FBI Announces 2012 Recipient of Director’s Community Leadership Award

Nestor Duarte, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Jacksonville Division of the FBI, announced today that Ju’Coby Pittman, chairman and CEO of the Clara White Mission, has been named the recipient of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award.

Established in 1990, the Director’s Community Leadership Award is presented each year by FBI field offices to individuals whose achievements in the areas of crime prevention, drug deterrence, or similar educational programs have made a positive difference in their communities. Past Jacksonville recipients of the award include Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda, Robin Sorensen of Firehouse Subs, Inc., Ann Dugger of the Justice Coalition, Delores Barr Weaver, and former Sheriff Nat Glover.

As the leader and driving force behind the Clara White Mission, Ms. Pittman has dedicated her life as an advocate for equality in developing and implementing programs for the homeless, veterans, youth, and low-income members of the community. Under her leadership, the mission has raised, developed, and implemented a $2.1 million project to include a 24-hour operation of transitional housing, job training in culinary arts, janitorial training, and highway safety and construction, maintenance, a drop-in day center, a daily feeding program, and prevention programs offering golf, tennis and academic activities for inner city youth.

In April 2007, in a new initiative launched in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church, the mission opened Clara’s at the Cathedral, a training café for students and graduates to perfect their skills and prepare them for the workforce in the hospitality industry. Currently, the vision is to develop a $12 million affordable housing development with supportive services in the downtown LaVilla community.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Toni Chrabot presented Ms. Pittman with the award today in a ceremony at the FBI’s Jacksonville Field Office. She will also be invited to travel to Washington, D.C. in April 2013, along with other recipients from around the country, to be recognized by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III.