SYNERGY - Pamela Davis

Pamela Davis knows the trials and tribulations that come along with being a Black child in a low-income household. As a former public housing resident, she has spent her life securing a career that has enabled her to enact positive change and extend opportunities to the residents of Gainesville.

Davis was born in Savannah, Georgia, to a home with two parents and 10 children. When she was a small child, her parents separated, so she grew up in a single-mother household, and as she was entering junior high school, she, her mother, and her siblings moved into public housing. Although these were difficult times for the Davis family, Pamela recalls that her mother worked diligently to provide for her children, and the elder siblings took over parental responsibilities when necessary.

“My oldest sister was deemed the surrogate mom when my mom was away from the home, which meant she had the rights and privileges to discipline as if my mom was there. Although our family had very little, it was not obvious to us or the people around us. My mother made sure that our needs were met, we carried ourselves with honor and dignity.”

Davis graduated high school and went on to receive a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Armstrong State College. She knew that her destiny was to help others, but quickly learned that traditional social work wasn’t her calling.

“The journey that I am on is predestined….it has always been my purpose to be a servant to others.” Davis returned to school to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Capella University and is working towards a doctoral degree as well. She attributes this drive and work ethic to her mother, who worked very hard to support and raise her seven children on her own.

“It was amazing to me that we grew up very poor, but she cultivated an environment for us to ensure that we would not be a part of anyone’s statistics so much so that we didn’t even feel the lack. She instilled in us strong values, brought us up disciplined, and had high expectations for us.”

From public housing resident to CEO, Pamela Davis has risen through the ranks of the housing industry and has used her position to extend opportunities to the residents of Gainesville. She began her career as a property manager at the Boca Raton Housing Authority, then became the Executive Director of the Deerfield Beach Housing Authority. Altogether, she has worked in housing for 32 years and has served as the Executive Director/CEO of the Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) for nine years.

“The most fulfilling aspects of what I do now is connecting and making a difference in the lives of the people I serve. Whether that is linking them to housing, providing opportunities to build wealth, improving access to community resources, or promoting community engagement arenas that affect their lives in a meaningful way.”

In this position, Davis has developed new multifamily units and has implemented a handful of innovative programs to support the residents of Gainesville. One of the most significant programs she has had her hands in developing is the Job Training and Entrepreneurial Program (JTEP). JTEP provides families with opportunities to improve their economic well being through education, on the job training, and entrepreneurial attainment.

“When I first came to Gainesville, it was astonishing to me the disproportionate number of unemployed and underemployed families living in our public housing units. What I love about my job is its ability to make a difference or impact on families in a variety of ways. I would say my greatest accomplishment is in empowering families to build wealth”

On a personal level, Davis attributes her courage as a leader to her faith, and her effectiveness as a leader to her education and her mentors. Mentorship was extremely important to her as a young woman, and the strong Black professionals that she worked under at the YMCA and the Public Library shaped her self image.

“I was encouraged and supported by so many people and I have been blessed to work for great organizations that supported and helped the leader in me. They saw so much more in an underprivileged, shy, and determined young girl. They imagined possibilities and stretched me to reach my fullest potential.”

Lastly, Davis emphasizes the importance of reaching people where they are, and to learn to solve problems outside of the box. She wants to be remembered as someone who challenged the status quo, provided innovative opportunities, and established opportunities for the people she served to have a better life.

“I choose to view the world from a kaleidoscopic lens. As a leader it is my job to navigate in such a way to achieve the required results. Always be willing to see varying perspectives and the experiences of others before making assumptions or judgements about someone’s way of life.”