While working on a master’s degree in Health Communication from Marshall University in 2014, Deion Hawkins conducted a research project looking into the health disparities of Black gay men. This project culminated into a career dedicated to health equity and accessibility for disadvantaged populations.
“Being black and queer, I know that a lot of queer youth are subjected to homelessness because a lot of people are kicked out if they come out to their parents,” Hawkins, assistant professor of Argumentation and Advocacy at Emerson, said. “For me, it was also making sure that there was a voice at the table who share a similar lived experience and background as myself.”
This summer, the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) appointed Hawkins to their Board of Directors as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion co-chair on their Emerging Leaders Board. BHCHP provides healthcare to unhoused populations in the greater Boston area.
“I’ve always been very passionate about the unhoused because I felt like they were some of the most stigmatized and misunderstood demographics that have ever existed,” Hawkins said.
As a board member, Hawkins and the fellow members will handle financial disclosures and oversee a series of subcommittees.
In 2020, Hawkins joined the organization as a member of the Emerging Leaders Board, which is designed for young professionals “who are interested in advocating for the unhoused community,” according to Hawkins.
Hawkins has served on the board for two years, and the team of 20 members has hosted various events and speaker series to focus on “education and awareness raising” around the unhoused community. He and the rest of the board underwent Narcan training, learning how to both administer and receive it.
Alongside this, Hawkins hosted advocacy letter workshops where he taught individuals how to draft letters to initiate change through non-profits, public policy, or other organizations. Each member was expected to fulfill a 40-hour volunteer requirement.
“[I’m] always thinking about how I can use advocacy and debate to make sure the organization is as inclusive and equitable as possible,” Hawkins said.
In October 2022, the Emerging Leaders Board hosted their annual soireé. Hawkins served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event which featured a silent auction, an award ceremony, and guest speakers.
“It’s a night full of fun dancing while also being educated about the needs of the organization and unhoused community,” Hawkins said.
Through his involvement on the Emerging Leaders Board, Hawkins was nominated by BHCHP to join their Board of Directors. To secure a position on the 18-member board, Hawkins underwent a series of interviews with his nominator, BHCHP President Stephanie Sullivan, and Board Chair Brett Painchaud. The current board members then cast a vote to decide on who to recruit.
“I was humbled because I was happy people thought my skill set to be of use for such an important issue,” Hawkins said. “I want to be a board member to advance the mission and make the organization better. I want to be a board member to truly use my skills to fight the injustice of being unhoused in Boston.”
The Board of Directors meets monthly and serves as an advisory board to ensure the organization’s operations are “meeting the needs of the mission,” according to Hawkins.
“I want to make sure the board doesn’t ever lose commitment to the people that we serve,” Hawkins said. “…It’s not what I hope to accomplish. It’s more so what does the organization need, and what does the board need me to do in order to make sure the mission is fulfilled?”
The board comprises individuals of different career backgrounds including health insurance and public health, and Hawkins brings his knowledge of debate and advocacy. As Director of Debate for the Emerson Forensics Team, Hawkins has participated in debate since he was 13 years old.
“I wanted to use my background in debate and advocacy to also inform how people think about housing and being unhoused in Boston,” Hawkins said.
Fellow Board of Directors member Paul Selian joined the board the same time as Hawkins. Selian currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Division Head of Global Credit Finance for State Street.
“It’s great that we have such a diverse group of people,” Selian said. “Deion and I work from two very different worlds. Working with someone like Deion who has a perfect background to bring to the board is going to be great. We need a lot of different voices, and we need a lot of people to be heard.”
Hawkins will serve a three-year term on the board, and will continue to work full-time at Emerson.
As he continues working for BHCHP, Hawkins plans to continue volunteering through the organization. Over his three years with BHCHP, Hawkins derived the greatest satisfaction from personally interacting with members of the unhoused community through volunteer opportunities.
“[The most rewarding part is] being able to volunteer and hear the patient’s stories and perspectives and always feeling connected to the mission,” Hawkins said. “[I look forward to] the work of volunteering and getting to know the reality as much as I can of what it’s like to be unhoused because it’s not the stories, it’s not the narratives, it’s not the people that folks think.”
