Dawun Smith

Dawun has four years of experience in research and social justice advocacy work. As a Social Justice Research and Evaluation Intern at Strength in Numbers Consulting Group, he uses qualitative and quantitative methods to study the role of LGBTQ+ youth of color out-of-school programming and mental health services. In this role he aims to use social justice research to represent the lived experiences of marginalized populations as well as advocate for autonomy and equity in these communities.

Prior to Strength in Numbers, he worked as a Research Assistant at the Guttmacher Institute, where he conducted research in support of reproductive health justice. He gathered data from clinics around the country that provide contraceptive and family planning services to better understand the clinical impact of the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Dawun has also held positions at People’s Action, Hamilton College and the University of Miami. Dawun holds a Master of Public Health in Social from New York University and Behavioral Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with departmental honors from Hamilton College. His senior thesis titled, Health, Racism, and Inequality in the United States, focused on uncovering the ways racism initiates and sustains health disparities. He is also an organizer, coordinating speaking engagements and lectures with scholars and community members to uplift the voices of Black, Indigenous, and people of color.