Aya :
⚠️ Public Awareness Alert: Ethics, Public Trust, and Taxpayer Funds ⚠
Before engaging Joel Benjamin Runnels, PhD, for advocacy, human rights, or community work, it is important for the public and institutions to be aware of concerns regarding his personal conduct. Joel currently serves as Legislative Affairs Director at the Minnesota Council on Disability, a role advocating for human rights, disability, and the deaf community. Previously, he held diplomatic positions with USAID overseas, representing the United States and handling taxpayer-funded programs in countries including Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, and Uzbekistan.
Reports from multiple women indicate patterns of misleading romantic involvement under false pretenses, including claims of separation, and leaving without responsibility. In some cases, he fathered children outside his marriage. While these actions may not be illegal, they raise serious questions about ethics, judgment, and the potential misuse of taxpayer-funded positions to pursue personal relationships.And I am one of the victims under his blindsided of abuse relationship during his stationed in Uzbekistan.
Institutions and communities must consider:
- Can someone with repeated personal misconduct patterns truly uphold the public trust required in taxpayer-funded advocacy or diplomatic roles?
- Are these behaviors compatible with positions designed to champion human rights, social equity, and accountability?
- How does ongoing personal misconduct impact credibility, effectiveness, and public perception of organizations advocating justice and disability rights?
This alert is not about gossip — it is about ethics, accountability, and transparency. Public trust matters, and those entrusted with taxpayer resources must be held to high standards. Awareness ensures communities and institutions make informed decisions. Silence in the face of repeated harm is complicity.
#TaxpayerAccountability #EthicsInLeadership #USAID #PublicTrust #HumanRightsAwareness #IntegrityFirst #AdvocacyResponsibility
2025-10-16 17:17:05