DAWN FRANKS
Seattle,WA
Summary
Dynamic community advocate with a proven track record at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, excelling in equity engagement and policy development. Successfully led initiatives that enhanced stakeholder collaboration and improved access for BIPOC communities. Skilled in data analysis and passionate about fostering systemic change through advocacy training and community organizing.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Community Liaison
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of Violence Prevention
12.2022 - Current
- Lead implementation of equity-centered engagement for LACDPH’s $25M ARPA-funded violence prevention initiative, ensuring access and representation for BIPOC communities.
- Support 53 grantees in aligning program deliverables with equitable funding principles and measurable community impact goals.
- Facilitate capacity-building training and convenings across departments and sectors, promoting inclusive, trauma-informed, and community-led strategies.
- Develop and execute community engagement strategies that identify service gaps, enhance stakeholder collaboration, and guide departmental improvements.
- Gather and analyze community feedback to refine equity-based outcome objectives and inform policy recommendations.
- Represent the department at cross-sector government and community forums to foster shared accountability and strengthen equity networks.
- Utilize social justice, racial equity frameworks, cultural competence, training, and resource coordination activities.
Executive Director – Criminal Justice Consultant, Advocacy Trainer
Stewards’ Village of Collaboration, Inc.
08.2011 - Current
- Lead the organization’s criminal justice advocacy initiatives, focusing on federal sentencing reform and systemic equity for justice-impacted individuals and their families.
- Successfully advocated for legislative amendments and retroactivity before the U.S. Sentencing Commission and Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C.
- Cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships with policymakers, legal professionals, educators, and community stakeholders to advance bipartisan reform efforts.
- Design and facilitate nationwide advocacy training for incarcerated individuals, families, and community advocates to strengthen civic engagement and self-advocacy.
- Conduct in-depth policy research and legal analysis to develop educational tools and case strategies for impacted families navigating the justice system.
- Established and coordinated advocacy hubs within correctional facilities, building a national grassroots coalition focused on policy change and public education.
- Oversee organizational operations, budget management, and compliance to align daily activities with long-term equity-driven objectives.
- Develop and execute targeted social media campaigns to influence Congressional decision-makers on key justice reform priorities.
Community Engagement & Policy Advocate
First 5 LA – Best Start Compton–East Compton
Compton, USA
01.2017 - 12.2019
- Led civic engagement and educational workshops to First 5 LA – Best Start Compton–East Compton for supporting families with young children, focusing on homelessness and equitable municipal policy development.
- Co-developed and presented a homelessness policy ordinance to the Compton City Council, advocating services for unsheltered families with children ages 0 to 5.
- Fostered partnerships with local and state elected officials and department leaders to strengthen interagency service coordination for underserved communities.
- Trained former teen parents in legislative advocacy, supporting their civic engagement and organizing visits to the state capital to advocate for equitable education policies.
- Embedded equity frameworks and racial justice principles into all programming to ensure inclusion and responsiveness to community needs.
Community Engagement & Equity Programs Lead
The Children’s Collective, Inc.
08.2003 - 12.2017
- Supervised staff in implementing a 12-week youth curriculum focused on food justice and civic engagement, leading to student-led advocacy with school officials and local legislators.
- Used data-driven presentations to influence school policy changes supporting healthier food access through the Champion for Change initiative.
- Coordinated annual advocacy trips to Sacramento for student ambassadors to promote sustained funding for anti-obesity programs in underserved communities.
Parent Advocate Coordinator
The Children’s Collective, Inc.
01.2008 - 12.2011
- Led monthly educational sessions and resource navigation for parents, improving kindergarten readiness through increased developmental milestone awareness.
- Boosted parent participation in programming by 50%, strengthening family engagement through volunteerism and leadership roles across 11 preschool sites.
- Partnered with site supervisors and senior management to ensure program compliance with licensing requirements and state audits.
- Resolved complex family concerns with trauma-informed approaches and equitable solutions.
- Increased parent referrals to Regional Centers by 85%, reducing stigma around developmental support services and improving early intervention outcomes for children.
Victims Services Advocate
California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)
- Company Overview: Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
- Delivered culturally responsive advocacy and support services to victims of violent crime, with a focus on BIPOC and marginalized communities.
- Established partnerships with law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s Office to streamline victim referrals and improve equitable access to compensation resources.
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
Education
Compton Community College
01.2018
Long Beach City College
01.2001
Long Beach City College
01.1991
Skills
- Equity engagement
- Policy development
- Advocacy training
- Community organizing
- Data analysis
- Stakeholder collaboration
Certification
- Ascend Management Education Program, Loyola Marymount University College of Business Administration, Fall 2021
- Group Facilitation Skills, 21Hr. Training
- Putting Participatory Values into Practice, 05/01/24
Timeline
Community Liaison
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Office of Violence Prevention
12.2022 - Current
Community Engagement & Policy Advocate
First 5 LA – Best Start Compton–East Compton
01.2017 - 12.2019
Executive Director – Criminal Justice Consultant, Advocacy Trainer
Stewards’ Village of Collaboration, Inc.
08.2011 - Current
Parent Advocate Coordinator
The Children’s Collective, Inc.
01.2008 - 12.2011
Community Engagement & Equity Programs Lead
The Children’s Collective, Inc.
08.2003 - 12.2017
Victims Services Advocate
California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)
Compton Community College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
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