Nonprofit Director | Project management | Consultant | Public Notary | Social Justice + LGBTQIA+ Advocate
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JOÉL JUNIOR MORALES
HE/HIM/HIS/Él
Professional Consultant
ABOUT ME
Professional Consulting
I’ve been a professional Consultant since 2010. I believe in maintaining a positive mindset, creating partnerships with a purpose, and always striving for significant outcomes. When you work with me, you should expect a collaboration with transparency and consistency.
Joél Junior Morales (he.him.él) is the Foundation Manager for The Contigo Fund, a southern-based LGBTQ+ participatory grantmaking organization that has grown into a top funder of LGBTQ+ Latinx communities.
Joél is a proud Queer Puerto Rican, a nationally recognized activist, and a social impact leader. Through social justice and advocacy, he aims his efforts to empower communities historically marginalized by society.
In addition, Joél is a crisis responder and consulted to mass violence and incidents, providing critical incident stress debriefings and follow-up care where needed. He has responded to the 2016 Pulse Night Club Shooting incident, evacuees forced to migrate after the devastation on the island of Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria, and the Virginia Beach Shooting.
He is a recipient of the “Distinguished Victim Advocate” by the Florida State Attorney's office, recognized with the “Governor Medal of Unity., LGBTQ+ Honoree for Congressional District 9, and named Most Remarkable Person 2020 by Watermark Magazine.
Morales has experience working in public and private health, nonprofit management, project improvement, substance abuse, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.
NEWS, VIDEO AND COMMENTARY
ORLANDO’S LGBT ‘BROTHERS AND SISTERS’ TRY TO HEAL
June 22, 2016
Marie Aponte, right, her fiancee Chrystal Sandi and nephew David Aponte Jr., attend a vigil in the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando on Monday, June 13, 2016. Aponte's friend, 26-year-old Oscar Aracena Montero, was among the 49 who were killed.
PULSE-INSPIRED ORLANDO UNITED ASSISTANCE CENTER EXTENDS COUNSELING HELP FOR THE COMMUNITY.
Nov 02, 2017
ORLANDO — The Orlando United Assistance Center, created to help survivors of the Pulse massacre and families of the dead, is now offering free counseling to anyone affected by the tragedy — even those who weren't in the club and didn't lose a family member there.
IN 'WOMEN OF LOCKERBIE," ROLLINS PLAY LOOKS AT TRAGEDY, COMMUNITY
Feb 06, 2018
It was 30 years ago that destruction rained down on the little Scottish town of Lockerbie.
A terrorist bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103, high overhead, and as the shattered plane’s debris fell to the earth, 259 people on board and 11 residents of Lockerbie lost their lives.
TOGETHER WE TALK: Q&A WITH THE JOÉL JUNIOR MORALES
June 11, 2018
Following the tragedy at Pulse two years ago, the Orlando community needed a place for survivors and victims’ families to mourn, to heal and to find support.
Following the tragedy at Pulse two years ago, the Orlando community needed a place for survivors and victims’ families to mourn, to heal and to find support.
Local governments and nonprofits immediately responded by creating the Family Assistance Center at Camping World Stadium, working to address urgent practical and emotional needs. Staff and volunteers helped 986 individuals and 298 families in just eight days.
NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK 'MY TIO'S PULSE' HELPS YOUTH UNDERSTAND PULSE SHOOTING
October 11, 2018
Members of the Orlando community have come together to release a brand-new children's book called My Tío's Pulse and the mission of this release is all too important, particularly for the LGBTQ community. In efforts of helping parents, teachers, and caregivers create an open dialogue about adverse childhood experiences and trauma, the book details the events of the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting, which occurred on June 12, 2016, and offers youth with an understanding of the attack that killed 49 people and wounded 53 others.
VIDEO: TWO YEARS AFTER PULSE: NIGHTMARES, RESOLVE, HOPE
January 1, 2025
Two years after a gunman killed 49 people at Orlando's Pulse nightclub, the city has more metal detectors, panic buttons, active-shooter drills, trauma counseling and grief-stricken parents and partners than it did in 2016. But for some, it also has more compassion and progress and purpose.
SURVIVOR STILL HEALING THREE YEARS AFTER PULSE TRAGEDY
June 12, 2019
ORLANDO, Fla. – To see Jeff Xavier walking with ease, it might be easy to forget what he's been through.
When we met at The Center, Orlando's LGBTQ community center, seeing a quilt with photos of the 49 people who were killed immediately took him back.
PULSE -- THREE YEARS LATER
June 7, 2019
News Night marks three years since the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, including how the community is remembering the victims, the event's impact on the mental health of survivors, loved ones and first responders connected with the event and the lasting change the tragedy brought to Central Florida.
