Show notes
In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Chevelle Davis shares what it looks like to tell the truth and stand ten toes down on it — in academia, in policy spaces, and in public health systems that often reward silence over honesty. This is a conversation about courage, power, and accountability — about land and responsibility, professionalism and whiteness, data-to-action work, and what becomes possible when we stop window dressing equity and start living it. Meet Chevelle Davis, MPH Chevelle Davis was born and raised on O'ahu and calls the ahupua'a of Hono'uli'uli home. As the oldest of six in a blended family, she values time spent traveling, sharing 'ono food, watching movies, and making memories with family, friends, and her cat Cleo. Grounded in a public health background and a deep commitment to anti-racism and equity, Chevelle works to advance policies that support women and their families across Hawai'i. Her work centers on community-driven, anti-racist, and justice-informed approaches to addressing the social, structural, political, and colonial determinants of health, through research and government affairs. Chevelle holds a BA and MPH in Health Policy and is working on her PhD in Public Health from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. She is also an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholars program, focused on driving systemic change through research, policy, and community partnerships. Conversation Highlights "Professionalism" and who it protects — Chevelle names an unpopular truth: professionalism often means "what is acceptable to whiteness," and asking where those norms come from is exactly what disrupts the status quo. Performative land acknowledgements — She talks about why acknowledgements can feel hollow without follow-through, and what kuleana (responsibility) means in a place that's treated like a vacation destination. Data-to-action over paywalled research — As a state-level lobbyist and researcher, Chevelle challenges the cycle of research that confirms what we already know—only to be buried behind journals and written away from the public. Good trouble as a public health practice — From the RWJF Health Policy Research Scholars Program to her own leadership style, she frames courage as honesty, authenticity, and being "the person who says the thing." Authenticity isn't equally safe — Chevelle names how "bring your authentic self" is often a lie in workplaces, because for Black, Brown, and Indigenous women, authenticity can be physically, psychologically, and economically unsafe. "To say that with your full chest and to stand ten toes down on that." — Chevelle Davis, MPH Stay in Touch With Chevelle Davis, MPHLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmadavis-mph-b507ba54/ With Dr. Kristi McClamrochLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ Website: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 Public Health Consulting to Support You We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design workshops and facilitated sessions that help women leaders recognize, strengthen, and intentionally use courage as an organizational skill — especially in times of uncertainty, burnout, and systems under strain. If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we'd love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn or through our website.