Joan was an ardent Activist for all sorts of causes, Disability Rights, Saving Elephants, her Union responsibilities for Worker Safety and others too numerous to mention.
I met Joan in Oakland, California at an RSI Support group which Joan was leading. (RSI: Repetitive Strain Injury) I was injured at my job, working on the computer all day. Joan guided me through the labyrinth of Workers Compensation, attorneys, doctors and Myofacial Trigger Point massage therapy. I wouldn't have made it through without help from Joan. 50 or 60 people attended those once a month meetings where Joan had an enormous display of handouts regarding everything one needs to navigate the 'system', workers comp., social security disability, finding a doctor, finding an attorney and finding good treatment providers.
Some
friends left comments on the lotsahelpinghands website. I did not know
how involved she was with Saving the Elephants. She made Facebook
friends with people in Kenya and Uganda who are now creating a memorial
for her. She provided resources for a friend to finish nursing school.
Kind hearted and generous do not begin to cover it. Everywhere I look in
my apartment, I see gifts from Joan; she mailed me a blender. I make
smoothies every morning. She gave me a portable dish drain. She sent me a
beautiful book on the "BARCELONA HAGGADOT: The Jewish Splendour of
Catalan Gothic."
Her religion was Activism. Her last
Facebook post was June 26th regarding Black Lives Matter. One of many
posts on that topic even while she was ill.
Her friends
in Oakland who took care of her said before she 'transitioned' she was
very hopeful upon seeing thousands of people in the street protesting.
In solidarity.
I put some Comments from
lotsahelpinghands on this blog. Their words do justice to her and they
were working with her on her latest Activist activities. She told me she
was involved with Saving Elephants. I did not realize the extent of her
contacts in Africa and her involvement with people for the cause.
 | |
| PARK ST. T STOP, 2013 |
See Comments from friends in Africa below:
Aug 10, 2020 at 10:21 am
My heart cracks open for the loss of my "Global March For Elephants and Rhinos" buddy who was a co-rganizer of the March in SF for 4 years. I appreciated her passion for "all things elephant" and for being such a powerful animal rights as well as human rights advocate! In the honor of Joan's unfolding memory as it continues to impact us, I am suggesting that people, if they so choose, make a donation to Joan's strongest elephant grassroots charity, "Nr Conservation and Development in Uganda started by an inspirational man, Arinetwe Moses, who does nature and wildlife conservation projects plus humanitarian work in communities next to wildlife areas. Moses told me on Messenger yesterday that Joan has been like a family member and looked upon as one of the villagers even though she didn't actually get to visit there--it was her dream! Joan was one of the founders of Nr Conservation and Development and was pivotal in helping Moses to get the requisite funding to get registered with the government in Uganda. The community organization has gotten elephant poachers to reform and to start alternative projects such as beehive fences to deter elephants from crop raiding and to harvest and sell the honey, created fish ponds for another food source, vegetable gardens to feed the community, weaving basket projects by the women to sell all over the world! Much of the money raised is for school tuition for the local children including Moses'. Also, Moses started a Pangolin Rescue Program and the community has saved over 40 Pangolins to date from traffickers! Moses told me that all this was done under the GUIDANCE and TUTELAGE of Joan and that "a pillar has been lost to his family, his village, and the whole region" from Joan's passing. If you feel so inspired as I continue to do, you can send any amount via PayPal to Katherine Denison at: kdcreate@bearmeadow.com
