Dominic Davis
Director of Communications, BLAQUE KC
Northeast High School, Class of 2012
Dominic Davis is a Kansas City native who is passionate about advocating for the black youth in Kansas City and is currently the Communications Director at BLAQUE KC! He launched a campaign, The Future is Black, which aims to uplift, promote, and inspire the next wave of black, brown creative and entrepreneurs. In addition, He volunteers on the Kansas City’s Young Audiences (KCYA) marketing committee. In 2019, the American Advertising Federation of Kansas City (AAF-KC) honored him as the Young Advertising Professional of the year, highlighting his work with small black-owned businesses in the community.
Dominic is a Northeast High School alum and earned his B.S in Public Relations from the University of Central Missouri—he will graduate with his M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Kansas (KU) in 2022.
You are an alumnus of public schools in Kansas City: what were your experiences in school? Who were your mentors or inspirations?
I know a lot of people on the outside looking in have their own opinions about the schools that make up KCPS, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world. I think that growing up in the inner city produced a level of resilience that was foundational for my creativity. Figuring out how to make the most of the little resources we had taught me to be crafty and quick on my feet.
My time in what was then KCMSD was filled with educators who were passionate about introducing new concepts and opportunities to develop new skills. Woodland Elementary was one of few schools in the district at the time with a pool, gymnastics and someone from the community even put together a golf team, which I quit to do tap.
At Westport Middle I worked my way up from being a camera operator to a weatherman to captain of the studio and stage crew which produced the morning news and productions that the school would host. This unique program led by Gary Wright and Mr. Russell sparked an early interest in production.
Northeast was a melting pot of cultures that prepared me for navigating the real world. The opportunity to appreciate different cultures so early in my development has allowed me to understand and value my peers’ differences while trying to find the commonalities that unite us.
I must credit Evelyn Hill, who sponsored the Jr. and Sr. class of 2012 for assisting in my development as a leader. She taught me how to turn my ideas into tangible concepts that could communicate to faculty and my peers. Her cultivating my ambition made me feel like I could take on the world by putting together a small proposal to pitch to the community to help our class get to DC. Unfortunately, the plan fell through, but I still gave it everything I had.
Why did you decide to work in education and / or student-centered work?
My career in education started at the University of Central Missouri. My goal was to advocate for increased exposure in communities like mine. I experienced the transformative power of education and wanted to ensure that black youth were introduced to the idea of post-secondary education and its benefits. I enjoyed my time at UCM, but I wanted to get closer to the work that needed to be done in my community, so I joined the volunteer marketing committee for Kansas City Young Audience (KCYA) and launched a campaign called The Future Is Black (TFIB), which exist to promote and inspire the next wave of black, brown creatives and through telling the stories of the people who are navigating that journey RIGHT NOW! This movement has allowed me to cross paths with some amazing entrepreneurs, creatives and stories that NEED to be told. We are planning to launch a Behind The Brand Series later this year to assist in telling those stories. We also want to create a network, and urban collective if you will, to connect black talent with real opportunities and development.
My work with TFIB is what got me noticed by Dr. Cokethea Hill, CEO and Founder of BLAQUE KC. I was completely sold on the mission of BLAQUE day one, in my interview Dr. Hill communicated the importance of showing up authentically inviting my “whole person” to the workplace and it felt incredible. As a young black man navigating my professional journey, I have found that with each new opportunity I felt like I had to reinvent myself as the ideal candidate for advancement. I would spend time trying to understand their culture, trying to indulge in things that the larger group enjoyed so I could engage or simply understand the references made in general office discussions. I managed, but anyone who knows me knows I love fashion, my wardrobe ranges from Johnston & Murphy loafers to Jordans. The disconnect is that while I feel as though all styles can be professional, corporate America does not.
When onboarding for BLAQUE KC and talking to different people about the organization a lot of them said the same thing “BLAQUE told me to be bold” whether it be in their approach to policy or advocating for black youth in general. BLAQUE taught me to show up BOLDLY & AUTHENTICALLY, cultivating a space of inclusivity and culture.
That boldness carries over into BLAQUE’s programming, like the Charter School Board Draft. This event is dedicated to recruiting community leaders into the Ed. space is unlike any other and I am glad to be a part of it. We have teamed up with nine charter schools to help find diverse, high-quality members for their boards. BLAQUE is investing in the development of the candidates to eliminate some of the guesswork in what it takes to be a quality school board member.
Which Black leader has been the most influential to you in your work?
Although I am very new to the BLAQUE Family, Dr. Hill has done an incredible job laying a foundation for why we should be bold in our work. I admire how she has built an organization with a mission to improve the outcomes for black kids. Dr. Hill and I grew up in these neighborhoods, and it feels great to lend my talents to the cause.
Other influences have been some of my friends who are educators like Semaj Jones, Kaneisha Kennedy and Teirra Bibbs, all passionate black educators who graduated from KCPS who are creating a real impact for youth. I hear their stories and it reminds me of the people who were so foundational in my development, and it makes me glad that great educators still exist.
How do you think that the education system in Kansas City has changed since you were in school? What opportunities do you think exist for students now that did not exist previously?
I graduated in 2012, around the time the district lost its accreditation. I can remember feeling unsure about what that meant for my future. I turned out alright, but it’s great that current college-bound seniors have one less worry.
I think a lot of great programs existed then and now, for example I participated in Upward Bound Math and Science in the summer of 2009 – 2012, however I was one of the only black male participants the first year. I also participated in an internship hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City that taught us about careers in economics, communications, and other functions of the Federal Reserve. So I feel like there are incredible opportunities available, I just wish that they were amplified in the black community.
What are your aspirations for education in Kansas City? What would you like to see made possible for our students?
My aspirations for KC would be to see increased access to opportunities by developing our youth for emerging, lucrative careers through partnerships with industry leaders in Kansas City. For example, Kansas City is home to several nationally ranked communication firms. I would love to see a pipeline for black youth in creative spaces. I was in my third year of college before I found out just how lucrative a career in communications could be.
I would also love to see more young black men involved in developmental programs like UBMS.
Learn more about Dominic’s work by following BLAQUE KC and The Future is Black.