SPOTLIGHT ON MILLS 50: THE CENTER
July 29, 2019
The Center on Mills Avenue has been the meeting center for Orlando’s LGBTQ community since 1978. According to executive director, George Wallace, The Center gives more HIV tests than any other clinic in Florida
FLORIDA PUERTO RICAN PARADE ANNOUNCES NEWLY FORMED LGBTQ+ COMMITTEE
January 1, 2025
This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Add a short summary, include links to relevant content and choose a great photo or video for extra engagement!
CRIME SURVIVORS NEED STRONGER SAFETY POLICIES | COMMENTARY
FEB 27, 2020
Too often, cycles of crime and repeat victimization have not been stopped because Florida’s policies have overly relied on incarceration as the solution. We could make a real difference if we focused on preventing crime, ensuring people exit the justice system better than when they entered, and meeting the needs of crime survivors.
CRIME SURVIVORS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN TALLAHASSEE
February 16, 2020
ORLANDO, Fla. - Crime survivors from across the state will join together in Tallahassee to demand more services and funding for victims.
On Monday, more than 50 crime survivors from Central Florida boarded a bus as they make the trip to the state capitol for Survivor Speak 2020. They will join 400 crime survivors who plan to meet with lawmakers to call for more support for crime victims.
GOV. DESANTIS SIGNS $92.2 BILLION FLORIDA BUDGET, VETOES $1 BILLION
June 29, 2020
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Pointing to “difficult circumstances,” Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he signed a $92.2 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year after vetoing about $1 billion in spending.
The large numbers of vetoes came as state revenues plummet because of economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers passed a proposed $93.2 billion budget in March as the effects of the virus started to be felt.
QUARANTINE Q&A COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT WITH JOÉL JUNIOR MORALES
Oct 7, 2020
Hope & Help, Inc: Facebook Live Podcast, Learn about Joél and his many engagements throughout the Central Florida community!
INTERSECTIONAL PRIDE IN ORLANDO: COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS CHARLOTTE CHACHA DAVIS AND JOEL JUNIOR MORALES IN CONVERSATION
October 07, 2020
Orlando's long-beloved Come Out With Pride celebration will look different in the year 2020, just like everything else. But it's not just the coronavirus and its many ill effects that's shaken the kaleidoscope. Community protests over the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and too many more have changed the landscape as well, as marginalized persons become empowered to create change for themselves and others. Our Matthew Moyer spoke to community organizer Charlotte ChaCha Davis and the LGBT+ Center's Joél Junior Morales about the new normal for gay Orlando. – Jessica Bryce Young
A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STIGMA” WORLD AIDS DAY EDITION
November 30, 2020
A conversation About HIV Stigma” World Aids Day Edition #WAD2020
MOST REMARKABLE 2020: JOEL MORALES, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, LGBT+ CENTER ORLANDO
December 17, 2020
Joél Junior Morales is an outspoken, Puerto Rican, queer advocate. And he is remarkable. We both relocated to Orlando from Massachusetts, me in 2002 and him in 2011, and I have had the privilege of working with him since 2019 when he returned to The Center in his current role as director of operations.
Often the executive director of a nonprofit gets most of the credit for good things happening within the organization. I learned early in my career to surround myself with the best and that is exactly what I did when I hired Joél. So many of The Center’s recent accolades were because of his hard work and dedication to our community
VSC PODCAST EPISODE 40 - TOXIC MASCULINITY
December 30, 2020
Episode 40 of the VSC Podcast is out and it’s all about Toxic Masculinity. Come listen to Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell chat with The Center’s Director Joél Junior Morales and VSC LGBTQ+ Advocate Kevin Fox about gender norms and Toxic Masculinity, how to can look across different cultures and groups as well as perpetuate violence, and how to embrace masculinity in a non-toxic way.
CRIMINAL-JUSTICE BILLS HELP VICTIMS, PROBATIONERS
Mar 31, 2021
As a prior victim of crime, I believe the criminal justice system should make the people who enter it better and less likely to cause harm when they exit. I also believe there should be less focus on those who don’t cause harm in our communities and more attention on what crime victims need.
Three bills in the state Legislature this year will help crime victims while also improving public safety. SB 1838 by Sen. Shevrin Jones (D-Miami) and HB 1476 from Rep. Felicia Robinson (D-Miami) would provide employment protections for crime victims. The third bill, HB 799, would make our probation system more effective.
CONTACT ME
For inquiries about booking for consulting, presenting, or notary services, please complete the form below. Contact me today and see what I can do for you.
Orlando, FL
