Meet Davon
Davon, known as Champ (Christ Handles All My Problems), grew up in Harlem and describes his story as a “cautionary tale”. Throughout his life he has faced a series of challenges but has reframed what life has given into a positive and used it as a catalyst for helping people in his community. Although he currently lives in the Bronx, he spends most of his time in Harlem and his work is concentrated in the community.
He grew up in Riverton and attended school in Harlem. His high school journey changed when he became a young father at the age of 16. It led to him changing schools and attending West Side High School where he would have his first experience in public speaking. “I wasn’t a valedictorian, salutatorian, had no special accolades. My teacher just really loved how attentive I was to my daughter and how diligent I was in school… The first time I ever spoke was at my graduation with my daughter in my hand.” However, following high school his life took a turn, “After that growing up was even more troubling… Got into a lot of fights… and that never worked in my favor, because it actually took me away from my daughter, from my family. I was incarcerated in September of 2013 and I was released in August of 2016… When I caught my charge I was actually working two jobs and going to B.M.C.C. at the same time and taking care of my daughter. It was a lot. So it was like, ‘How did I get here?’ But it was actually a blessing in disguise because it taught me a lot about myself and my purpose and who I wanted to be.”
“I’m learning how to rid myself of survivors’ guilt… And one of… the most beautiful things about it is that as I remove it, I’m starting to realize none of this would have happened if I’d never made bad decisions. So this is just a series of me now making better decisions for my life.”
Learning he had a gift for connecting with people and helping them find their purpose, he knew he wanted to set on a new path following his incarceration. One day when reading the paper he learned about Glenn Martin establishing JustLeadershipUSA and their search for people to help with their Close Rikers campaign. This was his introduction to community organizing and campaigning, working on several initiatives. Davon sought ways of improving himself and others and would become a part of All Kings, “The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak, so I had to find some way to help build that up for me and the best part about that was that this led me to a community of men who were also formerly incarcerated, who also dealt with similar struggles, and who are also trying to better their own communities.” His community work would continue, serving on a Community Board 11 and working with the Center for Employment Opportunities, doing outreach and coordination for people who were incarcerated in the same precinct he was in. Now working as a project manager in the Neighborhood Safety Initiatives department of the Center for Justice Innovation, he led the initiative to create a youth-led designed teen lounge in the PAL on Polo Grounds. Once it breaks ground, he will begin working on opening a neurodiverse playground that promotes inclusive play for people in the community.
Looking back on Harlem, he says, “I grew up in the height of the Dipset era, so it was like... Pink Polo. Pelle Pelle coats… Growing up I used to go to the PAL, right there on Manhattan Ave. and I played for the Harlem Knights, was on their football team… So, literally [we] would walk out of practice full gear on through Harlem. Stupid as hell,” he laughs. As a teenager, there were many community center events they could go to. He fondly remembers teen night parties at community centers like the YMCA and Kennedy Center, or even parties held at schools. He says, “Rice High School used to have the best parties. My brother went there so I used to get in. Those were fire. That's back when you had to have a fresh polo and a pair of those super duper shiny plastic Prada’s. That was that era, with your American Eagle or True Religion Jeans…” Davon also recalls a time when the African American Day Parade was much larger, saying, “I'm part of that era where Hot 97 and Power 105 were competing. Like Power 105 just became a radio station and their float went from like 148th St. all the way to 110th. You had Fat Joe, Fabulous, Lil Wayne, like, everybody who was hot was on that float. It was fire. But now [it] is like 10 blocks long, if that. I miss that.” Davon is still exploring the neighborhood and finding new places to enjoy. Some of his favorite places now are Bixi, Harlem Nights, The Edge, Melba’s, Harlem Hops, and Shrine. As a form of self care he goes to Renaissance Church to be in service, even in his free time. He also takes walks through Harlem, clearing his head, and finding new places to check out next.
What is clear is his love for Harlem, “I… told my girlfriend… ‘We can live anywhere in the world. There is no place like a summer in Harlem, no place in the world like a summer in Harlem.’ I think one of the most magical things about this place is the sense of community and belonging… What I love the most is just literally being able to walk outside and figuring out what am I going to do today?” He reflects on his journey, saying, “I look at mine… as a cautionary tale… A lot of the things that I've experienced [are] an outcome and a result of consequences… Truth be told, I did not see 35 in my future. At all. I went through a lot of trauma myself and I went through a lot of situations where I couldn't have been here… and I'm learning how to rid myself of survivors' guilt… And one of… the most beautiful things about it is that as I remove it, I'm starting to realize none of this would have happened if I'd never made bad decisions. So this is just a series of me now making better decisions for my life.”