Joyce Roberts

Joyce Roberts is an active member of her community. She shows up, she brings people, and she gets things done. Having experienced homelessness and the hardship of having to move from an apartment she loved because she could not afford the rent by herself is why being involved with RUN and Housing California is so important to her.

Joyce lived in a MAAC property President John Adams Manor in Oak Park (PJAM) for 14 years. In 2010 PJAM was struggling with community violence as a result Joyce along with other community members began working with elected officials and management to improve safety at PJAM. Since then Joyce stepped up to become a Resident Popular Educator through the San Diego Housing Federation’s Civic Engagement Program. There, she trained alongside other San Diego residents. She challenged herself to learn more about systems, policy, and government. She learned about campaigns, participated in role plays, and mapped her community. She changed how she viewed her community’s issues, and she changed how she saw the solutions.

Joyce has become a more visible leader in her community. She has participated in community meetings about local transportation issues and how plans will affect her community. She has organized voter information sessions helping her neighbors understand the implications of propositions for their neighborhood. She has gone to City Council to advocate for equitable investment and development in her district. She has led deep conversations with local law enforcement about changing how they work with and respond to the community.

Joyce has been a RUN member from the start and continues to step into leadership roles within the program as they are presented. Through her work, she has helped residents see individual problems as connected to greater policies and the greater community.