05/12/2026
We asked Savannah Program Coordinator Antonio Lewis-Ross what he was finding joy in right now, and this is what he had to say:
“Joy, for me, has looked like small but meaningful moments—conversations with people I know, and just as importantly, conversations with people I don’t. Even those we might never usually speak to. There’s something powerful about being curious, about being open to the differences we hear instead of afraid of them.
In my role as a coordinator with Java Joy, I get to live that out every day. Whether we’re serving coffee, sharing a smile, or simply showing up, the heart of the work is creating space for those conversations to happen. It’s in those brief interactions—between volunteers, members, and the community...that something deeper begins to form.
I’ve been grounding myself in this belief: if something matters deeply to me, it likely matters to others too. That shared care is where community begins....and it’s exactly what I see unfolding through Java Joy. A simple act of connection can remind someone they’re seen, valued, and not alone.
Joy right now looks like courage.
Being brave enough to start conversations that matter, to listen deeply, and to believe in the kind of community we can build together.”
