Joan Erakit is an American writer and educator with a background in communications, development, and administration. Joan has worked for National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Open Society Foundations, and Inter Press Service.  She has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Population Fund as well as moderator and speaker at the World Urban Forum 7 and 9. In 2017, Joan left her life in New York City and moved to Italy on a mission to write a book and learn about Italian culture.  While writing her column for La Voce Di New York entitled An American Girl in Italy, she fell in love with the country and began lecturing at a private university on the subject of storytelling. 

Joan is a recent recipient from First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton and U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright founded organization, Vital Voices Global Partnership, as a fellow of their Leadership Incubator in partnerships with TRESemme.

Joan’s writings have been published by Cool Hunting, The HuffPost, Marie Claire, Essence, The Minneapolis City Pages, The World Post, Inter Press Service, Truthout, Frank151, StyleBlazer, La Voce di New York, and OkayAfrica.