Dr. Joe Henry Beasley is a human and civil rights activist recognized across North America, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean for his decades of service to underserved communities. His journey began on a sharecropping plantation in rural Georgia and grew into a global ministry of advocacy and institution-building.
For years he served as Human Services Director at Antioch Baptist Church North in Atlanta, a base from which he helped launch and sustain social programs, educational initiatives, and international outreach.
In every context, his focus remained the same: link communities, challenge systems of oppression, and open concrete pathways to dignity and self-determination.
- Human Services Director, Antioch Baptist Church North (Atlanta)
- Southern Regional Director, Rainbow PUSH Coalition
- Founder, The Joe Beasley Foundation
- Board Member & Columnist, African Leadership Magazine
Key milestones
Grows up on a sharecropping plantation in Fayette County (Inman), Georgia, experiencing first-hand the economic and racial systems that would later shape his activism. 20+ years of Airforce U.S. military services
Supports the African National Congress during South Africa’s historic elections and serves as an election monitor in Haiti, linking Southern Black freedom struggles with global movements for self-determination.
Helps establish educational institutions and learning centers in Kenya and Brazil, and mobilizes resources for clinics in Zambia, Liberia, Kenya, Colombia, and Haiti.
Grassroots & Church-Based Organizing
Through Antioch Baptist Church North and community partners, Joe Beasley has supported food programs, housing initiatives, prisoner re-entry support, and educational outreach in Atlanta and beyond.
The model: build local capacity, listen to the community, and couple spiritual care with practical relief.
Rainbow PUSH & Policy Advocacy
As Southern Regional Director for Rainbow PUSH, he has amplified campaigns for voting rights, economic justice, criminal legal reform, and corporate accountability across the American South.
The work spans rallies, negotiations, public testimony, and coalition-building with clergy, students, and grassroots leaders.
Global Human Rights & African Ascension
Through initiatives such as African Ascension, Joe Beasley has championed the idea of a linked global African community—connecting resources, opportunities, and advocacy across continents.
The goal: align one billion people of African descent to leverage political and economic power on their own behalf.
Selected initiatives
- Support for voter registration and democratic participation during historic African and Caribbean elections.
- Advocacy for fair investment in Black communities by major corporations operating across Africa and Latin America.
- Mobilizing medical supplies and equipment to under-resourced hospitals and clinics across multiple countries.
- Mentoring new generations of activists, clergy, and organizers in Atlanta and abroad.
The Board of Directors provides governance, accountability, and strategic direction for the Foundation’s work across local communities and international partners.
Chairman Emeritus – Dr. Joe Beasley
Founder
Chairman – Dr. Richard Freeman
Supports the Chair, leads special initiatives, and helps ensure continuity of leadership and strategic focus.
Treasurer – Joyce Pryor
Oversees financial stewardship, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring donations and grants are managed responsibly.
Secretary – Richard Freeman
Maintains official records, minutes, and governance documents, and helps coordinate Board communications.
President – Joycelyn Pryor
Brings expertise in community organizing, education, public policy, philanthropy, and international development.
CFO – Joyce Pryor
Provides strategic leadership for financial planning, oversight, and compliance to support the Foundation’s long-term sustainability.
To inquire about Board membership, advisory roles, or governance documents, please use the contact form below and note “Board / Governance” in the reason for reaching out.
Support the Foundation
Contribute financially to sustain education, advocacy, and relief efforts connected to Joe Beasley’s ongoing work.
Your donations help expand programs, support international outreach, and preserve the historical record of this work.
Host a Conversation
Bring the representatives of his work to your campus, congregation, or organization for lectures, panels, and strategy sessions.
Use the contact form to request availability and share details about your event.
Join the Network
Connect with a growing community of organizers and institutions committed to global solidarity and human rights.
Share who you are, what you are building, and how you would like to collaborate.
You may also reach out via email or postal mail.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia · 87 Peachtree Street #307, Atlanta, Georgia 30303