Da'Taeveyon Daniels
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Da'Taeveyon Daniels | |
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| Born | 2006 (age 18–19) Fort Worth, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rice University |
| Occupation | Student activist, Nonprofit leader, Policy advocate |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Organization | Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), Team ENOUGH, New Wave PAC |
| Title | Deputy Executive Director of SEAT, Director of Financial & Legal Affairs at New Wave PAC |
Da'Taeveyon Daniels is an American Student activist, nonprofit leader, policy advocate.
Early Life and Education
Da'Taeveyon Daniels was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He developed an early passion for youth civic engagement, political advocacy, and intellectual freedom. While in high school, he founded multiple student-led initiatives to combat censorship, advocate for education policy reforms, and support youth representation in policymaking.
In 2025, Daniels committed to Rice University, where he will major in Finance & Policy Analysis.
Activism and Leadership
Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT)
Daniels currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a nonprofit dedicated to increasing youth visibility in policymaking and legislative advocacy. In this role, he oversees strategic development, manages statewide advocacy initiatives, and supports leadership teams in civic engagement projects.
Previously, he served as SEAT’s Director of Partnerships & Development, where he built key alliances with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and policymakers to strengthen youth-led advocacy efforts.
Starting as a student organizer focusing on Book Banning in Texas schools, Daniels became an instrumental proponent of SEAT's efforts against HB 900 By State Representative Jared Paterson.
National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and Intellectual Freedom Work
Daniels has been an Advisory Council Member of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) since 2022, fighting against book bans and censorship in public schools and libraries. He also founded and led two Student Advocates for Speech (SAS) chapters, dedicated to protecting students’ First Amendment rights.
In recognition of his contributions, Daniels was named the Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair (2023), becoming a national voice for youth in the movement against censorship.
Diversify Our Narrative (DON) and Departure
From January to May 2024, Daniels served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Diversify Our Narrative (DON), a national youth-led nonprofit advocating for anti-racist education and curriculum reform. As COO, Daniels oversaw the organization’s strategic restructuring, managing a team of over 40 staff members across multiple departments, including finance, mobilization, and anti-racist curriculum development. Under his leadership, DON underwent a major financial and operational overhaul, increasing revenue in the first quarter of 2024.
However, Daniels’ tenure at DON ended abruptly in May 2024 following internal conflict within the organization. At a panel in North Carolina, he was asked why he decided to leave the nonprofit, to which he responded:
"I had to stand true to my belief in self-respect , fiscal integrity, and my interpretation of the law, which is why my contribution to helping expand that goliath of [an] organization ended so soon. Amazing people and a wonderful mission."
Following his departure, Daniels shifted his focus toward financial and policy leadership, including his role as Director of Financial & Legal Affairs at New Wave PAC and his continued advocacy through Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).
Political and Policy Leadership
Beyond nonprofit advocacy, Daniels is actively involved in political organizing and policy development:
- Director of Financial & Legal Affairs, New Wave PAC (2025–Present): Leads legal structuring, compliance, and financial management for a newly forming political action committee focused on progressive policy initiatives.
- Precinct 1251 Chair, Tarrant County Democratic Party (2024–Present): Oversees grassroots organizing, voter mobilization, and community engagement to increase Democratic participation.
Previously, Daniels was the Southwest Regional Director for the Youth Legislative Action Center (YLAC), where he empowered youth to engage in legislative processes across ten states. Leading a groundbreaking campaign to register High School seniors, effectively registering 4,000 across 10 states in 10 months.
Gun Violence Prevention Advocacy
Daniels joined Brady’s Team ENOUGH Executive Council (2024–Present), a youth-led movement dedicated to ending gun violence in the U.S. As a council member, he contributes to national organizing strategies, youth mobilization efforts, and legislative advocacy initiatives aimed at firearm policy reform.
Mental Health and Educational Equity
From 2023 to 2024, Daniels served as the Regional Director for North and South America at Minds Without Borders, overseeing mental health awareness initiatives across the two continents. Additionally, he worked as a Policy Consultant for Rutgers Law SchoolRutgers Law School|, contributing research on education equity and movement law scholarship.
In 2024, Daniels became an Advisory Board Member for the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, advising on civic engagement programming and youth leadership development.
Awards and Recognition
Daniels has received numerous awards for his leadership and advocacy:
- Sam G. Whitten Intellectual Freedom Award (2024) – Recognized by the Texas Library Association for his contributions to intellectual freedom and opposition to book bans.
- Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair (2023) – Nationally recognized advocate for the fight against censorship.
- Citizens & Scholars Youth Civic Solutions Winner (2024) – Honored for his leadership in civic engagement.
- GLAAD x Teen Vogue 20 Under 20 Rising Star (2024) – Named as a leading young activist shaping the future of advocacy.
Public Speaking and Media Presence
Daniels is a sought-after speaker on advocacy, youth leadership, policy, and intellectual freedom. His speaking engagements include:
- Freedom To Read Day of Action NYPL 2024– Speaker on youth activism and protecting the freedom to read.
- Asheville Ideas Fest 2024 – Speaker on civic engagement and youth activism in book banning.
- Unified JAM 2024 – Panelist discussing Book Banning.
- SEAT 2024 Program Speaker – Panelist on youth-led policy change.
- HHS Pride Summit Speaker – Discussing LGBTQ+ advocacy in Texas.
- Children’s Defense Fund ChildWatch23 Symposium – Featured panelist on youth rights and education equity.
- YASAL Program at ALA 2024 – Speaker on library censorship and youth advocacy.
- Education Future Fund Convening 2024 (January & December) – Leading discussions on policy solutions in education reform.
- South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 – Panelist on the rise of book bans and censorship.
- Northwestern University Law Review Symposium (2024) – Presenter on racial equity in education.
- Georgetown Law Symposium (2024) – Discussing student rights and education reform.
- Several Banned Books Week 2023 Programs – Featured speaker on censorship and free expression.
His work has been covered in publications such as American Libraries Magazine, School Library Journal, and Banned Books Week.
Personal Life
Daniels is an aspiring finance and policy expert, with interests in financial modeling, nonprofit development, and civic technology. He plans to leverage his expertise to reform financial and political structures that support youth-led organizations and progressive advocacy efforts.
References
External links
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