The candidate's bio states that "His goal is for Winston-Salem to be one of the top 50 metro areas in the country and be recognized as a city that embraces innovation and rapid change."

The candidate's website says "He led the implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness Commission in 2006; and as a result of this work, it was reduced by over 92%. Winston-Salem is one of the first 27 cities across the United States that ended homelessness among veterans."

In 2012, Joines "launched his Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative to help educate children seven to ten years of age, and their parents, about the importance of good nutrition and exercise."

His bio states that he "formed an initiative to work on reducing poverty in Winston-Salem and is making the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Plan one of his top priorities. As part of this initiative, he developed and raised private funds to start a free college program for low-income high school students as well as a paid internship program for 11th and 12th grade students from disadvantaged families."