Founder and Executive Director
North Florida Educational Development Corporation
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Carolyn Ford is the founder and Executive Director of the North Florida Educational Development Corporation, based in Gretna, the chairperson of Florida Black Chambers of Commerce, and the former mayor of Quincy, Florida. She is a former teacher in Gadsden County and a former instructor at Florida State University. In addition, she has served as program supervisor at Apalachee Community Mental Health Services, Inc. At the North Florida Educational Development Corporation, Ms. Ford manages several community-based programs: the Jericho Organizing Project; the Retro-Fix Program, which employs youth and low-income workers while providing repair services to low-income homeowners, especially senior citizens; the Entrepreneurial Program for middle- and high-school students at W.S. Stevens School; and Home Buyers Clubs offering counseling and support for low-income residents seeking mortgages. North Florida Educational Corporation also is involved in housing programs through SouthSprings, the Rural Home Loan Partnership, Hamilton Places and the WellSpring Initiative.
Ms. Ford earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Florida A&M University and a specialist degree in Counseling and Human Systems at Florida State University.
