2026 PhillyCAM Board of Directors Candidate, Jo Benoit

Jo Benoit

Jo Benoit is a veteran of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps and a lifelong advocate, scholar, and entrepreneur whose work centers mental health, trauma recovery, and intersectional justice. Her academic background includes studies in Psychology, Business, Political Science, Women’s Studies (BS), and Clinical Psychology (PsyD, ABD). She is the Founder of the National Black Feminist Organization, Washington, DC Chapter; former President of the Feminist Credit Union in Washington, DC; a founding member of the National Women’s Political Caucus; and a two-time appointee to the Austin, Texas Commission on the Status of Women. As CEO of multiple business enterprises and a Mental Health Center, and as Founder of PA Generational Alignment…A Powerful Movement, she has built both for-profit and nonprofit institutions dedicated to empowerment and systemic change.

Jo’s Candidate Statement

As a multi-faceted leader, I see my voice as both necessary and accountable—shaped by my roles as a friend, partner, parent, and change agent. My work confronts the stigma surrounding mental health and addresses the layered impacts of sexism, racism, ageism, youthism, ableism, and classism. For decades, I have served multicultural, multilingual, and gender-diverse communities, championing social justice and meaningful reform. I coined the term HEE—Heterogeneity, Equity, and Embrace—to reflect my belief that our differences are strengths to be honored, not erased. Grounded in integrity, independent thinking, and what I call “sage knowledge sharing,” I am committed to building inclusive systems that value lived experience and foster collective growth.

Category - Board Candidate