Champion for Justice, Opportunity, and Community

Representative Dotie Joseph proudly serves Florida House District 108, representing the vibrant and diverse communities of North Miami and Miami-Dade County. A lifelong advocate for equality, education, and civic empowerment, she brings passion, experience, and faith to every aspect of her public service. Her journey—from immigrant roots to Ivy League graduate to state legislator—embodies the promise of the American Dream and the power of perseverance.

Born in Haiti and raised in North Miami, Representative Joseph is a proud product of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, having attended Lakeview Elementary, Charles R. Drew Elementary, Miami Norland Middle School, and Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH).

She earned an honors degree in Political Science from Yale University, where she co-founded Klib Kreyol, the Haitian Student Alliance, and studied post-colonial relations at Columbia University in Paris.

She later earned her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where she represented political asylum seekers and served as President of the Caribbean Law Students Association. She also holds a Diploma in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from the Institute for International Mediation and Conflict Resolution.

As a Black immigrant woman who rose from Miami-Dade public schools to Ivy League classrooms, Representative Joseph stands as a testament to the opportunity and promise of America.

Dotie’s passion for civil rights, community empowerment, and human dignity began early.
In high school, she interned at the Miami Public Defenders’ Office, assisting attorneys who represented indigent clients. During college, she mentored local students, led art therapy sessions, and interned with the National Coalition for Haitian Rights. She also served as a legislative correspondent for Congressman Peter Deutsch in Washington, D.C.

After Yale, Dotie joined the Carter Center, focusing on democracy development in Latin America, the Caribbean, and West Africa. During law school, she externed with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and clerked for Judge Eugene Hamilton, who instilled in her the principle: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

She also volunteered abroad, assisting refugees in Uganda and Egypt through the Refugee Law Project and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In her professional life, Dotie has remained devoted to justice and service. She has served as President of the Haitian Lawyers Association, organizing citizenship drives, pro bono legal clinics, mentorship programs, and scholarship efforts. She has also held leadership roles as First Vice-Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party and serves on both the Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board and the City of North Miami Board of Adjustment.

Today, she works as a civil rights and government attorney with Ottinot Law and has served as Interim City Attorney for North Miami Beach.