Rodney Dawkins

Areas of expertise: Homelessness and housing, workforce development training, human rights, community health workers and the peer workforce, healthcare access, and health equity

Bio: Rodney Dawkins is a consumer advocate who fights for many causes, including housing, healthcare, workforce development, and human rights. Rodney believes that people with lived experience should be at the table to help improve healthcare and services for their communities. He is an advocate and mentor for people from underserved communities to make sure they have access to the resources they need to live to their fullest potential. Rodney worked as a community health worker for seven years, and currently serves as a regional representative for Healthcare for the Homeless’ National Consumer Advisory Board Steering Committee. In his free time, he enjoys singing, dancing, and is a lifelong birdwatcher.

Experience:

• National Consumer Scholar, 2018
• Community Health Worker with Heartland Alliance Health- 2013-2020
• National Health Care for the Homeless Consumer Advisory Council- 2020-present
• Participated in various speaking engagements and trainings with National Healthcare for the Homeless Council on topics including:
  • Developing and supporting consumer leadership
  • Consumer engagement recruitment and retention
  • Integrating CHWs into Clinical Practice
  • Consumer empowerment