Candidate: Ju 'Coby Pittman

CANDIDATE’S BIO: Ju’Coby Pittman-Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 5 Ju’Coby Pittman was declared an official candidate for City Council on Monday, June 30, 2014 at 12 noon for City Council At-Large Group 5. Pittman is a native Jacksonville-resident who graduated from Englewood High School and then pursued the Edward Waters College C.L.I.M.B. Program. She holds dual degrees in business administration from Florida State College in Jacksonville (Associate in Arts degree) and Jones College (Bachelor of Science degree). Additionally, she was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Jones College and serves as one of the institution’s most accomplished alumna With more than three decades (30 years) of community engagement, Pittman has dedicated 22 years of her professional life to serve as President and CEO of the Clara White Mission Inc. In this capacity, she transitioned the non-profit organization from a $225,000 operational budget to $3.1 million with 32 full and part-time employees. Her primary focus is feeding and meeting the needs of Jacksonville\'s homeless veterans and low income residents. Under her leadership, advocacy and program initiatives, her hands on approach have develop programs that builds upon the assets of Jacksonville. Those programs include workforce and economic development: vocational training and job creation in culinary arts, janitorial and construction, the implementation of transitional and permanent housing, a Drop-In Day Center for the homeless, White Harvest Farms and a job training restaurant at St. John\'s Episcopal Church (Clara’s at the Cathedral). An extension program will open in 2014 as “Beaver Street Villas and Veterans Outreach Center.” White Harvest Farm is the newest program addition and exists as a thriving community farm, growing fresh produce in partnership with Sysco Foods Inc. Pittman looks forward to developing her campaign platform goals to include the following: (1)Economic development and revitalization; (2) Implementing a larger vision to help build on the community and its assets; (3) Having the opportunity to exercise her voice and vision when addressing the critical and urgent issues that matter most to the residents of Jacksonville. Community engagement has kept Pittman at the forefront of Jacksonville’s progression as she has served on the transition team(s) of Jacksonville’s three prior mayor’s: John Delaney, John Peyton, and current Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. In addition to serving as an active member on numerous board of directors including Jacksonville Children’s Commission, Cummer Museum, and YMCA. She is a member of Leadership Jacksonville, Leadership Florida, Westside Business Leaders Association, Jacksonville’s Women’s Network, and the Downtown Rotary Club to name a few. She worships at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Among a few of her esteemed honors include the Jacksonville Business Journal “Women of Influence,” Jessie Ball duPont Leadership Award, Mayor Status of Women, Florida Times Union - \"Up and Coming Award\" & \"Eve Award Finalist\", Gateway Girl Scout Council “Woman of Distinction,” and the FBI Community Leadership Award. She is the proud parent of former Miss Jacksonville and successful recording-artist/composer Alju Jackson and Winston Peele. The highest honor she seeks comes directly from the VOTERS of Jacksonville in 2015: City Councilwoman At-Large Group 5. Her philosophy is: \"Go out of your comfort zone to make a difference\".