Joél Simone Maldonado aka The Grave Woman is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, pre-planning specialist, award winning deathcare educator, sacred grief practitioner, and proud founder of The Multicultural Death & Grief Care Academy. She specializes in educating professionals about the importance of Cultural Competency, Inclusion and Diversity in end of life, death and grief care.
Joél has worked in the death care industry since 2010 and also has over 15 years experience in the health care industry. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Compassion and Choices, is co-chair of the boards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee and volunteers with the organizations African American Leadership Council.
Her passion is educating through having open and honest conversations about the multicultural nuance of death and grief care through the use of her courses, podcast, YouTube channel and social media platforms. Joe’l is dedicated to continuing to enhance and improve her personal cultural intelligence, competency and skills through participating in and completing various post collegiate entrepreneurship, development and leadership programs including earning her CQ certification through the Cultural Intelligence Center.