Dr. DaVonti’ Haynes, MSW, Ph.D.

Dr. DaVonti’ Haynes is an Emmy® Award-winning, dedicated scholar-practitioner focused on enhancing education and workforce opportunities in urban and rural communities, particularly in the Appalachian region. At Re/Val, he brings extensive experience in research, evaluation, and strategic community program development.

With a strong foundation in qualitative research, DaVonti’ specializes in understanding the experiences of youth—exploring pathways to college and career readiness, community engagement, and leadership development. He has led and co-led national and regional studies on youth disconnected from traditional education and employment systems, managed college success and workforce preparation initiatives, and facilitated advisory committees that connect research with practical solutions.

An educator and community-builder, DaVonti’ has taught at The Ohio State University and Temple University, published on education, workforce development, and social mobility, and presented at national and regional conferences. His work bridges practice and policy in education, employment, and community engagement to help organizations and communities design and implement effective programs that drive meaningful impact.

DaVonti’ holds a Ph.D. and master of science in Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership from The Ohio State University, along with a Master of Social Work and a B.A. in Public Policy.

Based in Philadelphia, beyond his professional work, DaVonti’ enjoys traveling and spending time with family. His commitment to research-based strategies and collaborative solutions makes him a trusted partner for organizations seeking to strengthen their programs and initiatives.

Select Past Projects

  • Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley Food Access Assessment
    This assessment evaluated the quality of food access and feasibility across the 23,000 square-mile Matanuska-Susitna Borough of Alaska.

  • Connecticut’s Unspoken Crisis: Elevating the Voices of Young People
    This research study examined the lived experiences of young people, aged 14-26, in Connecticut who were not connected to the workforce or education systems to explore the reasons behind their disconnection and interactions with other systems such as criminal justice, child welfare, housing, and healthcare.

  • A Hope Lights the Way Research Grant
    The Emmy® Award-winning documentary, A Hope That Lights The Way is both a community-based engagement process and a documentary that uplifts the impactful stories of people who have successfully overcome the numerous challenges posed by gun violence. By actively listening to community members and conducting focus group discussions with Black boys and men in Philadelphia, we’ve chronicled an ongoing narrative of progress and transformation. Shedding light on the leaders within local communities who are spearheading the development and preservation of hope, this documentary, in collaboration with Big Picture Alliance, JTWO Films, the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement, the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement, and Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs, prioritized building strong relationships between the City government and local organizations deeply invested in the well-being of Black boys and men. Recognizing the powerful legacy of community engagement among Philadelphia residents, we embrace our active role in reshaping the narrative about our neighborhoods and fostering a collective sense of empowerment.     Click here to view documentary trailer!

  • The Miseducation of Our Youth: A Qualitative Study Ascertaining the Lived Experiences of Urban and Appalachian Students
    Using a qualitative research multiple case study approach, this research project examined the academic and social experiences of urban and Appalachian college graduates from Ohio’s Urban Eight and Appalachian regions.

  • Ohio Extension Urban Counties Case Study Research Guidebook
    The size, diversity, and complexity of urban communities creates unique challenges for Land-Grant University Extension units. Focusing on developing an approach to addressing Ohio’s urban influence by strengthening cities and urban-rural connections, this guidebook supported Ohio State University Extension in its 2020-2025 planning.

  • Regional Campuses Collaborative Initiative
    This report summarized results from focus groups and interviews conducted with staff at The Ohio State University regarding the relationship and resource sharing between Ohio State Columbus campus and its 5 regional campuses, centered around programs and services offered by the Office of Student Life.

  • Ohio State University Extension Crowdsourcing Report: Community Development
    The purpose of this program review was to guide program development among Ohio State University Extension’s Community Development (CD) units over the next several years.

  • A Program Evaluation of the Mentor-A-Buckeye Program
    Established metrics and evaluated the effectiveness and success of the Mentor-A Buckeye program after the matriculation of its first cohort.

  • An Analysis of the Cleveland Plan
    Evaluated the effectiveness and success rate of the Cleveland Plan, based on metrics outlined by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Ohio Department of Education.

  • A Program Evaluation of a College Wraparound Support Service
    Examined and evaluated the benefits of a collegiate wraparound support service for students in an urban Ohio school district.

Select Program Development

  • The GroupChat: A Safe Philadelphia
    Addressing Philadelphia’s most critical challenges requires deliberate action and effort. Thus, bringing together youth, educational institutions, and community partners to meet new people, share their experiences and ideas, and spend time listening and learning from one another is a crucial step toward building understanding in these challenging times to create a brighter and safer Philadelphia. The Groupchat: A Safe Philadelphia is a space dedicated to engaging young people in a community-wide conversation about keeping Philadelphia safe, and providing them with access to resources from the city and local partners. Via open and intentional dialogue, partners co-host a series of discussions that highlight the importance of Gen-Z and Gen Alpha voices, voting, and youth civic engagement to empower youth to imagine what Philadelphia can accomplish and look like when we come together toward a common cause and work to establish a city where everyone has a voice and seat at the table.

  • Bridging the Gap
    Bridging the Gap is a highly interactive exploratory program designed to help facilitate growth and development in high school students’ career exploration. The program works to create a space where participants experience and learn the value of education and are able to understand the connection to future careers. Participants are exposed to the various career opportunities within their communities and the importance of the choices they make in high school, as it relates to their career trajectories.

  • BuckeyeREACH: COYC
    Buckeye R.E.A.C.H., which stands for Relationships and Education in Action through Community and Hope is a program designed to reduce recidivism among juveniles by working with incarcerated juveniles in Ohio. Through bi-weekly programming consisting of pin pal letter writing, book clubs and discussions, academic projects, and mentoring, participating youth are able to develop and refine essential life and educational skills needed for successful reentry.

  • Pathways:
    With the complexity of today's workforce combined with the increasing demands of 21st century skills, it has never been more imperative that our youth understand the importance of education and explore career options while developing skills to help them succeed in their future academic and career pursuits. Thus, Pathways: offers a unique experience for high school students to explore and learn about higher education institutions and alternative career pathways. The Pathways: program recognizes there are many paths to success, including four- and two-year colleges, trade and vocational programs, workforce development and many more options! Thus, through the Pathways: program we explore all of these amazing pathways with our students.

  • Mentor-A-Buckeye
    A four-year mentoring initiative, Mentor-A-Buckeye paired ninth graders from Columbus City Schools with an Ohio State University undergraduate student mentor and a community leader mentor. Mentor-A-Buckeye was designed to provide extraordinary experiences, to empower and motivate Columbus high school students and Ohio State undergraduate students- to challenge themselves to continuously improve, become civically engaged in their communities and succeed in their academic pursuits. Through a four year relationship. Most high school and college students participating in the program will ultimately graduate together.

  • A Day in the Life of a Buckeye
    A Day in the Life of a Buckeye is a program created to offer an individualized experience for urban and rural Ohio high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to experience life at The Ohio State University (and college in general), for a day. This visit, hosted by currently enrolled Ohio State students, includes attending classes, eating in campus-area dining facilities, visiting campus libraries and recreational facilities, attending student group meetings, seeing a residence hall room, and interacting with professors and university administrators. While the students are visiting Ohio State for the day, the program is not designed to recruit students to Ohio State, but instead to encourage them to attend and learn about college in general. Additionally, high school teachers and administrators are immersed in various professional development session throughout the day.

Select Training & Curriculum Development

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Online Motivational Interviewing Teaching Training Modules for National Diabetes Prevention Program

  • The Ohio State University | Adult-Youth Mentoring Training Modules for University-Community Engagement Partnerships