Jo Yocum (she/her) is the national Vice President for Playworks, a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase the health and wellbeing of kids through play. There she oversees operations in the midwest, including Indiana. She also manages the national government grants and AmeriCorps team for the organization. Jo led the strategic growth of Playworks in Indiana from providing services in 9 Indianapolis schools to more than 80 schools and youth serving organizations throughout the state. With nearly 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience at the local and national levels, Jo’s passion lies in working against inequities in education and healthcare.
Jo was born and raised in Marion, Indiana. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in cultural anthropology from Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. She completed a Nonprofit Executive Leadership fellowship at Northwestern University. Jo is an AmeriCorps alumna, the Vice Chair of the Governor appointed Serve Indiana Commission and a member of Chief, a national network focused on connecting and empowering executive women leaders. She resides on the northeast side of Indianapolis with her partner, Jim and daughter, Betti.