Meet Davante Jennings-Townsend of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Davante Jennings-Townsend.

Hi Davante, 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?
Davante Jennings: The Story of a Builder, a Believer, and a Bridge

Davante Jennings was born in Huntsville, Alabama — a place that taught him early about strength, faith, and community. Raised to understand both struggle and purpose, he saw how systems could fail people who looked like him, but also how leadership could change lives. Those lessons planted the seed for a life built on service and vision.

When Davante came to Georgia, he didn’t just step into a new state — he stepped into a calling. He found community through organizing, through conversation, and through action. Every room he entered, he carried the same belief: that young people, especially young Black men, deserve to see themselves in positions of power, purpose, and pride.

That belief led him to rebuild what many had counted out. As Chairman of the Young Democrats of Georgia Black Caucus, Davante took what was once dormant and turned it into the most active and visible caucus in the state. He revived the Clayton County Young Democrats and helped elect Donya Sartor as the first Black woman mayor of Jonesboro — a testament to what happens when vision meets organizing.

His leadership didn’t stop there. Elected as President of the Young Democrats of Georgia, Davante began shaping a new blueprint for what youth leadership could look like — building YDG University, launching the Alumni & Associates network, and fighting for a young people’s agenda that made space for rural voices, student voices, and working-class Georgians alike. Every idea was bigger than a title; it was about leaving the organization stronger than he found it.

At the same time, Davante took his organizing to the national stage as Youth Organizing Director for Men4Choice, building bridges between men and the reproductive justice movement. He believed that liberation is a collective effort — that men must show up, speak up, and stand up for the rights of women and gender-expansive people. From cigar nights to community tables, he turned conversations into culture change.

But behind every title, there’s a deeper drive. Davante is a husband and a father — a man who almost lost his wife during childbirth and came out of that moment more grounded than ever in gratitude and purpose. His daughter, Nyla, became his reason — a reminder that the world he’s fighting to build must be one where she can walk freely, dream boldly, and lead fully.

Now, Davante stands at the intersection of legacy and future — a bridge between generations, between movements, between what Georgia is and what it can be. His story isn’t about politics for politics’ sake. It’s about power — shared power, built power, sustained power.

Because at every step, one truth remains clear:
Davante Jennings doesn’t just want to make change. He wants to build the people who will carry it forward.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I made plenty of mistakes, been embarassed but I learned a lot from it all.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a community builder and political organizer who focuses on developing young leaders and helping everyday people see their power in action.
I currently serve as President of the Young Democrats of Georgia and Youth Organizing Director for Men4Choice, where I specialize in creating programs that bring young people — especially young Black men — into spaces where their voices matter, their ideas are respected, and their leadership is developed.

I’m known for taking things that were once dormant and turning them into something powerful. When I became Chair of the YDG Black Caucus, I rebuilt it into the largest and most active caucus in the state. When I stepped into the presidency, I created initiatives like YDG University and YDG Alumni & Associates to give young Democrats real training, connections, and opportunities to grow. I’ve also led national-level organizing work through Men4Choice — connecting men to the reproductive justice movement in ways that are real, cultural, and rooted in accountability.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just organize for events — I organize for people. I see leadership as something you build from the ground up, through relationships, trust, and vision. I’ve built a reputation for uniting people across differences, creating spaces that feel like family, and turning talk into tangible impact.

I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to turn my story — growing up as a young Black man searching for belonging — into purpose. I’ve used that journey to build communities that show others they belong too. Whether it’s helping elect the first Black woman mayor of Jonesboro, mentoring young organizers, or helping fathers show up for reproductive rights — my work always comes back to one thing: leaving people and places better than I found them.

What makes you happy?
I enjoy smoking cigars and going to festivals with my family

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @davantejennings
• Facebook: @davanteatl