Get to Know Hiawatha Davis '14

After graduating from OES, Hiawatha attended the University Of Redlands from 2014-2015, then transferred to Pitzer College (2015-2018) and received a BA in Africana studies, with a minor in history. Following college, he moved to Denver, Colorado, and taught preschool through the Teach For America (TFA) program. Hiawatha remained in Denver for two years (2018-2020). As he finished his two-year commitment to TFA, the pandemic also came into full swing. As a result, he moved back to Seattle in order to be closer to family and loved ones, and found a job as a lead preschool teacher at his current employer (Hutch Kids Child Care). After his third year in the classroom, Hiawatha transitioned into his current role of Equity & Inclusion Specialist. In addition to being in this new role, he is also in the process of obtaining his masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction: Critical Pedagogy from the University of Colorado (Denver).   

What elements of your experience at OES did you take into your current career/project? How would you say OES helped you get to where you are?

I would say the development of my leadership skills throughout my time at OES definitely play a huge role in where I stand today, specifically in my current position. While at OES I was a part of the Intercultural Student Association (ISA) and was even elected as one of the leaders of the club during my sophomore year. This was my first real experience leading and facilitating difficult conversations on Diversity, Race, Equity, and Inclusion. During that time I learned the value of listening to others' perspectives, experiences, and opinions. As a leader, I believe one of the most important skills to possess is the ability to understand that I do not have all the answers, and that there will be moments when I am not the expert. What is most important  in those moments is that I am able to step back and let others' take the lead depending on the context. Though I did not know it then, I was also beginning to understand and appreciate the value of my voice, and the power that comes with it. 

How would you say OES helped you get to where you are? 

As stated in the last question I would definitely say my experiences within the ISA club inform where I am today in my professional life, there are lots of aspects that directly translate to my role as Equity and Inclusion Specialist (specifically how to mediate and lead meaningful conversation). In addition, within my overall time at OES I learned how to meaningfully navigate a PWI without having to sacrifice critical aspects of my own being. For example, developing my communication skills was a huge part of this process. Learning how to 1.) be patient with people who may not be able to completely relate to my experience, and 2.) how to bridge those gaps of knowledge, understanding, and experience with meaningful, and effective communication. In other words, I learned how to be transparent and honest with my communication, while also being critically aware of the audience receiving that communication. Without knowing it then, I had learned the importance of engaging in developmentally appropriate practice (meeting where they are at), which within the field of education is a very important concept/skill to have. 

What's your favorite part about doing what you do?

My favorite part of my current job is definitely the relationship-building aspect. If I am going to aid in facilitating cultural shifts within my current work community, I must first develop and maintain meaningful relationships with all of the members of my community. Given that my work requires each individual person to be vulnerable, to be open to learning new things, and acknowledging what they do not know, they must also trust me. Already I have gotten to know so many of our staff members in more complex ways which provides me the amazing opportunity to witness collaborative and individual growth which then makes me happy.