Meet Octavia Y. Lewis | Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer at Destination Tomorrow

We had the good fortune of connecting with Octavia Y. Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Octavia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is all I ever known being a Black Women of Transgender Experience. It’s a risk getting up and exiting my home navigating spaces that were not created, designed or implemented with me in mind. I took a risk 12 years ago when I purchased a one-way Amtrak ticket to NYC. I had nowhere to live or any financial means, but I was destined to make it. Fast forward to now, I have two children, a new home we just purchased, and the rest of our story is yet to be determined.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am the chief advocacy and policy officer at Destination Tomorrow. I am responsible for the branding and image of the organization, building relationships with local leaders and CBOs and ensuring that the community is aware of the services offered at the center. I identify as an African American woman of Transgender experience. I’m originally from Georgia but lived in New York before relocating back to Atlanta to join the Destination Tomorrow team and help spearhead the opening of the Atlanta center. I knew from experience the lack of resources for the LGBTQ+ community and especially for Transgender/Gender Non-conforming individuals of color. Prior to Destination Tomorrow, I worked as a Transgender health coordinator, working with young members of the community and getting people prepared for gender-affirming surgeries.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If someone was to come visit me here in Atlanta I would take them to this soul food restaurant called the Beautiful. Then I would take them to some spots that are locally cultivated to really get a feel of the city and it’s diversity.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout my mentor, Avery Wyatt, MPH. Avery has inspired me and continues to inspire me to do the work that I do, teaching me that, “people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care”.

Website: https://destinationtomorrow.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinationtomorrow452/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dest2morrow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinationTomorrow1