Remembering Dosha DJay Joi
A memorial service for Dosha DJay Joi will be held on Monday, July 13 from 1:00-3:00pm at Inspired Word Ministries, 3410 W Burleigh St, Milwaukee, WI 53210.

Dosha DJay Joi, age 28, of Milwaukee, passed away Thursday, May 14th from COVID-19. People across Milwaukee knew DJay for his welcoming energy as well as his persistence in advocating for foster youth. DJay was an absolute joy.

DJay explored every path for improving the lives of foster youth. He was part of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to inspire change in the foster care system; he was a counselor at Camp to Belong, which reunites siblings who have been separated in foster care for a summer experience; he shadowed Rep. Gwen Moore for the National Foster Youth Institute’s Congressional Shadow Day in 2019. In 2018, he was named an Outstanding Young Leader by FosterClub. He was a friend and mentor to many.
"I'm all about youth getting every opportunity that's afforded to them because that's what they're supposed to get. If they're not, it means that something has to change."
-- DJay
DJay first joined the Kids Matter community in 2014 as an intern developing a bill of rights for youth in foster care. In 2015, DJay became a CASA volunteer and has since advocated for five CASA youth. He specialized in guiding teens through aging out of foster care and being on their own for the very first time. By DJay’s own account, his experience with independent living as a teen was a struggle. He had trouble following the rules and staying with a program, partly because he didn’t have anybody to hold him accountable. As an adult, DJay used his personal experiences to teach his CASA youth how to hold themselves accountable and make sure their rights are respected while they’re still in care.

DJay said, “That’s why I can’t always be a total professional, because I feel that I’ll lose that insight. I have to keep it personal for my kids.”
A memorial service for Dosha DJay Joi will be held on Monday, July 13 from 1:00-3:00pm at Inspired Word Ministries, 3410 W Burleigh St, Milwaukee, WI 53210 .
Below we include celebrations of life from a few of the many individuals DJay touched.
DJay is the most passionate person I’ve ever come across. Sometimes his passion would annoy people but if there was a person in need of help DJay didn’t mind annoying a few people as long as those in need received help. DJay wanted to make an impact on this world and help as many people as possible, because of that he would take on a lot of different projects at once without worrying about his own self care. That’s just the type of person he was: passionate. I met DJay 10 years ago when we were both living in independent living for former foster youth, my case manager introduced me to him the day I moved in and DJay immediately became ‘mother bear.’ I was put off at first because I’m not used to having someone look after me, checking in on me and genuinely worried about my well-being. No matter how much distance I thought I was creating we still became friends because this is DJay, he doesn’t really take no for an answer lol.

For all of our conversations I noticed he had a lot of ideas for reform in the foster care system so I introduced him the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). YAC was a space for those who had experienced foster care to come together and work towards change together. DJay dove head first into advocacy! Over the 9 years of his advocacy career DJay made sure to never give up, he would go to Madison to advocate issues with legislators even outside of YAC activities. DJay would send emails, phone calls and letters to legislators and if  that wasn’t enough he would be back in Madison! Like I said before, DJay didn’t care if annoyed people as long as he got results. He was fearless, he worked tirelessly toward his educational, professional and personal goals. Just looking back on all the world he’s makes me feel like I could of worked harder. I wonder if he was appreciated enough while he was here. When DJay was called home the world lost a truly amazing person and I hope people can see the marks he left on this world because I can. 
--Jameelah A. Love
I will miss the weekly phone calls, your teasing, the debates, your big smiles, your small tokens of appreciation, calling me mama to irritate, your walk and sweet words of encouragement. I especially will miss our travels in the van and car around the state advocating for change. 
--Laura Wojciuk, Social Worker and former mentor of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
Pictured: Laura and DJay at a bill signing in Madison.
I was a member of the Youth Advisory Council for a bit of time. During my tenure as a member I was rewarded with the opportunity to meet dynamic people from different but similar walks of life. DJay was no different. He didn’t hold back his light for anyone back when I became a member. DJay and myself were speaking before legislators in Madison, sharing out testimonies and views on how foster care extension could be beneficial to those with an IEP. From the time we both spent at the Milwaukee Center for Children and youth and the various work we did together, he was as authentic as any human being could be. He even went out of his way to support me as an entrepreneur by purchasing products from me. Even though we didn’t maintain a consistent relationship outside of work, I am glad that I was able to acknowledge and connect with him a couple of times privately before we even heard of the Coronavirus. 

