Meet Daniel Downer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Downer. 

Hi Daniel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a Ministry Kid in a conservative Christian household. The majority of early childhood and adolescent years were spent heavily involved in various church activities, in particular leading the Music and Youth Ministries at the church where my parents were Ministry leaders. In full transparency, I always skip over talking about my early childhood and adolescent years because they were some of the most difficult times in my life. I was coming into the early parts of my Queerness and that was hard to navigate in such a conservative space like church and even more difficult being the child of Ministry leaders. According to the church I attended at that time, it was an abomination to be who I was and if I continued to be who I was I would be part of the “Second Resurrection” and when judged by God would be cast into the lake of fire. I underwent conversion therapy that included emotional, physical, and verbal trauma to “save me” but it only put me into a dark and deep depression. I am not going to go into all the details because I honestly don’t want this to be the focus of my story but as things became worse, I found myself in need of sanctuary, and going off to college was the only way I could escape and truly be free from the hurt and pain I was experiencing but also free to find myself. 

I attended a private liberal arts college outside of Atlanta called Oglethorpe University. where I received my B.A. in African American Studies and Music Education (Choral). While in college I worked as a Family Center Support Coordinator for an organization and homeless shelter in Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Task Force For The Homeless better known as “Peachtree & Pine.” Recipients of the programs and services we provided included LGBTQ+ individuals and Persons Living with HIV. While I worked at Metro Atlanta Task Force For The Homeless I began the difficult work of acknowledging and unlearning a lot of the bias, discrimination, and stigma I had regarding LGBTQ+ individuals and Persons Living with HIV. I had grown up thinking that these individuals were an abomination, perverts, sexual deviants, and sick. That HIV could be transmitted through a hug, kiss, sharing a cup. But I was so wrong. These individuals were and still are some of the most beautiful, caring, kind, healthy, loving, smart people I know. They were the ones that clothed me, feed me, embraced me, and never judged me. They became my chosen family and educated me how HIV is not transmitted through a hug, or saliva, or sweat, or tears. How important it is to get an HIV screening 1 -2 times a year and for those living with HIV, the importance of getting into care, and how if you take your HIV medications as prescribed you can become undetectable when means you can not transmit HIV to your partner(s) during sexual intercourse. During my time at Peachtree & Pine I did the work of checking my own internalized HIV stigma, homophobia, and toxic masculinity as I was coming in more and more into my Queerness. As began to do so and reflect on my own life experiences I realized that my calling was to be an activist, advocate, and champion for the advancement and equity of Black gay, bisexual, and queer men including those living with HIV. 

I went back to college, this time to the University of Central Florida where I received my B.A. in Social Work and Sociology and found myself at a community organization, Place of Comfort Inc. in Seminole County, FL assisting individuals access programs and services like Medicaid, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. It was such a wonderful experience of being able to help those most marginalized in the Orlando-Kissimmee- Sanford Metropolitan area and was the foundation in helping me recognize what transformative impact looks like. I went on to work for various  HIV/AIDS providers in the Orlando area before recognizing there was a serious lack of cultural appropriateness and humility when it came to organizations educating and engaging Black gay, bisexual, and queer men in the Orlando-Kissimmee- Sanford Metropolitan area around HIV Care and Prevention. This is what motivated me to create my organization, The Bros in Convo Initiative under the financial guidance and sponsorship of Miracle of Love Inc. The Bros in Convo Initiative is a Black, Queer lead community organization in Orlando, FL providing lack gay, bisexual, queer, and same gender loving (GBQ/SGL) ages 18 – 35 in Central Florida with capacity building, community resources, emotion, and mind wellness, health education, life skills building, linkage to HIV/STI prevention and treatment services, and peer support. 

