Conversations with Rhea & Joy
About CRJ
CRJ began their journey, post-Covid at a high needs elementary summer camp in 2021. With many of the staff being young adults, not only were they able to support their students; but, they were able to develop their staff. Despite facing many challenges, Joy and Rhea ended the summer with no program disruptions, suspension or expulsions. After a successful summer, Rhea and Joy joined forces and became certified trauma informed practitioners and trainers together. After forming CRJ in 2021, CRJ continued has spread its reach to other organizations in the Greater Boston Area. Through empathy and collaboration, CRJ is impacting Black and Brown lives
one conversation at a time!
Meet Our Team
Rhea Elcock M.Ed.
Rhea's journey in education began in studying and designing a culturally sustaining math curriculum. After obtaining her Bachelors in Mathematics and Masters in Education, Rhea became a 7th grade math teacher in Massachusetts. Teaching during and after the pandemic, Rhea recognized systems needed to change, to effectively support Black and Brown youth. Currently the program director for Dudley Promise Corps, Rhea coaches and develops new educators in K-12th grade classrooms with hopes they can maintain empathetic and safe schools for all students.
In her own time while working on expanding CRJ's impact, Rhea created a program called Sport Xposure that exposes historically underserved youth to the endless opportunities and careers in the sport industry. She currently serves on the Advisory Committee for Bunker Hill Community College's Education department and recently completed a fellowship with Mass General Hospital's Department of Psychology. With her heart belonging to students and supporting young adults, Rhea seeks to improve the way education develops Black and Brown youth.
Tamara Joy Harper
Tamara Joy Harper started her clinical work in early intervention as developmental specialist and began a deep practice with children born addicted to substances and/or prematurely. Often preschoolers exiting early intervention were referred to special education due the emotional dysregulation impeding their learning.
To meet the needs of children when dysregulated, Joy participated with Newborn Individual Development Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) 2010; the methods of reading and responding to newborn dys/regulation cues. Joy then practiced with the New York City Bureau of Early Intervention. She coached 100’s of early intervention clinicians in a shift of practice from child centered to family centered. And in 2012 while being an expectant mother, Joy became a certified postpartum doula through CAPPA Association, serving for postpartum mothers, families and newborns.
Joy completed a fellowship with Massachusetts General Hospital ThinkKids: Collaborative Problem Solving in 2023 -learning a trauma informed approach addressing dysregulation cues in children and adults. Currently, she leads Cambridge Public Schools -Home Based Early Childhood Education Program. Additionally, she is seeking endorsement with Massachusetts Association of Infant Mental Health. Her goal is to support Black educators who hold our Black children, adolescents and young adults navigate through public systems.
