership and community dedication to the organization. An ordained Reverend since 2007, Mark offers pastoral guidance and support grounded in faith, wisdom, and lived experience.
Before his retirement in 2013, Mark spent 26 years serving as a New Jersey Corrections Police Officer, earning numerous awards and certifications in law enforcement. For eight of those years, he also served as Union Vice President for PBA Local 105, advocating for fellow officers and strengthening workplace protections.
Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian education and is a devoted husband of 30 years to Valerie Young. Together, they are the proud parents of six children and grandparents to seventeen. His steadfast commitment to service—both spiritual and civic—makes him a vital presence on the Joi’s Angels board.
Charles Hopkins is an artist who has nurtured his creative talents from a young age. He developed his artistic skills at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, where he explored various creative disciplines.
Though Charles no longer makes music, his early involvement in the field has greatly influenced his artistic expression and provided valuable lessons that continue to shape his journey.
Known for his wit, open-mindedness, and easy-going nature, Charles also manages severe persistent mental illness (S.P.M.I.), which has brought both challenges and depth to his experiences. He is adaptable and family-oriented, bringing a unique perspective to his creative endeavors.
Charles is the Board Representative for the mentally ill served by Joi’s Angels.
Yona Deshommes is the founder of Riverchild Media and Riverchild Literary Press, a publishing executive who has spent more than two decades amplifying the voices of authors of color.
The daughter of Haitian immigrants, she began her career in education at Edwin Gould Academy, a residential treatment center in Chestnut Ridge, New York, creating cultural and educational programs for young people from the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Her love of writing led her to book publicity, where she worked at Warner Books and HarperCollins before spending 13 years at Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, rising to Associate Director of Publicity. Her clients have included Alice Walker, Sister Souljah, Tananarive Due, Taraji P. Henson, Michael Strahan, and T.D. Jakes. She founded Riverchild Media in 2020 and in 2024 she co-produced the 26th Harlem Book Fair.
On the Joi’s Angels board, Yona lends her expertise in communications and public relations, helping shape how the organization tells its story and reaches the community it serves. She also serves on the board of the Women’s Media Group and is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Healthcare finance
Gary Burnett is a healthcare finance and project management professional, nonprofit leader, and community advocate. He has years of experience leading complex initiatives, managing significant financial resources, and building partnerships that create meaningful community impact. His professional career includes healthcare finance, program management, operational transformation, and work supporting behavioral health, and other vulnerable populations.
Gary’s commitment to community extends well beyond his professional career. As a Youth Director with Thrillseekers, he helped introduce children of color to skiing and snowboarding, creating opportunities for young people to experience sports, adventure, mentorship, and personal growth in environments where they have historically been underrepresented.
He is also actively involved in real estate development and property management, with a focus on improving properties, supporting neighborhood revitalization, and creating opportunities for economic development.
In the winter of 2024, Gary became involved with Joi’s Angels and is delighted to serve on the Board, contributing his leadership, professional experience, and community connections to support the organization’s mission and programs. His involvement reflects his broader commitment to strengthening families, expanding opportunity, and helping communities thrive.
Outside of work and community service, Gary enjoys traveling, cycling, photography, music, and exploring new experiences. He brings curiosity, energy, and a genuine passion for connecting people and creating positive change wherever he serves.
They don’t want anything, except to be a guiding hand leading folks to better days.
Joi’s Angels is seeking a Secretary to join our Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term.
We are looking for someone with an eye for detail and a commitment to this community. Prior nonprofit board experience is welcome but not required.
Review the full position description and apply at bit.ly/joisangelssecretary, or send a resume and statement of interest to joisangelsevents@gmail.com.
Joi’s Angels runs on people who showed up once and then kept showing up.
They come from every corner of society. From retired teachers to high school students, organizations to church groups, our volunteers are the heartbeat of what we do.
300 volunteers give their time every year
Gary Burnett is a Caribbean-born immigrant and a proud graduate of East Orange High School, Class of ’87. He works in healthcare administration, and when he isn’t, he is usually volunteering somewhere — he has spent years serving with nonprofits, and his travels through other cultures have shaped how he shows up in this one. What he cares about is plain: communities where people can get housing, food, and the support they need to live a meaningful life.
He came to us first with a check. In 2024, Gary represented his fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma, in making a financial contribution in recognition of what Joi’s Angels was building. He might have left it there. Instead he came back with his brothers for the Holiday Party — and that is where the work stopped being an idea. Watching Mark and Joi give themselves to a room full of families, with nothing performed and nothing held back, is what pulled him in for good.
In 2026, the board appointed him Treasurer by unanimous vote.
The organization serves the very streets Gary grew up on, which is why he puts it the way he does: