Joanna Katsikas’ Inclusive Vision: Uplifting the Disability Community
It’s rare to meet someone who beams with joy and love the way Joanna Katsikas does. As the founder of North Star Achievement Center, Joanna is on a mission to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them a voice and a seat at the table. She fiercely tackles the staggering unemployment and poverty disparities faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As she frankly states, “We’re one of the last really marginalized populations that often get overlooked.” By centering the voices of those they serve and fostering a workplace culture rooted in servant leadership, Joanna has created an environment that values collaboration and kindness. In this interview, we will give more into the center’s philosophy, how to build a board of directors, and a special event for us to look forward to in the fall of next year.
Question 1: Purpose and Philosophy
Zara: Thanks again for your time and insights, Joanna. Believe there are a lot of young entrepreneurial women who are interested in being a nonprofit founder someday, so your representation is very valuable. So first question, which I know is something that you live and breathe… what is the purpose and philosophy of your nonprofit, North Star Achievement Center?
Joanna: You know, I recently saw a great addition to the acronym DEI — diversity, equity, and inclusion — where someone added an “A” for accessibility. I think part of our purpose is to make that “A” louder and bolder in our communities. Our long-term vision is to create a space where people can learn how to advocate for themselves, whether it’s in small ways, like showing up and being present, or in more impactful ways, like taking leadership roles and contributing to decision-making processes. We are inspired by models such as the Commonwealth Council for Developmental Disabilities, which includes individuals with intellectual disabilities on its board, reflecting the principle that “nothing about us without us.”
In the same vein, I am working with a young woman right now who doesn’t qualify for Medicaid because her IQ is considered too high. However, she shared with me that her real struggle is with activities of daily living, where she needs significant support. I told her, “You need to come with me to Frankfort and say that to someone.” (Frankfort, Kentucky is Kentucky’s capitol and hub for legislative reform). The issue is that she’s been disqualified based on her IQ, but an IQ score is just one small snapshot — it’s not a true reflection of someone’s ability to function day-to-day. For example, if you’re having a rough morning, like losing a pet, you’re not in the right mindset to take an IQ test. There needs to be a much more comprehensive approach to assessing someone’s needs, not just relying on a single test score.
Question 2: Leading a Staff
Zara: Absolutely. So this next question, and I can kind of pick up on it a little bit just by some of your previous answers, but what would you say is your leadership style, and in your opinion, what’s the single most important way to invest in your staff?
Joanna: I firmly believe that a more dictatorial or top-down approach is a real turn-off, especially in the emotional and invested work of a nonprofit organization like ours. For me, the single most important way to invest in my team is to ensure they feel that their voices matter. As Maya Angelou so eloquently said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” By creating an environment where my staff feel their contributions are truly appreciated, they become more passionate about our mission and take greater ownership of their roles. This, in turn, allows me to trust that the work is being done without having to constantly micromanage.
Question 3: Kindness
Zara: Can you tell me a moment when a person’s kindness made a difference in your life and affected the trajectory of your entrepreneurship?
Joanna: When my parents divorced, our church community didn’t want to take sides. However, the reality is that my single mother was left struggling to make ends meet, working multiple jobs to provide for me and my siblings. One day, right before Thanksgiving, a man from our church showed up at our doorstep. He took my mom to the grocery store, filled the cart with the essentials for a Thanksgiving dinner, and suggested throwing a couple more things in the basket. My mom agreed and said we needed some cereal, and he threw in three boxes. This went on and in the end, they came home with an amazing bounty, and my mom in immense gratitude stated, “I can never repay you,” and he responded, “One day when you’re on your feet, pay it forward.” In continuation of this cycle of kindness. Years later, when I was a teacher, one of my student teachers was facing a financial crisis and on the verge of being evicted. I went around to all the other teachers in the building, asking if they could spare even just $5 to help this young woman. In the end, we raised about $300 — enough to cover her rent and keep her in her home. She had the same thing. She said, “I can never repay you,” and I responded, “Pay it forward one day,” and now, years later, she’s a school principal, she’s living that same kind of value. These experiences of receiving kindness and then passing it on have been instrumental in shaping my approach to entrepreneurship and leadership.
Question 4: Building a Board of Directors
Zara: How do you build a board of directors and what are the most important skills and character traits to recruit for a board?
Joanna: It’s essential to have both a lawyer who understands the relevant legal landscape and a financial expert who can help with budgeting and financial planning. At North Star Achievement Center, we are fortunate to have a board chair who is a financial advisor with experience in special needs trust funds.
However, I don’t just want someone who can “check the box.” I want someone who is a person with a disability and/or truly understands what people with disabilities need.
We recently had an outstanding visually impaired disability lawyer who was willing to join us, but unfortunately, he’s moving away. His lived experience would have been very valuable. Another board member has a daughter with autism. Again, the largest voice in the room has to be our folks with disabilities.
Zara: I appreciate your commitment to intentionality.
Question 5: Exciting Event and Opportunity
Zara: What are you most excited about in the near future?
We are preparing our “Moon Tan Gala” fundraiser next fall, which will feature a popular local band. We are actively looking for sponsors for this event and would love to connect with anyone interested.
Also, moments we can truly fulfill our mission, are always incredibly rewarding and exciting for me. I remember helping a guy recently find a job, and he told me, ‘I think I’m going to work here for years.’ I have no doubt he will.
And that’s another exciting piece of it. Especially during COVID, we learned that people with disabilities were among the most reliable essential workers. For many, like those with autism, these individuals live and die by routine. So if they have a job on Tuesday, they’re showing up on Tuesday — there’s often little turnover if they enjoy their work.
There’s also a strong, untapped market within the families and communities of people with disabilities. When a business is known to hire and support people with disabilities, it gains loyalty not only from employees but also from friends and families who are eager to support such businesses. This represents a $13 billion market that companies can access simply by embracing disability inclusion. I know people who specifically choose to shop at stores that hire individuals with disabilities, and that loyalty is something that can make a real difference for not only businesses but our community as well.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, Joanna is on a mission to create a world where all voices are valued and included and help individuals with disabilities thrive and make meaningful contributions to society. Through the North Star Achievement Center, she is not only providing critical support and advocacy but also reshaping how we think about inclusion, employment, and accessibility. Joanna’s work reminds us all of the importance of paying it forward and creating spaces where everyone can belong. With every job placement, every connection made, and every voice amplified, North Star Achievement Center is truly a guiding light for the disability community and the world is better for it.
