Joseph has spent his entire professional career working in the field of education and youth development and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from New York University.

In 1996 Joseph became the Director of the Talent Search program at the University Settlement House.  In this role, he developed comprehensive arts in education programs, a work – study project, a rigorous college preparation program, a multi-year summer residential community service project, and helped design and launch the New York Settlement School a partnership with NYU and the New York City Board of Education. He also co-created Roots! An Intergenerational Hip Hop Culture Celebration. This year long arts and education initiative brought together professional artists in the hip hop community to work alongside young people in the creation and production of Roots! A Hip Hop Musical.

In 2002, Joseph helped to lead the Settlement’s partnership with The Door – A Center of Alternatives, a nonprofit youth agency serving over 10,000 young people a year as the Director of Education and Arts. Under Joseph’s leadership, the program grew the visual and performing arts programs, led the partnerships of two New York City school programs, launched the EPOCH program - a national career awareness model for out-of-school youth, and shaped academic support programs for non native English Speakers, GED – ready students, and both middle and high school young people. As a member of the senior management team, Joseph helped shape the overall direction and mission of the agency.

A true believer that the arts play a critical role in society and have the power to change lives, Joseph feels that the vision of Dr. West and the power of Kanye West’s celebrity will have a tremendous national impact on the lives of young people. He is excited to continue to merge his experiences as an educator, youth worker and manager, and is humbled to have the opportunity to lead this effort and fulfill the legacy and dreams of Dr. West.

Joseph currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Michelle and his two children, Jeilani Sol and Mikel Joseph.

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