It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Board member, JoAnn K. Chase. JoaAnn was a steadfast champion of Harlem Stage and a luminous force in our community.We hold her family, loved ones, and the many communities she served in our hearts and prayers during this time of loss.
JoAnn was a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Indian Nation and was born and raised in Twin Buttes, North Dakota. Her life’s work was guided by an unwavering commitment to justice, dignity, and inclusion. She served in the Biden–Harris Administration as Director of the American Indian Environmental Office within the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, bringing visionary leadership and moral clarity to the national stage. A social justice advocate and innovative strategist, JoAnn devoted her career to building a more inclusive democracy.
After serving as Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing tribal governments, JoAnn moved to New York City to launch her consulting firm, The Chase Group. In 2016, she joined the Board of Directors at Harlem Stage, immediately deepening her impact as Chair of that year’s Spring Gala. From 2019 to 2021, she served as Board President with grace, rigor, and an abiding belief in the power of artists and cultural institutions to advance equity and imagination.
She earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico Law School and a bachelor’s degree in film theory and criticism from Boston University; a reflection of her rare ability to bridge policy, culture, and storytelling.
“JoAnn was a cherished member of the Harlem Stage family. The humor, radiant energy, and boundless generosity she shared were truly unparalleled. Her unwavering advocacy for Indigenous communities, people of color, and women profoundly shaped our work and strengthened our commitment to equity, justice, and artistic freedom. JoAnn’s legacy will continue to inspire us as we carry that work forward.”
— Dr. Indira Etwaroo
CEO & Artistic Director, Harlem Stage
JoAnn’s legacy at Harlem Stage is indelible. She led with generosity, courage, and love, and she believed deeply in our mission and in the people who carry it forward. We will miss her brilliance, her laughter, and her unwavering faith in what is possible. May her memory be a blessing and a guiding light for all who had the privilege to know and work alongside her.