Beaumont Alumna Spotlight: Da'na Langford '99

Da’na Langford ’99 has a passion for serving underserved populations. She has been a practicing Certified Nurse Midwife for the last 10 years and is the co-founder and CEO of the Village of Healing. The community development organization offers life skills training, professional development, mentorship, educational opportunities, and financial literacy counseling. Through these services, individuals and families are provided life enhancing skills to ensure equity in the community.

Da’na has recently returned to Beaumont as a generous donor and club moderator. We had the chance to catch up with Da’na and she had much to share.

We are delighted to have you back at Beaumont! Tell us what you have been involved in?

I knew that I wanted to give back and help black students benefit from a Beaumont education. I, along with a group of alums, founded BHS Black Alumni Association, a group dedicated to raising scholarship funds for deserving African American students at Beaumont and Benedictine High School. So far, we have assisted a handful of students with tuition, supplied Chromebooks and helped with school lunches.

This year I have stepped in as the moderator of FAME (Females Achieving Minority Excellence) which is a student club that celebrates minority excellence and multicultural education. FAME members are dedicated to the task of community building, exceptional leadership, active faith, and empowering one another through their high school career at Beaumont.

In addition, I have assisted with the Show Up Program over the summer to open the dialogue about race at Beaumont. I wanted to share my own experience and how it has shaped my current work in social justice. I have also participated in Career Day and shared my experiences as a black female entrepreneur.

What prompted you to get involved with Beaumont School again?

It was important to me to lift up and share with young black students that their voices matter and I want students to see their potential. During high school, it’s easy to not see the benefits but the foundation is being built. Ninety percent of my Beaumont friendship circle is women who have earned their Master’s degree. I want this model to be the norm, not the exception, for future Beaumont students.

What values/skills do you feel are most important for young people to learn when it comes to anti-racism and social justice work?

I want young people to learn to value open communication, especially when it may be uncomfortable. “Embrace the uncomfortable and appreciate those differences” is my mantra. We must respect where people come from based on an education of our differences.

What did your experience at Beaumont teach you about anti-racism and social justice?

Mr. Crawford, my world history teacher, allowed me to ask questions and created an environment where we could ask “Why is that?”. Allowing for an open discussion, helped create in me the desire to speak my mind and build my confidence. The race relations at Beaumont were not perfect but by reflecting on my experience, I have come to value the importance of my education. I want current students to see fellow successful black women that they can look up to and relate to.

What do you hope to see happen at Beaumont School in terms of anti-racism/social justice in the coming years?

I’d like to see a continued effort towards open dialogue in the Beaumont community through a willingness to get uncomfortable. I hope that my involvement in FAME and Show Up will allow me the opportunities to engage with the students to share the importance of open communication. In addition, I believe a black history course and further anti-racism training should be available for all students and faculty. The best way to improve race relations is to understand and hear each other’s perspectives. This can only be achieved through education and open communication.

Original Article: https://www.beaumontschool.org/news/2021/04/15/beaumont-news-winterspring-2021-frontline-heroes-living-dynamic-adaptability