Join Empower SWGA's Community Today

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Joyce Barlow, RN  (Chairwoman) is a former candidate for GA State Representative House District  151, Registered Nurse, Small Business Owner and 2022 Inaugural Georgia Nursing Hall of Fame Inductee, member of Albany (GA) chapter of Links, Inc, Georgia Nursing Association, member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Co-Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee.

Bobby Jenkins (Treasurer) currently serves as Mayor of the City of Cuthbert. He is a retired school superintendent and serves as president of the Randolph County Retired Educators. He is a deacon in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and a member of the Fletcher Henderson Foundation.

Karen Johnson is a native of Cuthbert and retired as an elementary school media specialist. Karen is a former member of the Cuthbert City Council. She serves as a Sunday School Teacher in her church and is a member of numerous community organizations, Order of Eastern Star, Randolph County Retired Educators Association, Randolph County Democratic Committee.

Sandra Willis is a native of Cuthbert and serves as Mayor Pro-tem of the Cuthbert City Council. She is a retired educator and is a past president of the Randolph County Retired Educators Association. Sandra is also a member of the Randolph County Historical Society.

Arelexus Brown (Albany, GA) serves as our Communications Manager. She is a recent college graduate with a BA in Journalism. 

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Tracy Englund (Cuthbert, GA) is our Program Manager. Tracy supervises the field team, develops and implements programs, writes proposals, and raises funds. Tracy is a small business owner in Cuthbert.

Scooter Pittman (Dawson, GA) is our Americorps Fellow. In that role, Scooter leads the field team and develops programs. Scooter is passionate about justice in SW Georgia.

Robert Aaron, Mayor, Dawson, GA.

Kevin Brown, Mayor Buena Vista GA.

Bobby Jenkins, Mayor, Cuthbert GA.  He is a retired school superintendent and serves as president of the Randolph County Retired Educators.  He is a deacon in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and a member of the Fletcher Henderson Foundation.

Kenneth Josey, Mayor, Richland, GA.

Kenneth Sumpter, Mayor, Fort Gaines GA. He has over 40 years of experience in construction, real estate, and architectural design and  has been deeply involved in the planning for broadband expansion in SW Georgia.

Rev Bobbi Boynton is an ordained minister. She serves on the ministerial staff of the Church of Peace, Cusseta, Georgia. She is a health reporter for the GA Rural Health Innovation Center.

Thomas Brown is a retired school teacher, minister, and activist.  Knocking on thousands of doors in Pennsylvania, New York, and Georgia has moved Thomas to an emphasis on empowering voters, using a Deep Canvassing and Neighbor-to-Neighbor approach.

Ed Cook is a retired  educator whose career included teaching, principalship and superintendent level of work. He is a social justice, civil rights and political activist with decades of experience in managing electoral and community campaigns.

Kitty Cox is a senior IT project manager. She brings over 30 years of  project management experience to Empower SW Georgia. She has worked with hospitals, universities, non-profits, and some of the largest corporations in the US. She is an Alabama native with degrees from Emory, Georgia Tech, and MIT. 

Arelexus Brown (Albany, GA) serves as our Communications Manager. She is a recent college graduate with a BA in Journalism. 

Thaly (Jersey) Encalade (Albany, GA) is a community organizer in Albany Georgia.

Kole Fortson (Albany, GA) will graduate in 2024 from Florida A&M University with a B.A .Environmental Studies and a political science minor. 

Qutavius Jackson (Marion County, GA) is a 2nd year college student with a focus on business technology.

Portia Jones was formerly nominee for Under 40 Rural Leaders; member of the Equalization Board of Randolph County; graduate of Albany Technical College, Licensed Notary for State of Georgia. 

Scooter Pittman (Dawson, GA) is passionate about justice in SW Georgia.

Shakella Stewart is on the City Council of Richland Georgia.