ABOUT
PATHWAYS FOR CHANGE
Pathways for Change is a Faith Based Non-Profit Organization focused on Changing Lives, Reducing Crime, and Building Futures. Founded in 2005, Pathways for Change moved from providing daily programming to leading the Homelessness Reduction Task Force of NWF. With 200 members on 6 subcommittees, much is being done through the Task Force through collaboration to increase services for those experiencing homelessness.
​
Here at Pathways for Change, we see the value in everyone. We want to be a catalyst for positive change, and since our beginning, we’ve been driven by the same ideas we initially founded our Nonprofit Organization upon: support, empowerment and progress.
Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. Pathways for Change emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support the community, and a desire for actions to speak louder than words.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
The Face of Our Organization
CONNIE REEVES BOOKMAN, LCSW
Founder and & CEO of Pathways for Change and Homeless Reduction Task Force of Northwest Florida
Connie Reeves Bookman is a nationally respected social work and community leadership professional whose career spans more than three decades of service in healthcare, behavioral health, housing stability, justice reform, and homelessness reduction, with a demonstrated record of building cross-sector systems that improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities across Northwest Florida. Connie began her career in the late 1980s as the first social worker at Baptist Health Care’s Gulf Breeze Hospital. She quickly distinguished herself within the Baptist Health Care system and, in 1999, was appointed Executive Director of the Christian Counseling Center. In 2005, she merged the mission of the Center and founded Pathways For Change, a court-ordered, faith-based addictions treatment program serving individuals incarcerated in the Escambia County Jail. In 2012, Pathways For Change expanded its reach by opening The Family Center, strategically located among three area public housing communities. The Center broke barriers associated with poverty and delivered transformative, wraparound services to families in need. In 2014, Pathways For Change further expanded services by opening a clinical residential treatment program for homeless women veterans. In 2020, in response to evolving community needs, Pathways For Change pivoted from daily direct programming to launch the Homelessness Reduction Task Force of Northwest Florida, a multi-year,
cross-sector initiative engaging more than 220 members across seven subcommittees to align systems, strengthen collaboration, and drive measurable reductions in homelessness. In 2026, Pathways For Change continues to make a significant community impact as Connie leads the local Continuum of Care Leadership Council and helps coordinate Sequential Intercept Mapping initiatives that identify gaps and streamline services for individuals with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system. Through this work, she strengthens cross-system collaboration and advances effective reentry pathways while continuing to serve on and collaborate with multiple nonprofit boards and community initiatives.
Meet the Team
Our dedicated team is united by a shared commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. Each member brings unique experience, passion, and expertise that strengthen our mission and drive our work forward. Together, we strive to create lasting impact through collaboration, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of positive change.
