PEACE

Joseph Givens is a political and community organizer with over 40 years of organizing experience, half of those years dedicated to developing the civic capacity of churches and communities of faith. Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 he has been a consultant to the Advancement Project, the Atlanta Regional Council of Churches and the Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference in their efforts to assist in recovery efforts in New Orleans. He is also working with Ambassador Andrew Young to develop a strategy to rebuild churches, synagogues and communities of faith in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

Givens began his work in 1972  leading organizing efforts for electoral, community and church based initiatives and campaigns, and in 1991 with a national faith based organization. Joe currently serves as the Executive Director of the Isaiah Institute in New Orleans. From 1991-2006 Givens worked with the People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO), serving as Director of its New Orleans affiliate, and on the National Training staff. 

Givens was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1972 and later received in 1977, from President Jimmy Carter, a Presidential Citation as one of 'Louisiana's Distinguished Vietnam-era Veterans".  Givens earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of New Orleans. Givens is married to a talented wife with four successful children, and resides in his native New Orleans.