by Sally Sapega

DaVeda Graham, a nurse practitioner who lives in Drexel Hill, recently joined the Board of Directors of Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC). DaVeda brings a wealth of experience in healthcare and community-building to the role.

DaVeda explains why serving on DCLC’s Board seemed like a good fit: “I’m big on educating, especially in health literacy. If you’re not literate, it’s difficult to advocate for yourself or be involved with your care. DCLC is about empowerment and helping people change their lives for a better future.”

DaVeda adds, “Also, when my mom was younger, she worked at LaSalle University, running the GED programs. And I want to help further that.”

DaVeda has been a nurse for thirteen years and a nurse practitioner for the last six years. She calls nursing “a fortunate detour” in her life.

“I went to Philadelphia High School for girls and wanted to become a doctor, but I became a mom early. Twenty five years ago it was hard to be empowered when you were a single mom. Looking back, though, this turned out to be a fortunate detour for me. Nursing still kept me in the sciences and allowed me to help patients. This was exactly the path I needed to take.”

As a nurse practitioner, with formal training in primary care and public health, DaVeda is passionate about providing care for underserved populations and bridging gaps found in today’s healthcare environment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she saw these gaps both in Philadelphia and Delaware County. As a result of her experiences, DaVeda started Nurses United for Change and Equity, a nonprofit that focuses on disparities in healthcare, with an initial emphasis on providing COVID-19 vaccines to those in Delaware County who may not have had easy access to them.

Her first step was to get authorization as a COVID-19 vaccination provider. Next, she organized vaccination clinics at a variety of locations, including a firehouse in Drexel Hill, the Folcroft municipal building, nursing homes, and Chester High School’s football and basketball games. She is excited at the prospect of seeing her nonprofit grow and expand its reach.

DaVeda is also excited about being involved with DCLC and its mission of helping adults develop reading, writing, math and English language skills to thrive in the workplace and the community. “I have so many ideas!” says DaVeda. “I thought about having career days, showing people how to dress, how to get their resumes prepared. We could do mock interviews and talk to them about how to communicate effectively. It’s a life skill that will stay with them for the course of their careers. I’d like to become a mentor to people who have similar backgrounds to me, give them encouragement and help them get through barriers that I didn’t know about when I was younger.”

Clearly, DaVeda Graham has the drive, the empathy, and the skills to have a big impact on DCLC and its students. We welcome her to DCLC’s Board of Directors.

You also may be interested in these stories from February/March 2022 DCLC News & Notes.

—DCLC Offers Free Employment Services and Digital Literacy to Community Members
—Trauma-Informed Practices Help Adult Learners Succeed