By Jarquita Brown

Seattle’s Southend has always been more than just a place for Jerrell Davis, it’s a cornerstone of his identity. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Jerrell’s life is a testament to the power of staying rooted while pushing boundaries. This multifaceted artist, also known as Rell Be Free, has dedicated his life to uplifting his community while blending artistry, education, and transforming the lives of youth to foster a legacy of hope and resilience. With roots in Los Angeles and a lineage that extends through the Central District, his family’s legacy has provided him with a rich heritage that has shaped him to be the person he is today. Jerrell said, “My parents have always encouraged me to advocate for myself. They built a strong foundation for me and my sister, and we are a very tight knit family.” Owing it all to his parents, Gregory and Shawn Davis, who are also known in the community, created a safe environment for him that allowed him to nurture his talents and instill in him the confidence to be the leader he is and to pursue his dreams.

Jerrell’s academic journey led him to Seattle Pacific University, where he double majored in Sociology and Business Administration with a concentration in Economics. But his story began at Zion Preparatory Academy, where he experienced an environment filled with Black administrators, teachers, and classmates. Jerrell reflected, “I really credit that space with building a life of confidence in who I am as I started to explore the world.” From Zion to Aki Kurose Middle School, this is where Jerrell begins to gain more self independence, also where he begin to face some harsh realities of life, including the tragic loss of a friend in the seventh grade, which prompted him to really ‘open [his] eyes to where [he] wasn’t a little kid anymore.’ Jerrell expressed, “I enjoyed my time at Aki. I got into some trouble, but I also started to gain pride for being from the Southend.”

His high school journey at O’Dea, an all-boys Catholic school, exposed him to a predominately white academic environment for the first time. Despite the challenges, he thrived, learning to navigate differences and advocating for himself along the way. He said, “I feel like O’Dea was the place where I began to find my voice.” Embracing his creativity, Jerrell delved into music and spoken word during these formative years. The Southend was a canvas for his artistic growth, where he participated in open mic nights that honed his stage presence. “We started doing open mic nights in the neighborhood when I was 15. That really set my stage
presence to just take it off,” he recalls, showcasing how his community played a pivotal role in his development as an artist. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University, Jerrell embarked on a transformative journey to Guatemala that expanded his worldview. “That really changed my life,” he reflects, embracing the ideals of lifelong learning and community engagement. This journey ultimately led to him serving as the Transformation Strategist at Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC) and working with the youth in the neighborhood.

The Role of a Transformation Strategist and Working with Youth While Jerrell’s journey has taken him far and wide, he remains deeply connected to Seattle’s Southend. Equipped with a passion for working with young people, he dedicated his post-college career to coaching and teaching basketball, sharing his love for the game with students across Seattle. “Working with young people has always been a big passion of mine,” he affirms, showcasing his commitment to empowering the next generation. “It’s an honor working with young people, it’s beautiful.” As the Transformation Strategist at RBAC, Jerrell channels his passion for empowering young people into restorative justice initiatives that create meaningful change in the neighborhood. His work involves fostering environments where youth feel seen, heard, and supported, while also addressing systemic barriers that disproportionately affect them.

Through RBAC, he works with young people to explore restorative practices, through circle keeping and providing support to the Youth and Neighborhood Engagement (YNE) Program. All of the practices implemented in this work equips youth with tools and resources they need to navigate life challenges and advocate for themselves. “Doing circles and incorporating certain elements of the work literally came from a young person. They came up with this idea, and we turned it into something that everybody does,” said Jerrell. He was also candid about the challenges that come with working with youth. YATTAS are between the ages 14 and 24 at RBAC, and Jerrell has watched many of them turn from teens to adults. Jerrell said, “I’ve known many of the youth we worked with since they were 14, and now they are 22. You have to reorient your relationship with them because they are not kids anymore. At some point they may have been somewhat reliant on you, and when you start to shift and change that relationship with them, because you are changing, and they are changing, especially in that YATTA stage, things become different.”

At RBAC, the transformation strategist has adapted his role to meet the needs of the community. He expressed what it is like juggling multiple responsibilities at once, but also recognized the importance of celebrating the work amidst being in a busy atmosphere. “Sometimes it feels like things don’t get celebrated enough, and I just have to move on to the next thing. I feel like the point of my role is really just for me to be myself in all of these
different spaces, whether it’s on the food justice team or with the executive team,” he said. “Overall, I get to learn from our young people, seeing their passions, their ideas. I feel like at RBAC, we have created space for people’s ideas to turn into the real thing. It’s so cool that lifelong learning is one of the four branches, and I still consider myself a lifelong learner,” added Jerrell. Reflecting on his journey, Jerrell shared a quote from the movie Ghost in the Shell: “Change occurs in dynamic environments.” He said, “At RBAC we strive to create a dynamic environment, and change will happen, and we can shape it.” Drawing inspiration from American science fiction author Octavia Butler, Jerrell asserted, “We can shape change.”

This interview has been edited and condensed. Learn more about Jerrell and his role as
Transformation Strategist by visiting rbcoalition.org.

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