Meet Danyel Joseph | Education Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danyel Joseph and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danyel, what inspires you?
Education saved me in so many ways, and I believe God has blessed me with certain gifts in order to be in a position to #PayItForward. I’ve always excelled academically, but if had not been for the strong academic foundation that my teachers afforded me with in the Virgin Islands, I wouldn’t be who I am today. After spending seven years in the education system as an elementary teacher, I was able to identify the learning gaps and inequities that exist. Despite transitioning into the corporate world, I was compelled to continue being an advocate for education and making an impact even outside of the classroom, so I decided to launch Educators’ Black Book. Educators’ Black Book is an education consulting agency that aims to elevate, empower, and equip scholars and emerging educators with resources to promote and achieve student success. To date, I’ve hosted two E.X.C.E.L (Empowering and Cultivating Esteemed Leaders) workshops for scholars that helps them understand the importance of education, how to capitalize on their academic journeys, and even how to start a business! I’ve also helped 23 teachers get state certified, and helped increase my past students’ state scores through our study aids that I’ve developed and tutoring.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Outside of education, I love to indulge in creative things. I’m currently working on my apparel company CRUX The Label. The philosophy behind this brand is love. As we maneuver through the different phases of life, we carry secret burdens brought by its challenges. However, if we are brave enough to peel back the layers and remove our masks, we unlock the deeply rooted fears that keep us hostage — to then realize that they don’t even exist. When we dissect the CRUX of it, we then realize that nothing merely matters if we lack love. I’ve learned that easy to forget your ‘why’, but when we’re reminded of what and who we truly love, it’ll all start to make sense again. Although I am a Carolina Girl, St. Croix, USVI is embedded in the crux of my heart, and it keeps me going. I hope this label will be another stepping stone for global exposure and generational wealth.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Being an adrenaline junky has its perks, but it can become exhausting especially if you don’t have the strongest support system. However, my dad has always been one of my biggest supporters and invested in me in ways I could never repay. As a first generation college student, we weren’t able to afford the tuition at the some of the notable HBCU’s in the nation where I received acceptances, but my dad decided to bet on me. He not only invested in my education and academic pursuits, but has also been the best sounding board and encouraged me to lean into my entrepreneurial spirit. He constantly reminds me of the importance of integrity, work ethic, and value of the legacy we’ll leave behind.

Website: educatorsblackbook.com

Instagram: iamdanyelj

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danyeljoseph

Facebook: Danyel V. Joseph

Image Credits
Grant Foto ARN300