Wake County is excited to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting Black excellence in our community and among our staff.
Throughout the month of February, we'll be sharing personal profiles of Wake County leaders who truly embody what it means to honor diversity, inclusion and equity in service.
Today's Celebrating Black Excellence profile features DaQuanta Copeland, vice chair of the Wake County Health & Human Services Board.
Additional profiles will be added throughout the month, so be sure to check back often for more insights on Black excellence in our community.
DaQuanta Copeland
DaQuanta Copeland is a mother, grandmother, community organizer and advocate, president of local non-profit youth and family organization, and also serves as vice-chair for the Wake County Health and Human Services Board. In this role, DaQuanta strives to improve economic mobility in areas including (but not limited to) affordable housing, ending gentrification and police accountability. Her leadership approach focuses on inclusive communication and creating healthy and strong communities. She has demonstrated her ongoing commitment to the community with her 20 years of advocacy work, which spans from nonprofit to educational, familial and juvenile justice work.
In all, DaQuanta makes a conscious choice to do the work that it takes to build and sustain change. She empowers her community as an active and willing member to ignite the change that she wants folks around her to experience and embody. Most importantly, she is a woman who loves the Lord and allows her faith to guide her in all that she does.
Q & A – Getting to Know You
What does Black excellence mean to you?
Black excellence is a mindset and lifestyle. Believing, Dreaming, Seeing and Creating opportunities beyond the box that Black Americans are put in. Knowing that to some, my skin color would be feared as a weapon. To some, my skin color could mean I’m automatically inadequate. But Still I Rise! Never allowing the systemic barriers that are constantly placed to overshadow my strengths, my knowledge, my capabilities or my dreams.
Black excellence to me is, when I enter into a room, I make sure the door doesn’t close behind me. As I walk on the path that my ancestors paved, I will make sure to leave my footprints in the sand so that others will know the way while creating the opportunity of change now.
What would you tell your 15-year-old self?
Embrace every talent you discover. Work towards every goal you set because nothing beats a failure but a try. You are beautiful, you are gifted, you are powerful, and you will be great. Love those that love you and pray for those that don’t. Your trials are bigger lessons that will create greater blessings.
What was the last song you heard and/or book you read?
A current book that I’m reading is Strongman’s His Name….What’s His Game? by Drs. Jerry & Carol Robeson.
Gospel Song(s): My Portion by Jekalyn Carr, Melodies from Heaven by Kirk Franklin
What is a quote that resonates with you?
“Be so great at what you do that your presence can’t be dismissed.” (Oprah Winfrey)
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of allowing God’s love and respect to reflect through my life. Allowing God’s presence to bring light into dark places, allowing love and respect to govern through the way I interact with everyone.
How can folks connect to you?
I am available by email quancopeland2012@gmail.com or phone 919-278-8813.
