Joanna Kelley

Joanna started working in the service industry in town, developed a solid network of friends and colleagues, connected with genuine community members and finally started my own business - Cup of Joe - on Market Street in the heart of our vibrant downtown.

While many aspects of her Portsmouth life have been extremely rewarding, my journey to this point was not as smooth. She grew up in and out of the foster care system in New Hampshire and had little opportunity to be or feel rooted in one place. Being in the foster system and one of the few minority kids in the seacoast area, it was often a lonely and difficult road.

Since opening her business, she only continued to fall more in love with Portsmouth and its people Every day she strive to have an establishment that is positive for both her employees and the community while offering an environment that promotes inclusiveness.

Joanna is running for City Council because she want further her commitment to the vibrant community by enabling new conversations that can help Portsmouth evolve responsibly and include a broader group of our community members. Navigating conversations to better equal the playing field, and identify areas where we can be more inclusive to various groups in our community – especially getting younger and BIPOC audiences to feel like they truly belong in this citizenry and participate in decisions being made on the municipal level.