MEET DR. MARION D. CALHOUN

I am Dr. Marion D. Calhoun and I want to be your next Stockbridge District One, City Councilwoman

Currently, I am 64 years old with an incredible background of service to others.

First, I am a 1983 graduate of the University of Central Florida.

I spent my entire career with the Florida Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, I started as a Correctional Probation Officer One in 1983 and 6 months after my employment and before my probation was over, I was promoted to a Correctional Probation Officer Two working with offenders under house arrest. Two years later I was promoted to a Correctional Probation Officer Three handling sex offender and High Risk Offenders. Then I was one 10 people hand picked by governor Graham's administration to write the first Manual of Procedure for the Florida Department of Corrections FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM (FTO) as well become certified as a train the trainer and a FTO, teaching courses at the Department of Corrections Academies for new recruits located at various Community Colleges in Florida, my favorite place was Vero Beach Community College.

I was later hand picked again by Governor's Chiles administration to become a "train the trainers" in CLIENT MANAGEMENT CLASSIFICATIONS OF OFFENDERS. This was as an advanced system of profiling offenders into categories from low to high risk for better supervision and mointoring. I was later promoted to the supervisor over all the drug programs, drug testing, mental health, youthful offenders and High risk treatment programs residential and outpatient to include tracking all data of relapse, success and revocation. The offenders had a name for me on the streets

"HOW CAN YOU SLEEP KNOWING SHE OUT THERE"

I attended a multitude of training with the Florida Department of Law Enforcrment emassing over 80 certifications in domestic violence, anger management, lifeskills, superising violent offenders, warrantless arrest, advanced supervision, profiling, crime scene investigations, youthful offenders training, sex offender training and etc.

I was one of the best investigators there were and my specialty was High Risk and Sex Offenders cases, I left no stones unturned and I was always asked to handle quick turnarounds or cases before certain judges.

I was awarded countless awards to include Probation officers of the year, Supervisor of the year, and a host of other awards. I even received a letter of appreciation from the Queen of England House of lords for training her officers in all phases of drug treatment and assessments.

I have always been active in my community, one of the programs I am very proud of is NYTROGIRLZ, this program was about changing the lives of young girls from very broken homes, single families and the poorest communities and I did that. I started a travel softball team for them when they were age 8 years old and I kept those girls together until they graduated college and many of them went on to college on softball scholarships and are now productive citizens in their perspectives fields to include the medical field. Those girls travel the country from Florida to California playing fast pitch softball and being showcased to college recruiter. I AM SO PROUD OF THOSE GIRLS, THEY STILL CALL ME MAMMA BEAR.

I also started a 501c3 non-profit in 2000 called Community Alternative Treatment Services, helping others such as the homeless, disabled vets, and seniors. This non-profit is still in existence today and I'm still helping that population of people.

In 2024, I was awarded the presidential service award for my work in the community. In 2024, I was also awarded the national award from the National Battered Boys Association for my work in domestic violence.

I am very passionate about farming to table and I spend lots of time helping seniors establish vegetables or flowers gardens. I also grow organic vegetables yearly and I share those vegetables with the community. I am very big on health and quality of life and part of my daily ministry is about teaching others to have a healthy lifestyle through clean eating, drinking water instead of sugary drinks, walking at least 10,000 steps daily and getting enough sleep or rest. It is my motto that "QUALITY OF LIFE MATTERS AS WE AGE!"

Since 2019 I have gotten more involved in the homeless situation in Stockbridge and this is one of my platform issues to try and find a better or permanent solution.

To know me is to know I'm very outspoken and I am advocate for others on issues that matter. I'm not well received by most local politicians becausr usually they are the people causing the issues that many people endure.

I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE. I CARE ABOUT THEIR NEEDS. I WANT TO BE OF SERVICE IN MY COMMUNITY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL SO I CAN GET MORE DONE TO HELP OTHERS.