Joan Kato

Joan Kato is a social justice advocate with over 20 years of experience leading change in people of color grassroots communities through organizing, grant development and creativity-- achieving social impact through advocacy, policy, and political movements. As a community organizer, she has dedicated her life to achieving equitable outcomes for populations that have faced systemic discrimination. Having worked in the U.S. Congress, President Obama’s 2008 Campaign, Bernie’s 2016 campaign, the U.S. Foreign Service and Deloitte, Joan specializes in leading communities towards change and empowerment—through both civic engagement, culture, and wellness programs.

In 2022, Joan started the nonprofit, Beats on the Streets, as a means to combat disenfranchisement, dismantle cultural barriers to success and heal trauma.

Joan is originally from Los Angeles and Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa with an undergraduate degree in marketing and international business. Joan also holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University SAIS in Economics and International Relations. She speaks Spanish, Vietnamese, and Bahasa Indonesian