“Empowering the Entire Family”

Geraldine Ford-Hardin
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Geraldine “Gerrie” Ford-Hardin is well-known throughout Jacksonville as a “Community Advocate.” She is known for her dedicated work ethic and passion for the community. Her strengths are management, strategic planning, and resource development.
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Gerrie is the Founder and Executive Director of Alpha Starz Inc. and has led the organization for the past 11 years. As it enters its 12th year in 2024, the Back to School Jamboree has provided over 5,000 youth with essential school supplies. Since 2018, the Thanksgiving Senior Luncheon, initially hosted by Mrs. Joan Turner (who passed away on July 17, 2020), has seen increasing participation, with 375 seniors attending in 2018 and 425 in 2019.
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Serving as an Executive Council Assistant (ECA) for Jacksonville At Large Council Member Group 1 Terrance E. Freeman, Gerrie maintains the office calendar, schedules appointments, notice meetings, press releases, community meetings, town Hall Meetings, and other non-political duties in the Council’s Office. Works as a Community Coordinator/Organizer in partnership with other organizations and agencies in Duval County to assist the Councilman with day-to-day operations. Gerrie engages constituents in Duval County to invest in their perspective communities. Gerrie works mainly in the community as an advocate for low-income families, encouraging them to become healthy and viable families and providing their input and feedback to the City of Jacksonville and their respective council districts.
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In 2003, Gerrie won the prestigious Casey Award Youth Crime Watch of America, Case Manager of the Year, State of Florida, for her devotion to youth and their families in Duval County. Gerrie has demonstrated her passion for serving by working tirelessly for the families in Duval County and educating all to become wiser, healthy families.
Board Members
Taylor Richardson
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Taylor Richardson aspires to be a physician or scientist and is among the first to go to Mars! She is her city’s youngest Florida Times Union aspiring EVE awardee! Taylor is the first Black girl to land on the covers of Scholastic twice and Girls of Aviation in the same year. She is the youngest to receive city resolutions twice for her philanthropy, advocacy, service, health, literacy, STEM, and gender and race initiatives. She is a Teen Vogue 21u21, The Roots Young Futurist, People Magazine Girls Changing the World, and GoFundMe Champion.
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She has been on Today Show and Good Morning America twice! She is in several books on STEM and girls’ empowerment. She is on several documentaries streaming on Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix, including Fly Like a Girl, The Outsiders? and her own entitled Astronaut Starbright: The Story of a STEM Advocate! She has written several forewords, including one for NYT author Fred Joseph’s book Better Than We Found It. She founded Taylor’s Take Flight with a book drive that has collected and donated over 25,000 books to children nationally and internationally. She has created over 20 crowdfunding campaigns that have raised over $350k, counting for various initiatives focusing on black representation, literacy, and STEM. She also is an executive producer at the age of 16! She has been a Morgan Stanley Scholar at the #1 HBCU for 17 consecutive years at Spelman College. Taylor was born in Columbia, SC, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida.
Marquez C. White
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Marquez is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, a multi-small business owner, and a genuine community servant. Marquez has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start and structure businesses and obtain funding for their businesses. Marquez has impacted the community by reducing homelessness. He has worked with Jacksonville Housing Authority and Changing Homelessness Inc. for nearly ten years. Marquez has served as both Vice President and President of Northeast Florida Community Action Agency’s Youth In Action Program for teenage kids in at-risk communities, with a mission to cultivate a new generation of leaders. He is preparing them to be successful in a dynamic and diverse economy.
Chiquita D. Moore
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Chiquita Moore is the City of Jacksonville's Director of Operations for the Neighborhoods Department. She oversees the Housing and Community Development Division. Due to her distinguished contributions and passion for the city, she has been awarded the elite Master of Public Policy Minority Fellowship. She has served this community for over 30 years.
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Born in central Georgia, Chiquita Moore developed a love for learning, creativity, and giving back, thanks to her adoptive Christian parents. Her early involvement in community advocacy and Girl Scouts fueled her passion for empowering young women. With a degree in Psychology and Social Welfare, she worked as a counselor for women overcoming substance abuse, focusing on helping families rebuild.
