ITW David Speer Academy

About – Javon Smith

Javon J. Smith is a teacher, a servant leader, and community advocate. He is a decorated poet, including receiving the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award (started by Brooks herself), being named double champion of Louder than a Bomb University, and winning the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Causus’s talent competition, and the National Academy of Preachers poetry competition.   He is also a coach of special distinction within the National Speech and Debate Association. As a 2010 Golden Apple scholar, he is a recipient of the Crystal Apple Award from the Golden Apple foundation. He authored the 8 Parts of Speech: Rap Lyrics and Workbook. He serves as 10th grade advisory lead and 9th grade English Language Arts teacher at Speer. He is also a HIPAA-certified Medical Advocate for patients living with sickle cell, a blood disease which overwhelmingly affects 1 of every 365 births of Black children.

He shares, “All the words that I speak and write and am awarded for are to advocate for Black folk, queer folk, and all who are systemic marginalia.   All in all, I am that I am, and I am happy that you are.”