I am truly proud to serve as Executive Director and even more proud of the hard work and heart work that my staff and myself are doing in Central Florida to build community, promote and protect health equity, but more importantly transform the lives of the young men who access and utilized our programs and services. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! I have been sharing this more and more with the young men at The Bros in Convo Initiative about how my lived experiences have truly allowed me to understand some of the hardships they experience and also be a beacon of hope for them. I know what it is like being homeless. I know what it is like to have gone days with nothing to eat. I know what it is like being constantly judged because of a foolish mistake you made when you were younger. I know what it is like to experience discrimination and racism in the workplace. These experiences were painful, they were uncomfortable, and at the moment seemed like the end but I am still here, I am still thriving, and that is a true testament to what does not kill does indeed make you stronger. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As Executive Director of The Bros in Convo Initiative, my responsibilities include building the organization’s capacity to implement new programming, program evaluation, leadership development, and rapid response to community needs. I also lead the formation of new strategic partnerships and am part of the driving force behind the organization securing new resources and funding to continue to build and sustain in alignment with its mission and vision. I also am an Associate Facilitator for the Equality Institute, a boutique DEI firm based in Chicago.  I work with a portfolio of clients to provide relevant, impactful, and comprehensive solutions to their businesses, corporations, and/or organizations to help build and strengthen their strategy to infuse diversity and inclusion into the culture, enhancing outcomes for everyone. 

Think there was a question here along the lines of “What are you most known for?”
I am probably known for being the guy with the glasses and kufi hats. Just kidding! I would say I am known for combining my lived experience with my educational and professional expertise to not only lead community conversations but create movement in addressing diversity, equity, health equity, HIV, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ issues not only locally but nationally. And maybe receiving a GLAAD Award, honored as one of Centra Florida’s Most Remarkable Persons, this year’s Orlando Trailblazer at the annual Harvey Milk Breakfast & LGBT+ Center Diversity Awards. 

What are you most proud of?
I am proud of The Bros in Convo Initiative’s growth as an organization since its inception back in 2017. I am proud of the impact I am making in ensuring meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion is throughout Central Florida’s nonprofit ecosystem. But what I am most proud of are the Black gay, bisexual, queer men in Central Florida who DM me, email me, or walk up and tell me how my staff and I have inspired them and transformed their lives. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
One of the things I can say that is not new to myself or my organization is the concept of mutual aid. We have been consistently for years cooperatively with individuals and organizations to meet the needs of everyone in the community. In fact, during the COVID pandemic and racial unrest in 2020, as a member of the Central Florida LGBTQ Mutual Aid Network alongside Contigo Fund, One Orlando Alliance, The LGBT Center Orlando, and QLatinx launched the Central Florida LGBTQ+ COVID Relief Fund to support those most marginalized in this crisis: LGBTQ+ individuals, undocumented individuals, and BIPOC. The network also launched, the Organizing for All Black Lives Fund is dedicated to funding Black LGBTQ+ groups and efforts in Central Florida particularly those led by and for Black transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender nonbinary community and sex workers. However, the concept of mutual aid is new to some and so I do feel that there will be more attention and emphasis put on mutual aid as it relates to community organizations and also philanthropic partners. 

I also think there will be more emphasis on meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion. If last year showed us anything it was that there is a lot of work still to be done to ensure that nonprofit ecosystems are truly diverse and inclusive. My organization and I have been doing some work around this for some time and recently in partnership with Alliance One Consulting, Central Florida Foundation, Central Florida Urban League, Graham Leak Branding, Leadership Orlando, Polis, Valencia Peace & Justice institute, and Wells Fargo formed an Advisory Council are working on the development of a Center for Inclusive Leadership’ curriculum and program facilitation that will offer board member training, facilitate board member seat invitations, and train local non-profits to ensure they create an inclusive atmosphere where minority leaders have a voice at the table, not just a seat on the roster. I think just like mutual aid, there will be a huge emphasis on how community organizations and nonprofit ecosystems are ensuring meaningful diversity, equity, and inclusion on all levels. 

Contact Info:

• Email: executivedirector@brosinconvo.org
• Website: https://www.danieljdowner.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniel.j.downer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downer.j.daniel
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielJDowner

Image Credits
J.D. Casto Photography