Joe Catania

I am the husband of Jennifer and father of a four-½ year old – Ella Rae - and have been happily married for 10 years, despite several bouts of unemployment (for really, really goodreasons).  I was born in Staten Island, New York where all of my extended family still lives, but grew up inMiddletown, NJ, a homogenous suburb of New Jersey not far from the JerseyShore. I’ve spent the last 15 years working and living in different places,including the Bronx, New York, Washington Heights, New York, Philadelphia,Atlanta, Georgia and Lumberton, North Carolina.  I love my Italian-American roots and traditions, but alsofind it challenging, but necessary to talk with my family about white privilege and racism in the United States. Our home is in Montclair, New Jersey and we workin New York City. 

I am now the director of training and organization development for Independence Care System, a non-profit organization thatcoordinates health care and other services for adults with physical disabilities. I am an adult educator with nearly 15 years of training,organizing and political experience in the non-profit and public sectors. Myprimary interests are in leadership and group development, diversity and conflictresolution. I have experience developing curriculum, facilitating trainings,designing educational events and conferences, managing training programs andplanning and directing issue campaigns. Before Independence Care System, Iworked as a consultant focused on facilitating labor-management collaborationin health care. 

Prior to the work as a consultant, I was a stay athome dad.  After leaving work as acommunity organizer, I managed the Neighborhood Leadership Institute at theCitizens Committee for New York City, a training program for grassroots leadersand organizations from neighborhoods around the City. I began my career as alegislative aide in the Maryland State Legislature.  I worked as a community organizer in New York City andPhiladelphia on the issues of public school reform, housing and welfare.  I have also worked as a union organizerin New York City, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. I have an M.A. in adultand organizational learning from Teachers College, Columbia University, where I focused my study on the role of adult education in social change.