International Paper presents the 2023 Greater Pensacola Chamber P. A. C. E. Award Advocate of the Year to Connie Bookman! Thanks to the 63rd Annual P. A. C. E. Awards Title Sponsor Titanium Wireless.
The Advocate Leader of the Year is awarded to an individual who has shown significant compassion and has used their leadership role to assist those in need. This award winner has used their voice to selflessly fight for those in our community who need help. Our winner started her career as a medical social worker for the Baptist Health Care system and eventually was named the director of their counseling and outreach ministry. In 2005, our Advocate Leader of the Year founded Pathways For Change, a court ordered, faith-based addictions treatment program, and the Clinton Cox Residence, a sober living environment for graduates. Understanding the core issues of addiction, she opened the Family Center in the middle of three area housing projects, lifting barriers for those in poverty seeking transformative services. Pathways For Change has since pivoted their mission from daily programming and now focuses full time on reducing homelessness in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The Homelessness Reduction Task Force of Northwest Florida engages 220 people on six subcommittees, collectively researching the core issues surrounding homelessness, as well as the best practices that will eradicate homelessness for many in our community. She is an alum of Leadership Pensacola and Leadership Florida. And she’s served on numerous boards and committees including:
-Mayor Grover Robinson’s Transition Team’s Crime and Safety Committee
-Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors, President 2021-22 and Immediate Past President, 2022-2023
-FloridaBar Pro-Bono Committee
-University of West Florida Foundation Board