People like him help you put things into perspective and allow you to live your own life unapologetically. If there was any doubt before, DJay’s passing has renewed my confidence on there being a paradise after life. God bless his memory and those whom he shared space with during his purposeful lifetime. --Alexander James 
He was a such an amazing human being. Our lives have been forever changed. 
--June Paul, Assistant Professor of Social Work, Skidmore College  
DJay Joi shared his story as a former foster youth in Professor June Paul’s Intro. to Social Work and Social Welfare class at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY in Spring 2019.
DJay with June Paul (Mama June) and Lisa Skill (Mama Bear), meeting his new friends Ruth Hernandez and Bernardo Rois and in Albany, New York!
Coffee with DJay, talking through the next phase of Dr. Paul’s research study on LGBTQ+ Former Foster Youth.
DJay, June and Lisa having dinner with more new NY friends…Greg and Kramer Kwaczala.
Letter to Friends & Family of Dosha DJay Joi from Congresswoman Gwen Moore:
DJay and Congresswoman Moore together on Thanksgiving 2019.
Everyone who knew Dosha “DJay” Joi loved him. His name was so fitting – he embodied joy. He was quick to reach out and check-in, gave the best bear hugs, had an infectious laugh, and worked on behalf of youth in foster care at a level that made his name synonymous with child welfare advocacy in Wisconsin. DJay used his personal experiences not as a weight but as a springboard: he pushed forward meaningful child welfare reforms, testified in support of extended out-of-home care for youth with IEPs who had not yet graduated high school, and deeply and genuinely cared about youth in foster care. He attended every summit, youth conference, and advocacy event he could at local, state, and national levels. DJay never met a stranger; he could talk to anyone, and by the end they, too, would be a champion for the cause. He was joyfully persistent in moving his advocacy forward, a skill that is much needed on behalf of our vulnerable and resilient youth. 
 
DJay served on the Statewide Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for seven years until he reached the maximum age limit. During that time, he filled multiple officer positions and was instrumental in launching the first Hands Around the Capitol event in 2017 to recognize Foster Care Awareness month. Even after leaving the statewide YAC, DJay continued to mentor the next generation of advocates through involvement in his local Youth Advisory Council, and stayed connected to the Statewide group. He was also a committed counselor and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). 
 
DJay passed away due to COVID-19 on the morning of May 14, 2020. The resulting loss for the YAC and the Wisconsin foster care community cannot be overstated. DCF staff will work alongside our Region 3 (Milwaukee County) and Statewide YACs to identify a meaningful way to honor DJay’s memory and profound impact. We offer our condolences to all who knew and valued him. We miss him, too. 
 
All the best in this difficult time, 
Wendy Henderson, on behalf of the Department of Children and Families 
Administrator, Division of Safety and Permanence 
My favorite memory of DJay are his hugs. He always greeted me with a smile and a warm hug. I worked most closely with DJay during my first stint as interim Deputy Administrator at DMCPS (2014-16). DJay was a key advisor on our Quality Parenting Initiative. He was willing to step up and be a part of all the committees, and he put in many hours of hard work to try and help us improve the experience of the youth we serve. It was never required of him, but he was always up for lending a helping hand and assisting those of us who are trying to do a good job at this work to do better. His voice, and willingness to share, were truly valuable in that process. We have kept in touch over the years and his voice will always be with me. That voice will play an important role in future decisions we make about the families we serve. I feel grateful and blessed to have known him.
   
