Who is De’Vonna
De’Vonna is a mother, wife, and active community leader committed to standing on the front line.
A skilled bridge builder, communicator, activator, and strategist, De’Vonna specializes in creating collaborations between communities and government, as well as curating spaces and programs that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive.
Community Connector
Pittman co-founded the Minnesota Black Author’s expo with the goal of reducing educational inequities, to stimulate income, and to provide a space for community and educators to find black literature.
De’Vonna’s 17-year career at Hennepin County is expansive. From committee clerk to the Board of Commissioners, to the department of community corrections and public works, she has been a leader people can count on.
In the Department of Corrections, she spent countless hours with community leaders dreaming of ways to re-envision a construction training program for individuals exiting prison so probationers could earn a livable wage while learning construction.
As a contract analyst in corrections, she managed a budget of over $2.5 million and worked closely with community partners. As a project coordinator, De’Vonna was integral in major projects, including the Twins Stadium. Her work included coordinating community conversations around ADA and accessibility issues and the environmental impact study.
Since 2013 De’Vonna has hosted countless forums focused on bringing awareness to childhood sexual abuse and to empower women, children, and their families.
As a volunteer mentor at the Hennepin County Home School, she dedicated countless hours to the well-being of county involved youth.
Recognized Leader
De’Vonna is a recognized community leader who is passionate about connecting people to solutions and resources.
She is a Josie R. Johnson Leadership Fellow who was recently featured in Fearless Commerce, a nationally recognized magazine that elevates Black women business owners through the production of books and live events.
She currently serves on the American Civil Liberties Union Smart Justice Committee. In the past, she served on the boards of the City of Lakes and Land Trust and The Sexual Violence Center.
Experience that Matters
De’Vonna has spent almost two decades in public service as a voice for marginalized communities. Her expansive experience with Hennepin County and work in the community ranges from handling million dollar budgets and contracts to working with ex-offenders and individuals on probation.
She understands the underlying issues that affect everyday people and is committed to providing leadership and finding solutions to combat them.
She believes that community members where they live helps empower them to make decisions that reduce inequities and create thriving communities and strong families.
De’Vonna is also a small business owner, community advocate, and author. She was born and raised in Ford Heights, Il., once deemed the poorest suburb in America. With a population of less than 3,000 residents, she learned the value of community early in life.
She was raised by her mother who worked two jobs to try and make ends meet. Her mother was also a small business owner of a barbecue joint, where she and her six brothers and sisters learned the value of hard work.
De’Vonna moved to Minneapolis in 1992. She currently lives in New Hope and has lived in District 1 for the past 12 years.
She graduated from Metropolitan State University with a degree in Criminal justice, and earned her Masters of Science in Law Enforcement Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.
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I am supporting an amazing candidate for Minneapolis City Council.
Good candidates often lose by small margins because they need just a LITTLE more support.
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I am looking forward to presenting to the Attorney General’s Women’s Economic Security Task Force Thursday night.
My lived experience and professional learnings relative to policy that negatively affects women, their families and communities is one worth noting.
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You rock!!
Our Statement Regarding the Verdict Rendered
in the Trial of Derek Chauvin
(April 20, 2021) -- There is no amount of justice that can justify the violence that George Perry Floyd, Jr. suffered on May 25, 2020. Yet, today, we honor his life, taken without right or cause, and breathe with gratitude for the jury that saw fit to convict Derek Chauvin on all three counts of murder.
For almost one year, we have collectively held our breath, while also holding onto hope. As this verdict is read, we long to breathe sighs of relief, yet we know they are followed by deep, heavy breaths that carry the weight of fear.
We exhale breaths of relief honoring the brilliant prosecution led by Jerry W. Blackwell, founding partner and CEO of Blackwell Burke P.A., the steadfast and fearless fight of the family of George Floyd, Jr., and the tireless advocacy of freedom fighters at George Floyd Square and similar squares throughout the country. We thank them for their tremendous bravery and relentless pursuit of justice.
We promise, George Floyd, Jr. will never be forgotten. His life mattered.
With gratitude, we thank our youth, community activists, and leaders on-the-ground, in board rooms and court rooms who have led and continue to lead this national reckoning, joining generations before us demanding justice for George and for every Black life extinguished on the road to freedom.
While this verdict is for Derek Chauvin, America must reckon with the charges of systemic racism and policy violence that are used as weapons of mass destruction against Black people every day. The last 335 days must serve as a mandate for action and systems change across every sector in our nation – economic, criminal justice, health, wealth and homeownership gaps, education, and more -- that continue to devalue, harm, and take Black lives.
This is not the end of the story. The final chapter will come when racial equity and inclusion are achieved. As a community, we will continue to rise, lead, and demand change. We do it for George, for Daunte, for Breonna, for Philando, and for Jamar. This national reckoning will continue.
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