“I BELIEVE IN CANTON!”

Joe Cole is a lifelong area resident.  The son of a factory worker and a housewife turned “Working Mom,” Joe knows the value of hard work, family, and “tough times.”  As a child, Joe’s father, Frank Cole was injured at work and became permanently disabled.  When asked to reflect on those times, Joe states, “we got through that period due to our strong faith and belief in God and the safety nets that prevented the loss of everything.”

Instilled with the value of the importance of education and a strong work ethic, Joe worked his way through college to earn both his bachelors and masters degree.

An educator by trade and a strong youth advocate, Joe has chosen to work with the most vulnerable and disenfranchised youth in Canton, believing that we cannot afford to lose the young to the ravages of crime, gang activities, and drug abuse.  Joe is the Superintendent of Canton’s Youth Build Program (domestic version of the Peace Corp).

Joe’s commitment to Canton can be seen in the number of organization he actively serves:
 Stark County Young Democrats (President 2008)
 Leadership Stark County
 Government Leadership Academy
 Ohio Young Democrats
 Knights of Columbus
 Kiwanis
 Canton Jaycees
  
Joe’s efforts have not gone unnoticed; in 2008, he was named as one of Stark County’s “Top 20 Young Leaders, Under 40.” The University of Akron’s Honors Award honored him for his academic accomplishments in Education.