Meet Dominique! Our Community Engagement Champion
Dominique Smith plays many roles within her community. In addition to being a wife, mom of three, and working full time, she also volunteers as a youth mentor, serves on the board of Guided Pathways (a nonprofit that provides parenting classes and mental health services to youth), and facilitates mindfulness sessions as a part of Seattle Children's Mindfulness & Compassion Program. Her background as a special education para educator and Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Administration also inform her work.
Dominique joined the CoLab team in May 2022 as a Continuing Education Specialist. Since then, she’s been one of the leading forces behind our CARE for Kids & Families community outreach efforts. Dominique recently shared a bit about her personal connection to the CARE project and why she’s motivated to help increase access to culturally responsive mental healthcare.
“The pandemic has shined a brighter light on several different health disparities in the Black community.”
What drives you to do this work?
DS: The pandemic has shined a brighter light on several different health disparities in the Black community. One of the barriers my family has personally experienced is lack of appropriate access. It’s been challenging having to wait months and for some even longer to receive behavioral healthcare. Offering free mental health services would be lifechanging for our youth and families.
What speaks to you about CARE?
DS: I’m honored to be part of the CARE project because it enables me to contribute to the wellbeing of our youth’s mental health. As a mother of three children, unfortunately they haven’t ever had the opportunity to be treated by providers of color. Representation of providers will help to remove some of the cultural barriers to healthcare and to lift the mental health stigma. I’m delighted to be part of a project that is transparent every step of the way and community led.
Through CARE, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with several different local organizations and learning about the impactful work they currently do by serving our youth and families. It has been exciting to meet with local BIPOC providers that I never knew existed. This is inspiring and I’m hopeful that, with this initiative, providers are encouraged to continue serving our community and we’re able to put an end to the shortage of providers. Mental health is important at all stages of life. Asking our youth to give input during the CARE design process will help them learn to advocate for their needs and continue to do so through adulthood.”
“Mental health is important at all stages of life.”
Fun Facts About Dominique
Dominique & her family hiking the Garfield Ledges trail
Q: Name of your first pet?
DS: I had the cutest yorkie named Rambo Smith!
Q: Favorite thing to do during the summer?
DS: Go outdoors, hike, or visit different state parks.
Q: Last meal you ate at a restaurant?
DS: I ate at The Boiling Crawfish and had the Cajun crab boil that came with snow crab, crawfish, mussels, shrimp, clams, scallops, corn, and potatoes in garlic butter sauce. It was delicious!
Q: If you could be any animal what would you be and why?
DS: I would be an elephant because they’re smart, excellent leaders, they have a incredible amount of strength, and are loyal and well respected.
Q: What's your favorite holiday?
DS: Definitely Christmas. I love creating new traditions with my family, decorating, and wearing matching pajamas on Christmas Eve.
Q: What is your favorite scent?
DS: Lavender! It relaxes and brings a calmness to me.
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We at CoLab are so grateful to have Dominique on our team! If you’d like to learn more about her work or reach out to discuss the CARE project, you can reach her at dosmith@uw.edu.
To learn more about CARE for Kids & Families, visit uwcolab.org/CARE.