Join the DC Center in welcoming our newest Board Member: Justin Campbell! We are ecstatic to have him on our team. Read all about Justin’s background, interests, and inspirations below:
Where are you originally from and how long have you been in DC?
I was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Though, I can’t call myself a true New Yorker. I had lived in a few places before moving to Washington, DC. Most of my family is from the Caribbean, Jamaica, to be specific. And as a child, I had the opportunity to live there in Kingston for a few years. I moved back to the States in my adolescence and went directly to the South. Atlanta, Georgia, became my new home throughout junior and high school, and I stayed in the state to finish college.
When I graduated from undergrad, I moved to Washington, DC. 2010 seems so long from now.
Please summarize in a short paragraph or two your interests and how they relate to serving on the Board. What impact do you see yourself having?
I had the opportunity to work in my interests to identify and explore social determinants of health in communities. Seeing firsthand how nonmedical factors: one’s quality of life, location, how much one makes, or the distance of a grocery store, played themselves out in actual health outcomes for people became an indelible passion. In my past experiences, I recognized these factors in formats from fundraising, storytelling to photography, all to bring awareness and understanding so that potential recommendations and solutions can develop.
Through the DC Center’s focus areas from health and wellness, arts & culture, social & peer support, and advocacy and community building, considerable effort and opportunities exist to investigate social determinants of health in our LGBTQ+ community here in DC. By serving, I plan to identify and determine what factors across the city may afflict or empower our community to be the healthiest and the best it can be.
What is your favorite spot in DC and what do you do there?
I am a big fan of just hanging in Logan Circle. I’m an avid picnic fan and enjoy the company of friends in the park.
What influences inspire you, such as historical figures, leaders, singers, bands, etc.? Why?
I am full of wanderlust, so I travel as much as possible. Whether by car, plane, or train, I arrive in new locations with a big smile and an openness to my surroundings. I carry this motivation when I travel because I came up between two worlds: Jamaica and America. Then, I always felt the need to make myself present by sharing stories and experiences of the incredible differences and similarities between my two cultures. I still do. Traveling now, I relish those grounded, unpretentious experiences and opportunities when visiting a new place – a quest to find greater wisdom in people and myself.
What are you most excited about regarding the future of the DC Center?
I am very excited to utilize the new space for the DC Center. It’s huge! There’s so much potential for events with the community and collaboration with other DC organizations. I can’t wait!