Meet the Team
The Faces of Our Organization
Erica Davis
President of the Board
As a student, Erica came on board as an intern for SOCM where she pioneered a bill to revitalize coal communities by changing the severance tax on coal companies to one on oil and gas.
She has since graduated from Law School and passed the bar.
In 2018, Erica was one of only 18 young people across the country to be awarded the Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty Award by Marguerite Casey Foundation.
“I had the honor of representing SOCM as a 2018 Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty … I joined 17 other youth activists and the Marguerite Casey Foundation board of directors in Seattle, Washington for a weekend of celebrating the incredible social justice work going on across the country. … [SOCM] is doing challenging and pressing work at the intersection of poverty, racism, and systemic oppression. I am thrilled to be a part of a motivating and ever-growing network of youth activists … I truly believe that young people have the ability to make the world a better place, and I am thankful for those who support us in that pursuit.”
At the 2019 Annual Meeting, Erica Davis was elected unanimously as the youngest President of the Board in SOCM’s 47 year history.

April Jarocki
Vice President
April lives in Clairfield, TN and has been an active member of SOCM for several years. She currently works with Southern Connected Communities Project to help increase broadband access in rural communities in the Clearfork Valley in East, TN. She has served on the SOCM board for two years as an At-large Delegate.

Patricia Hawkins
Treasurer
Originally from Alabama, Patricia settled in Maury County and began teaching in the local public school system.
Throughout her career she has championed the rights of children, parents, and teachers and continuously pushed to improve public education. After voicing her concern about a lack of racially diverse teachers in the district, the district retaliated by transferring and eventually firing her, with their email exchanges stating that the transfer was because of her race. This began a discrimination suit that lasted several years.
After she left Maury County Schools, Patricia Hawkins served as a County Commissioner, where she continued to champion public education, transparency, and racial justice.
“We have to move forward. Never look back unless there is something there to push it forward.”

Leith Patton
Secretary
Leith is a long-time, active member in SOCM, as well as numerous civic and grassroots organizations. As a member of the Roaring River Chapter, she participates in their annual fundraisers, including the Walk for Justice. Outside of SOCM, Leith makes educational materials for Montessori schools.




John Massey
Cumberland County
Chapter Representative
Toni Clifford
Jackson Chapter Representative
Allie Cohn
Knoxville Chapter Representative



Joycelene Johns
Maury County
Chapter Representative
Ellen Kimball
McMinn Neighbors SOCM Representative
Candida Layne
Rutherford County Chapter
Representative



Chauncey Arnold O'Dell
At-Large Delegate
Linda Brookhart
At-Large Delegate
Sabina Coronado
At-Large Delegate