At Ten Strands, we introduce our team through statements of purpose that reveal the motivations and ambitions behind their work. David’s statement traces his path from storytelling and performance to environmental justice and community engagement—guided by the belief that art, history, and data can illuminate our shared connections and inspire change.
The way we show up in our passions is a mirror for the way we show up in our purpose. I wrote stories when I was young—fantastic, grammatically challenged tales of fiction about heroes, monsters, and secret agent gerbils (yes, a real premise). My favorite part was getting my paper back from the teacher, sharing the story with classmates, or coming home to tell my brother about it all. It was one of the few ways I could break out of my growing introversion. By high school, I discovered a love for music and rap, opening a new world of creative writing and performance. This was the prelude to my undergraduate journey at Jackson State University, where I not only studied history but also became a member of numerous on-campus organizations like MADDRAMA Performance Troupe, Outspoken Arts Collective, Blue Ambassadors, and JSU Spectrum. These experiences draped me in layers of passionate expression and human connection that drive me to this day.
My undergraduate experience brought me from Northern California to Jackson, Mississippi—a major change of pace, to say the least. Though this time in school introduced me to a place uniquely different from the only home I had ever known, it landed me in a city that supports its own, maintains a strong philosophy on building villages, and steered me toward understanding the meaning of community on a deeper level. The way Jackson natives speak about their home with such love and appreciation for the values their families instilled in them always touched me—the tight-knit bonds they maintained and the beautiful network of entrepreneurs, artists, scholars, and hard workers across the state who endured despite all challenges.
One thing about Jackson that always stood out to me is that, despite being the state capital, the city infrastructure is . . . challenged. Don’t misinterpret what I mean, however—there are plenty of amazing places to go, things to see, and people to meet, all wrapped in gorgeously lush greenery you could easily get lost in. Yet this beauty is contrasted by rough roads, a food desert, constant clean water supply crises, and other resource issues not shared by neighboring cities like Flowood and Madison (with their shopping centers, fro-yo shops, and well-paved city streets). This disparity stems from Jackson’s history of insufficient resources, redlining, and white flight—as Black Americans gained freedom to settle where they chose, white residents relocated en masse, taking population, businesses, and economic resources with them. Jackson’s beauty is clear to me; however, it may be hard for someone else to look at the surface and see the same due to these factors. The issues the city faces are rooted in its history and America’s history. This taught me how interconnected the past is with our present and how it influences our future. One thing I slowly began to realize about studying history is that anywhere you can point to disparity and unmet needs you will likely find environmental injustices as well. Knowing this guides me, as I put my energy toward creating spaces in my community for expression through the arts, supporting organizations that bring knowledge and wellness, and continuing to be informed myself.
After graduating from JSU, I worked for four years as a financial service representative with Travis Credit Union. One aspect of credit union work you don’t expect is how community oriented everything is. I truly felt like every day I was seeing familiar faces, hearing stories of success or hardship, and providing services and advice on financial goals that would have tangible impact on people’s lives. Once again, that feeling of connectedness returned—similar to my time in Jackson, though different in that I was working directly with people who share my same neighborhoods, drive the same streets, and bank at the same credit union. It all left a mark on me—a mark that shaped what is important to me as I explore new avenues.
Art and expression have long been among my main motivators. I have spoken at length about community, and—though I hate to sound like a broken record—art is no different. In 2022, I was blessed to be selected by my city council as the first-ever Poet Laureate of Suisun City, a role that perplexes most. Upon learning about it, people usually say something like, “Congratulations, but . . . what is a poet laureate?” Despite the mystique the title evokes, it has put me in many positions to not only share my own passions for rap and poetry but also to showcase gifted artists and inspire them as well. On three separate occasions, this role reintroduced me to the climate movement. I had the opportunity to work with Sustainable Solano, performing poetry at its climate fair and organizing a climate leaders summit with Greenbelt Alliance. These passions of mine have brought me to amazing places and explain how I’ve arrived at Ten Strands.
This journey, as a post-undergrad artist and full-time financial service rep, eventually led me to UC Berkeley, where I studied computational social science. My experience at Cal showed me how I can position myself in my work life to make the change I hope to see in the world around me. In my eyes, Ten Strands embodies this goal. Everyone I speak with there is bursting with passion, plentiful with intention, and genuinely full of love for both education and our world. This is what cements our organization as one I can show up for fully. It allows me to step deeper into this purpose I have been aspiring to reach. It feels as if I’ve walked this path for so long, and now, finally, a threshold has been reached—I can finally say that I am fully present in my purpose.
Even still, I wish to continue forward. In this role, I hope to become better acquainted with nonprofit work and the structure of building such a strong team that stays true to its mission, so that one day I can build a nonprofit centering music, data, and community. Though I have had many missteps and met many loose stones on the journey thus far, I can say that my heart beats warmly when I reflect on the road behind me.