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Chiquita remains committed to mentoring, philanthropy, and promoting personal development in underserved communities. She finds balance through travel, reading, and nature. Looking ahead, she is eager to expand her knowledge, contribute to meaningful causes, and explore the world.
Glendora McCargo
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In May 2023, Glendora became a Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator with Jacksonville Housing after working as a Community/Youth Specialist for the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency (NFCAA). Before moving to this position, she was the Family Self-Sufficiency Manager, but her heart and passion were the community and children. Glendora has won the NFCAA Employee of the Year and Florida Association for Community Action (FACA), Inc. Employee of the State award. She has demonstrated her passion for serving by working tirelessly for the people who live in the seven counties where NFCAA has offices. Ms. McCargo is a veteran. She served in the United States Navy for eight years. Glendora’s favorite quote is “T.E.A.M = Together Everybody Achieves More."
Joe Johnson
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Joe brings extensive knowledge of fundraising, strategic planning, and event planning and execution. Joe serves as the Executive Council Assistant (ECA) to City of Jacksonville Council Member Ken Amaro, District 1. Within the Jacksonville community, Joe also serves as the Grace Lutheran Church and School’s Church Council Vice President and is a member of the American Legion, having previously served as a 3rd Vice Commander, Adjutant, and Post Commander of American Legion Post 316 as well as 3rd Vice Commander at Post 283.
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A New Jersey native, Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a dual Major in History and Political Science and a Minor in Communications from Cabrini University in 2009. After graduation, Joe would maintain his involvement with Cabrini, serving on the Alumni Board from 2018 to 2022 as a Director, Vice-President, and eventually Alumni Board and Association President from 2022 until the finalization of the sale of Cabrini to Villanova University in 2022.
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Joe is also a U.S. Navy veteran, having served from 2010 to 2016 onboard the USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) naval ship and at the Naval Air Station Oceana. After his service, Joe moved to Jacksonville, FL, to plot his path forward in life. Eventually, he attended the University of North Florida (UNF) in 2020. In August 2024, he graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration, a dual concentration in Local Government Policy and Administration and Non-profit Management, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in non-profit management.
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During his time at UNF, Joe began his service to the City of Jacksonville as former Council Member Danny Becton’s ECA, working on legislation ranging from Certificate of Use Reform (Ord. 2022-766-E), creating of a Tree Mitigation Matrix to use when levying fines (Ord. 2023-324-E), to with Council Member Amaro’s resolutions honoring Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officers in the line of duty (Reso. 2023-523-A) and appropriating $100,000 to Jacksonville Council District 1 to address various blight and safety concerns (Ord. 2023-872-E).
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Joe hopes to bring all this experience to AlphaStarz to enhance and grow the organization.
Kristen L. Hodges
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Kristen is a native and resident of Jacksonville, Florida, and a graduate of Jacksonville University. She previously worked in the Mortgage Servicing Industry for over 15 years as an Operations Trainer and Supervisor for companies like EverBank and Black Knight Financial Services.
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Kristen is also a small business owner as a licensed 2-15 Life, Health, and Annuities Insurance Agent with a primary focus on Medicare. She is in an entrepreneurial partnership with UnitedHealthcare. As a host and motivational speaker, Kristen uses her life experiences to make meaningful connections and influence others to pursue their passion for their purpose.
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As an advocate for education, Kristen is a member of the KIPP Jacksonville Schools Board of Directors. She believes in community activism and has volunteered for organizations like Feeding Northeast Florida, Junior Achievement, and Boy Scouts of America.
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Kristen’s interests and hobbies include travel, art, and culture. She also likes cooking, painting, and entertaining.
Reylius Thompson
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Reylius Thompson Jr. is a mental health professional in Jacksonville, Florida. He is passionate about youth and community development and focuses on providing quality mental health services, education, and resources to the community.
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Mr. Thompson obtained his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Edward Waters College and a Master of Science in human services with a concentration in mental health counseling from Springfield College. He is a school clinical counselor with over a decade of community service experience.
