Joel Ware

Joel Christopher Ware was reared in the Lower 9th and 12th Wards of the Big Easy. As the seventh child of 12, Joel witnessed first-hand the struggles of single mothers through the dedication and sacrifices made to provide for their children. Ware found himself having difficulty maintaining the straight and narrow path in middle school and made the decision to become a middle school drop out in 8th grade. He felt life in the streets would afford him all the thrills and materialism he thought to be missing. He did not realize his dreams, and soon found the reality of life in the streets was not satisfying and presented many challenges. Unfulfilled dreams propelled Joel forward. At the age of 15, Joel convinced himself he needed to obtain his GED. Having accomplished this great feat, he began reaching for higher and greater dreams. Ware enrolled in courses that gave him college credits at Southern University where he went on to obtain a BS degree in Therapeutic Recreational and Leisure St