Location: Kapa’au Hawai’i, USA
Areas of Expertise: Working with leaders and organizations to address issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with courage and humor including: operationalizing values, cultural competence, change management, spiral dynamics, navigating intersectionality and identity politics, Emotional Brain Training, collective impact, engaging difficult conversations, connecting arts and contemplative practice with civic engagement, creative place-making, leadership coaching, managing with aloha and visual thinking strategies.
Affiliations: General Manager of the GRACE Center at Kohala Institute, former Executive Director of Kalanihonua Retreat Center, former Director of Civic Engagement at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts San Francisco, award-winning editor and writer, co-founder of Asian and Pacific Islander Intervention Team Health Centers.
Services: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Planning, Change Management, Program Development and Evaluation, Leadership Coaching, Retreat Design and Facilitation, Race and Cultural Theory Application, Mobilizing Collective Impact, Storytelling Coach, and Editor.
Bio: In this time of deepening social and political divides, life-long cultural activist and writer Joël B. Tan believes that conflicts around equity, inclusion and diversity are cause for celebration. Joël offers heart-centered, mindful strategies and support for organizations navigating the complexities of intersectionality and identity politics. He believes these disruptions around identity are powerful invitations to change and evolve.
Drawing inspiration from his arts and social justice background, Joël employs the power of play and permission to inspire innovation and breakthroughs for seemingly impossible situations. He is especially committed to helping individuals and groups reconnect to indigeneous values as a means to decolonize spirituality and wellness.
Joel has over 30 years of dedicated leadership toward increasing access and equity for communities of color in the fields of public health, education, holistic centers and arts and civic engagement. In 1991, he co-founded Los Angeles’ Asian and Pacific Islander AIDS Intervention Team Health Centers. Joel has served on numerous state and national initiatives: National Gay Men of Color HIV/AIDS Leadership Forum, Bay Area Arts Professionals of Color Consortium, Filipino Arts Network, et al. In addition to his consulting work and leadership at the Grace Center, Joel is also a charter member and community developer for Vibrant Hawaii, a collective impact initiative aimed at reducing Hawai’i Island’s staggering 55% poverty rate through organizing leaders in government, private business, nonprofit, and poverty reduction advocates.
Joel lives on the northern point of Hawai’i Island’s North Kohala district with his husband, Stephen “Bunny” Hoffmann, a technology expert and Rolfer. Joel is also an experienced meditator, chef-for-hire and Sufi poetry lover.