Falona Joy

Falona works with museums, universities, arts organizations, foundations, and social impact campaigns to launch ambitious initiatives. In addition to her consulting practice, she recently founded Joy Media, a social enterprise that uses XR and AI to deepen cultural connections. Projects underway include a platform that combines 3D digitization and AI to increase access to cultural collections, and a 3D visioning tool that links origami to XR to imagine possible futures. Falona began her career with the National Park Foundation, where she was the founding executive director of the African American Experience Fund. She continues to have a passion for parks, public lands, and conservation initiatives, including serving as the founding garden leader for the 42nd Street Garden in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and serving as the vice chair of the inaugural Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Conservation and Policy Council. Falona also serves as a life trustee of the Chicago History Museum; a board member of Adler University and the Seattle Art Museum; and previously served as a board member of the Friends of the Seattle Waterfront and Illinois Humanities Council. She was named a Chicago Cultural Champion by the Chicago Cultural Alliance. Falona received her BA with honors from Stanford University.