As Democracy Prep celebrates 20 years of educating responsible citizen scholars, we are also celebrating the people whose stories have become part of our own.
Through our Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself series, we are highlighting members of the Democracy Prep community who began one chapter with us, took what they learned into the world, and ultimately found their way back home.
For Orin Davis, that story began in 2019 at Democracy Prep Pathways. What started as his first role as a paraprofessional grew into something much bigger: a community that challenged him, invested in him, and helped shape the educator and leader he would become.
Now, Orin is back for another chapter, bringing with him the relationships, lessons, and commitment to young people that have remained at the center of his journey all along.
We sat down with Orin to talk about where his story began, what brought him back, and what he hopes to contribute to Democracy Prep’s next chapter.
Q: If you were reintroducing yourself to the Democracy Prep community today, what would you want scholars, families, staff, and alumni to know about you beyond your role?
A: I’m born and raised in the Bronx, and from a young age, I’ve always had a passion for supporting and uplifting young people.
One of my earliest and most meaningful experiences was supporting the youth choir at my church. That experience showed me just how much I enjoyed being there for young people, encouraging them, and helping them grow.
That love for supporting youth has stayed with me throughout my journey and continues to shape the work I do today.
Q: What was your first chapter with Democracy Prep, and what do you remember most about that time?
A: My first chapter at Democracy Prep began in 2019, when I joined Democracy Prep Pathways as a paraprofessional.
I remember being pretty nervous at first because it was my first time working as a para, especially coming from Starbucks. But I took on the challenge head on and gave it my best.
After a few months, I shared with Willie Gould that I wanted to become a Dream Coach. About a year and a half later, that is exactly what I became. From there, I continued to grow, learn, and develop in the role.
Q: When you left Democracy Prep, what experiences, relationships, or lessons from your time here stayed with you?
A: What stayed with me most were the relationships I had built over the years, with colleagues, families, and, most importantly, our scholars.
Even after I transitioned away from Democracy Prep, I continued checking in on scholars, colleagues, and families because those relationships meant something to me. Leaving the organization did not mean leaving the people behind. I still wanted to support them in whatever ways I could.
Q: What did you learn or experience during your time away that shaped the person and professional who returned?
A: One of the biggest things I carried with me was an understanding of just how impactful the community Democracy Prep has built really is.
The lessons, experiences, and wisdom I gained from some of the best people in education helped shape who I am professionally. They gave me knowledge and confidence that I was able to carry with me wherever I went.
Time away gave me an even greater appreciation for what I had learned here and for the people who invested in my growth.
Q: What made you want to come back to Democracy Prep for another chapter?
A: The community.
The love and support here are unwavering. I built genuine relationships and found family at Democracy Prep, relationships that go far beyond the four walls of a school building.
When you find a community that feels like family, coming back just feels right.
Q: When you returned, what immediately felt familiar, and what felt different from the Democracy Prep you remembered?
A: The love and energy immediately felt familiar. The commitment to shaping and supporting our scholars was still there.
What felt different was seeing so many new faces and meeting people who were not part of my first chapter. But that did not change how connected I felt to the community.
I remember choosing to travel more than an hour to Harlem rather than drive 10 minutes in Brooklyn because being part of the Democracy Prep community meant that much to me. That decision alone said a lot about what DP still meant to me.
Q: How has your relationship with the Democracy Prep mission evolved since your first chapter here?
A: My relationship with the Democracy Prep mission has grown deeper and more intentional.
I make it a point to continuously revisit the mission and think about how I can authentically bring it into my role. It is not just about knowing the words. It is about asking myself how I can live the mission every day, how my work contributes to it, and how I can continue getting better at doing that.
Q: What has made your return feel like a true homecoming?
A: Seeing Ms. Maine on the first day of my interview.
The love and support she poured into me before I left Democracy Prep, and even while I was away, always stayed with me. Seeing her again reminded me that some relationships and connections do not fade just because you take a different path for a while.
That moment made coming back feel like a true homecoming.
Q: What would you say to a former Democracy Prep staff member or alumnus who is considering coming back?
A: I would remind them what family really looks like.
It is the unselfishness of individuals, the love within the community, and the dedication that exists across Democracy Prep.
Of course, every organization and every school will face challenges. What makes Democracy Prep unique is how we prepare for those challenges and, more importantly, how we respond to them together.
Q: As Democracy Prep celebrates its 20th anniversary, what do you hope to contribute during this chapter, and what are you most excited about as we look ahead?
A: I’m most excited about starting the year from day one and helping create that warm, welcoming feeling for our families, scholars, and staff.
I’m looking forward to building strong relationships, creating meaningful experiences, and having an impactful year.
Most importantly, I’m excited to help educate and develop responsible citizen scholars who are prepared to make an impact in their communities and beyond.
Orin’s return to Democracy Prep is more than a professional homecoming. It is a reminder of the kind of community we have spent 20 years building, one where relationships endure, growth continues, and sometimes the people who leave carry a piece of Democracy Prep with them until their path leads them home again.
As we celebrate where we have been and look toward everything still ahead, stories like Orin’s remind us that Democracy Prep’s legacy lives not only in our schools, but in the people who continue choosing this community, its mission, and its scholars.
This is Orin Davis, reintroduced. And this is another chapter in Democracy Prep’s story.