JOSEPH TOLBERT III MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES DISTRICT 25
Redemption, Responsibility, Results
Meet the Candidate
I am Joseph Tolbert III — a proud son of Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County. My life reflects resilience, redemption, and relentless purpose. I am the son of the late Charlotte Elizabeth Tolbert, a DC correctional officer who passed while I was incarcerated, and the late Joseph Tolbert Jr., a manager at Discount Mart. Their strength, discipline, and perseverance guide my leadership.
At 17 I was incarcerated and spent more than a decade behind bars. After my release I faced the harsh realities of reentry — barriers to employment and stability — and resolved to break the cycle. I transformed pain into purpose and setbacks into stepping stones to build a better future for my family and community.
I graduated from DC Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training Program, where my leadership emerged while supervising volunteers. That professionalism led me from banquet houseman into a Management Development Program and a nearly ten-year career in hospitality. Today I manage a team of 32, proving that leadership grounded in accountability and integrity delivers results.
My employer honored my journey from incarceration to management and donated $250,000 to DC Central Kitchen to sponsor a culinary training class, expanding second-chance opportunities for others.
My commitment to service extends beyond work. I cofounded Life360, Inc., a nonprofit supporting people and families impacted by incarceration. I’ve organized voter registration drives for returning citizens, back-to-school initiatives, diaper drives, and holiday toy distributions. Recently, in partnership with Bridging The Gap, we distributed 1,000 turkeys at Suitland High School so families could gather with dignity.
As cofounder and facilitator of The Men of P.G., I lead an all-male support group that fosters brotherhood, accountability, and growth; we also provide structured programming for court-ordered participants focused on responsibility and decision-making.
I am a former DC Central Kitchen board member, a paralegal, sole proprietor of Been There Done That (BTDT) Clothing, and a devoted father of four. I do not consider myself a politician and remain independent of the establishment. I ran for office out of deep concern for our Party’s direction. Guided by faith and a commitment to truth, I pledge to put the people of Maryland first.
I stand as living proof that redemption is real, growth is possible, and leadership forged through adversity can uplift an entire community.
