“Joyful educator and learner advocating for system-level change.”
“Joyful educator and learner advocating for system-level change.”
As Project Manager, Daijah contributes to the development and delivery of Healthy Places by Design’s consultation, technical assistance, training, and evaluation services. She also provides research, assessment, evaluation, event planning, writing, and communications support.
Originally from Michigan, Daijah landed in North Carolina after being accepted into the Charlotte Teach for America Corp. She spent two years as a seventh-grade science teacher at Cochrane Collegiate Academy. Daijah describes her time teaching as a pivotal moment in her decision to fight for equity, specifically focusing on health equity. Physical, mental, and social health provide a foundation that children need in order to be successful learners. Unfortunately, inequitable circumstances often result in some children not receiving the resources they need in order to develop this foundation. Seeing these patterns inspired Daijah to dedicate her life to changing the status-quo.
Daijah most recently earned a Master of Public Health with a focus on Maternal and Child Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Previously, she earned a BS in interdisciplinary studies in social science – health and society, and psychology from Michigan State University.
Daijah enjoys hitting around a tennis ball with her husband and joining any fitness class that features a great playlist. She also loves trying new recipes, buying fresh flowers, and playing with her dog, Duke!
My interest in healthy communities stemmed from my move to the Triangle region of North Carolina. Here, there are a plethora of sidewalks, bike lanes, walking paths, farmers’ markets, and grocery stores. Although I greatly enjoy the characteristics of the area where I went to school and now live in, I can’t help but think of my Michigan hometown, which doesn’t have a grocery store within city limits and isn’t very walkable.
I think about how much easier it became for me to integrate healthy practices into my daily life after moving to the Triangle, and how my habits changed when my environment was built to accommodate these practices. I realized that in order to create healthy communities, we must advocate for healthy environments. Every community deserves to have a built environment that makes healthy habits easier. Ensuring that this is the case is a step toward achieving health equity for all.