Joy Lindsay is a Ph.D. Student at the Yale School of Public Health, where she is focused on using community-based participatory research (CBPR) to advance health equity for women and girls from poor and working families, especially women and girls of African descent. Joy is also the Founder and CEO of Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. (butterflydreamz.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips girls to be confident leaders and supports them in achieving their dreams through mentorship, holistic leadership development, and intergenerational community action. Joy founded Butterfly Dreamz in 2013 after losing her younger sister, Kimberly Anyce Lindsay, to gun violence. Butterfly Dreamz honors the bold and courageous life of Kimberly, along with the beautiful memory of Joy’s late daughter, Evelyn Anyce LeBron. Butterfly Dreamz is sustained and guided by the love and prayers of many Black mothers, aunties, and grandmothers. Joy’s love for storytelling and creative writing has led to her authoring, co-authoring, and publishing several young adult books, mostly in collaboration with Butterfly Dreamz youth authors. 

Before founding Butterfly Dreamz, Joy worked in consulting, finance, and public education management. Joy’s academic journey is a testament to her versatility and adaptability. She holds a BBA in Finance from Howard University, an MPA in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and an Ed.M. in Human Development & Education, with a concentration in Identity, Power, and Justice in Education, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This diverse background equips her with a unique perspective in her research and professional endeavors—one rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and empathy. Through her research and practice, Joy continues the legacy of her late mentor, Rev. Dr. Cathy Bristow, who was/is a living example of NACW’s motto: “lifting as we climb.”