Biography - Patricia Barnes

Patricia Barnes is the Executive Director of the Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA), a statewide membership organization of community development corporations (CDCs) that engages in capacity building, advocacy, and public policy development that fosters socially and economically healthy communities.

She has been with OCDCA since its inception, serving as the initial organizer for OCDCA from 1983-84 and as Executive Director since 1985. Ms. Barnes holds a Masters in Social Development from the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago and a BA from Converse College. She is a graduate of the National Internship in Community Economic Development of the Development Training Institute.

Ms. Barnes is a member of the board of the Ohio Community Development Finance Fund and the Ohio Department of Development’s Consolidated Planning Committee. She is also founder and member of the board of trustees for Help End Lead Poisoning (HELP, a statewide coalition addressing the problem of childhood lead poisoning.