Yosef Medina

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: Culture, Education, & Innovation

Engagement Strategist | Educator | Community Consultant

Yosef Medina is a purpose-driven, visionary leader dedicated to bridging communities through strategic cultural initiatives and transformative educational programs. As Director of Community Initiatives at Virginia Humanities, the state’s humanities council headquartered at the University of Virginia, Yosef provides strategic leadership in cultivating community partnerships and overseeing impactful programs such as the HBCU Scholars Fellowship and the Virginia African American Cultural Resources Task Force.

Currently pursuing a Doctor of Liberal Studies at Georgetown University, Yosef’s research integrates his public humanities practice with a focus on sustainable funding models. He serves on the advisory boards of Rivanna Books at UVA Press and the AfroLatin@ Forum, and previously served on the Governor’s Virginia Latino Advisory Board (2021-2024). He was also a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University (2023-2024).

Before joining Virginia Humanities, Yosef led education and reentry initiatives within New York City’s K–12 public school and juvenile justice systems, empowering justice-impacted youth through innovative programming and strategic community engagement. As a dynamic public speaker and rising scholar-practitioner, Yosef is frequently invited to share his expertise at universities, conferences, and community events, offering insights on cultural strategy, community engagement, educational program development, and public humanities initiatives.

Why Book Yosef Medina?

• • A Bridge Between Communities: Yosef is a powerful connector of Black and Latin communities, using history, culture, and education to foster unity and understanding
  • Experienced in Reentry and Expanding Educational Opportunities: With years of experience in K-12 and juvenile justice education, he provides deep insights into reentry, second chances, and increasing opportunities for underserved communities
  • A Thought Leader in Public Humanities and Cultural Programming: As a program director at a state humanities council and doctoral student, Yosef effectively combines academic and publicly engaged scholarship to conversations on cultural dynamics and the power of storytelling in shaping our world
  • Inspiring & Motivating Youth in Schools & Juvenile Detention Centers: Yosef has a unique ability to connect with young people, whether in traditional school settings or juvenile justice programs, providing hope, guidance, and the tools for success
  • Dynamic & Engaging Speaker: Yosef has spoken at universities, national conferences, and community forums, captivating audiences with insightful storytelling and real-world solutions

Discussion Topics

• • Bridging Black & Latin Communities – Exploring shared histories, challenges, and opportunities for unity and progress
  • The Power of Humanities & Arts in Education – Why humanities programs are essential for critical thinking, opportunity, and social impact
  • Closing the Opportunity Gap in Urban Schools – Strategies for student success in under-resourced districts
  • Education & Reentry: A Second Chance – The role of higher education in transforming lives during and after incarceration

Notable Achievements

• • Developed reentry education programs for justice-impacted youth in NYC, helping students transition from detention to higher education and workforce programs
  • Project lead and co-author of ¡Presente! AfroLatines in NYC and Beyond, a 12-unit lesson plan for district-wide dissemination to junior high schools for the Hidden Voices initiative at the New York City Department of Education (2023)
  • Serves on the planning committee for Inside and Out: The Humanities and Mass Incarceration — a national body that cultivates exploration and engagement between humanities councils and the carceral system
  • Designed and currently lead the only dedicated HBCU fellowship hosted by a state humanities council in the country

Speaking Engagements & Media

• • Keynote Speaker, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy – Expanding Access to College Inside Virginia Prisons
  • Smithsonian Folklife Festival Panelist – AfroLatinidad & Radical Movements
  • Moderated discussion with MacArthur Fellow, Dr. Reuben Jonathan Miller on Halfway Home – Watch here
  • Roundtable: The Importance of Blackness & Afro-Latinidad in the K-12 Curriculum – Watch here
  • Op-Ed: The Humanities and HBCUs – A Long Intertwined History in Virginia – Read here
  • Co-produced episode and interviewed Kemba Smith on: More Than My Mistakes – Listen here

Education

• • Doctoral student, Georgetown University
  • MPA, Liberty University – Public & Non-Profit Management
  • BA, Hartwick College – Business Administration & Spanish

Travels From Virginia

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