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As a leader in his field dedicated to increasing access to behavioral health care, Mr. Thompson advocates and gives presentations to students and adults on the importance of mental health and breaking the negative stigma.
President
Vice President
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer &
Website Monitor
Chaplain &
Website Monitor
Board Member
Pamela Wilcox
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Pamela Wilcox is a small business owner and U.S. Navy Veteran. She thrives on consulting with women and veterans to establish and maintain their small businesses.
Board Member
Helen Hooper-Watson
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Helen is an ordained Evangelist, renowned throughout the community, and a valuable asset during the Washington Heights outreach. Her strengths are management, strategic planning, and resource development.
• Founder and Executive Director of Lady's Choice Center for Women: a Christ-centered business dedicated to educating, empowering, and building strong women of all ages. We realize that everyone is born with a leadership SPIRIT, but not everyone has developed the SPIRIT of leadership. We want to cultivate every GIFT and TALENT God has placed inside every woman we encounter, 2003-present.
• Founder and Executive Director of Simply Solutions Consulting, a Christian counseling service 2013-present.
• Community Coordinator/Organizer for Washington Heights, Moncrief Village, and Springfield Properties. Fostering positive partnerships/relationships between Duval County community agencies and organizations that will best assist low-income residents in becoming viable citizens, transitioning out of low-income communities, and becoming strong, healthy families, 2010-present.
• The advisory board volunteer position includes sitting as president of CAB (Client Advisory Board) and attending their executive board (JALA- Jacksonville Area Legal Aid) monthly meetings by adding a presence and value input for the communities at large. Giving feedback to City Councilmen and more. 2015-present
• NW Behavioral Mental Health 2015-present serving as a Board Member
• NW Behavioral Mental Health HUD Board 2015- present serving as a Board Member
• Alpha Starz- the betterment of children of low-income communities serving as a Board Member 2015-present
Board Member
Joseph Francis-Zimmerman
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Joseph Francis-Zimmerman owns The Zimmerman Group, a media and consulting firm in Amelia Island, Florida, specializing in economic, social, and political campaigns. He also co-owns Buzz Town Media Group, publisher of The Yulee News, and manages Zimmerman Hospitality Group, which operates Philly Boyz restaurant franchises.
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With experience in public relations and community affairs, Joseph served as Executive Council Aide to Jacksonville Councilman Reggie Gaffney and was previously a Constituent Liaison for Florida House Representative Janet H. Adkins.
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He holds a Bachelor's degree in International/Global Studies from the University of Central Florida. He has performed volunteer leadership roles by serving on several nonprofit boards that currently include Alpha Starz, Inc., Eldersource Florida, the Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board, Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County, Citizens for Public Beaches and Shores, and Nassau County Chamber of Commerce.
Board Member
Emeritus Board Member
Terrance E. Freeman
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City Council Member Terrance Freeman is a principled leader and passionate advocate for Jacksonville. He is also a father of five and a dedicated husband. He currently serves as the Senior Project Manager of Apprenticeship Programs at Miller Electric Company, where he spearheads talent and workforce development initiatives. Born into a family rooted in public service, Terrance was influenced by his father, a U.S. Army veteran and Baptist minister, and his mother, a career social worker, who instilled in him the values of selflessness and leadership.
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Following a successful career in professional baseball, Terrance pursued higher education, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education and sports psychology. With a passion for nurturing young minds, he dedicated over a decade to teaching, school administration, and coaching, believing strongly in the importance of helping the next generation thrive.
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Previously serving as an Executive Council Assistant (ECA) for former City Council Member Aaron Bowman, Terrance is the first person in Jacksonville history to have served as a Council ECA, a District Council Member, and now a Council Member At-Large.
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Appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to City Council District 10 in 2018, Terrance was elected to a full term in 2019 to the At-Large Group 1 seat. He was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2023 with 65% of the vote and the highest number of votes of all candidates on the ballot, totaling 100,297 in the March election.
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He was selected by his colleagues to serve as City Council Vice President in 2021 and was unanimously elected to serve as City Council President for the 2022-2023 legislative term. He currently serves as Chairman of the City Council’s Rules Committee and as a member of the City Council’s Finance Committee.
