Josetta Owen’s belief regarding humanitarian work is that it “feeds the soul, arms the heart and is very humbling.” Josetta has spent a majority of her life reaching out to others all around the world. This knowledge along with the experiences that she has gained and the people she has met have shaped her life in indescribable ways. The places she has visited have had a tremendous impact on her and she continues to travel any chance she can. Josetta does not think of her work as extraordinary; however, anyone who has the opportunity to talk to her knows otherwise.

Josetta says her time at the College was well spent making friends, being a part of the student government association, and participating in theatre productions. As a student, Josetta made life-long friends with whom she remains in contact to this day. They call themselves the “Eight Robins.” One Robin, Lynn Ryder DeHart ’65, was Josetta’s roommate for all four years here at the College. The group sends letters and pictures that get passed along to each person, sometimes taking over a year to get to every Robin, but they enjoy keeping connected in this way. They’ve shared many of life’s experiences together through these letters.

For the past 14 years, Josetta has spent one week annually helping the poor in the slums of El Salvador. She and about 20 others from her church make the trip to the region to provide care, food and comfort for the area residents. The one thing that stands out the most to her is the reactions she gets from the locals. “They always seem to have this look about them that asks, “Why are you here?” says Josetta.  She wins them over by listening to their stories and acknowledging the reality and the difficulty of their lives.  The children get the most excited. She remembers one time she walked into a village to have the children tug at her clothes and grab her hands. They showed her their rundown school; they smiled and ran about enjoying that she was there, for them.

Jo does not think of her work as something big, but anyone who has the opportunity to talk to her knows otherwise. At home, Josetta is part of many boards and committees dedicated to addressing international social issues.  She co-founded a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C., and formed a friendship with a homeless woman named Lillian, whom Josetta would take out to breakfast once week for years. Josetta invited Lillian to join her family for a Thanksgiving dinner, despite their resistance to the invitation. She notes that she does not always do what others expect her to do. Jo says she is “walking to a different drummer” than the rest of her family.

When it comes to helping others and making a difference in the world, Josetta explains you don’t have to go far from home. “You do not need a lot of money or even a plane ticket,” adding that although many people have busy schedules, it is important to take the time to notice others, which only takes a minute. Josetta’s advice is to acknowledge the people around you, “Ask them how their day is. Look at their name tags and call them by their names. If you do this you will see them for who they are as a real person, not just a face,” she said.

Josetta claims that “life is a real attitude.” She even suggests reading for three to five minutes every night before bed, preferably an inspirational work, because she says it will start to make “a world of difference” in how you feel the next day.

Josetta received the 2002 MCLA Humanitarian Award and was the Convocation speaker in September 2005.