Sarah Henery  
Deputy Administrator 
Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services  
This picture is from a fun day when Lad Lake staff and clients packed food boxes at Hunger Task Force. He worked so hard to get as many boxes packed as possible. DJ was such a generous guy with his time and hugs! --Sara and the Lad Lake ILP team 
DJay was a very outgoing person. He always had the drive to do whatever he put his mind to. DJay meant a lot to me and my kids and he was always a helping hand when he had the time. He use to always ask what the kids was doing or call to check on them and that meant a lot to me. He left a lot of fun and crazy moments with me and for that I really thank him. DJay is one of a kind type of guy he’s one in a million and will be truly missed.
--Shadeidra West
Our DJay - - Wow, so many thoughts go through my head. His passing is still so hard to believe and to wrap my head around. How can it be possible?

I knew DJay from his involvement with the Wisconsin Youth Advisory Council. I was the state advisor for the group when he first joined. It's funny, I don't remember much about his first meeting. I'm guessing he must have been on the quiet side at that time. If so, it the last time that he was quiet or reserved in any of our meetings. YAC members, you know what I mean (and it was a good thing). I am happy that he came to be comfortable enough to share his thoughts, feelings and perspectives. In part, that was not only due to his internal strength, but to the support he received from all of his YAC brothers and sisters and advisors.
When I reflect on his time in YAC and the interactions that I had with him, I remember someone who really grew into the person he was supposed to be.

DJ was about making things happen. He had the enthusiasm optimism and stick-to-it attitude that is hard to find. He met road blocks along the way, but he would soon come up with a plan B to accomplish what he had set out to do. From his early involvement he did not shy away from seeking leadership roles in the YAC.

It was not unusual for him to get out ahead of the YAC advisors or his fellow officers with an idea that he wanted to implement. I give him a lot of credit, because it took patience on his part to wait for us to catch up and to jump aboard with things he wanted the YAC to accomplish. Eventually, he came to understand the importance of dotting the I's and crossing the T's and getting buy-in before moving forward in a way that presented the greatest chances for success. That strategy is everything when it comes to advocacy work. The work he loved.

I am just so proud of him and what he did to overcome his past and move forward with a focus on others. He never complained, blamed others or made excuses. Honestly, that is such a rare trait these days. He always asked how he could do better the next time. He was a sensitive soul that was filled with passion and compassion. Always looking for the next thing that would better himself or the foster care system. Sometimes I'd want to say, slow down, enjoy THIS for awhile. But he loved challenging himself and others.

We had our own little thing that we always joked about when we saw each other. Actually it was a joke that some YAC members played on us when we went to a national conference. We laughed hysterically when we realized that the joke was on us and continued to laugh about it as the years passed. I will forever remember that connection with a smile.

In closing, I just want to say, that we all want to leave this world a little better than the way we found it (so to speak). DJay did that. Perhaps if we had a chance to speak to him now he'd say, that there was so much more to do. But that's where we come in. It's up to us to pick up the baton and carry on from here. How each one of us decides to do that is up to our place in life, our gifts and our circle of influence. Be that change you want to see in the world. As we've witnessed, even small gestures can make a huge difference in someone's life.

--Chris Lenske, Former DCF Independent Living Coordinator and YAC advisor
DJay had a curiosity and drive to learn like no other CASA volunteer I have known.  That drive was born of his experiences in the foster care system and as a foster care alumnus. There was no conference, continuing education offering or webinar he that did not interest DJay. The only thing that could keep him away from a learning opportunity was a prior youth advocacy commitment or helping someone who was struggling – and DJay spent a lot of time doing both. His mission was to equip every foster youth and alum to live their best life by helping them overcome personal challenges and systemic barriers. Every day DJay lived out that mission generously and passionately.  His memory inspires us to continue working for youth and children with perseverance, excellence and joy.

--CASA Program Manager Lance Jones
DJay had more impact on us than he could ever imagine. He was always there with words of encouragement and a 'to-do' list on behalf of his kids--our kids--foster youth. He left us too soon, and with so much more work to do for our kids.

--Susan Conwell, Executive Director
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