DEVOE E. JOHNSON

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

With nearly 40 years of experience, Devoe Johnson is a dedicated leader in community development, specializing in building strong neighborhoods and empowering local leaders. As Senior Director of Community Development at United Way of Summit Medina, Devoe has been instrumental in advancing initiatives related to reentry, fatherhood involvement and inclusion, transitional and affordable housing.

Devoe’s role also includes being the administrator of the Emergency Food & Shelter Local Board Process, coordinating UWSM’s staff neighborhoods engagement effort and educating community residents about UWSM’s direct program services and public policy and advocacy efforts. He has served as a co-facilitator for the Neighborhood Leadership Institute of Summit County, Chair of the Summit County Fatherhood Initiative Steering Committee, and has been an active board member for the Akron Summit Community Reinvestment Coalition (ASCRC) and the North Akron Neighborhood Center Inc.

Additionally, Devoe has been a key member of several community-focused groups, including the National League of Cities Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Committee, the Summit County Transportation Roundtable, the Summit County Reentry Coalition, and the Homeless Continuum of Care. He is also involved with the Weed and Seed Steering Committee, the Kiwanis Club of Akron, and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA Basketball League, among others.

A graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Business Administration (Accounting/Finance), Devoe has a strong academic background to complement his community-driven work. Outside of his professional endeavors, Devoe is deeply committed to family, being a proud husband to Thelma J. Johnson for 38 years and a father to Reggie, Ayanna, and DeJeana.