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Meet our Founder and National Director
Inspired by Women who led with Strength and Grace
Coretta Scott King
Ida B. Wells
Xernona Clayton
Diane Nash
Joia Erin Thornton
Joia Erin Thornton is an avid human rights advocate, lobbyist, writer, and policy leader. Ms. Thornton has a unique hometown experience growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana; two cities on the mighty Mississippi River with deep histories of class hierarchy, racial tension and overall systemic challenges. Joia created the Faith Leaders of Color Coalition (flocc) to honor the work of Black & Indigenous faith leaders who have contributed to civil/ human rights movements throughout American history. Joia uses the framework of faith, race, and historical accounts from the Southern diaspora to boldly confront America's relationship with the death penalty system.
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Joia has 20 years of combined experience in grasstops organizing, lobbying, program implementation, and model design. Joia has led successful policy change in state and federal legislation. Joia has a Bachelor of Arts in English and French (BA) from Louisiana State University and a Master of Public Administration-Policy & Legal Studies (MPA | MPP) from the University of Memphis. In 2024, Joia along with members of the flocc community visited the White House, the Department of Justice and the Pardon's Attorney office to discuss the Federal Death Row system. In 2024, Joia was selected as a recipient of the Duke Divinity Reflective Leadership Grant. Joia collaborates with and advises attorneys, policy analysts, faith leaders, and strategists all working to eliminate the use of the capital punishment system.
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CONTACT:
our sacred values.
1. Advocate for Policies to Eliminate the use of the capital punishment system:
flocc will tirelessly work to eliminate the American capital punishment system, addressing racial disparities, wrongful convictions, innocence claims and inhumane conditions on death row.
2. Empower Faith Leaders:
flocc will empower Black and Indigenous clergy to use their moral authority and spiritual teachings to advocate for the end to state-sanctioned death in their communities and nationwide.
3. Cast Vision:
flocc aims to educate the public about the injustices and uneven applications when death sentences are applied, particularly with white victims. flocc will introduce ways to hold district attorneys and municipalities accountable for true public safety.
4. Promote Healing:
flocc recognizes the profound trauma inflicted by the death penalty on both victims' families and those involved in the system. flocc will work toward healing, reconciliation and restoration.