DeAnna, a southern Deaf belle in GA born in a hearing family, has dedicated her life to advocating for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. DeAnna graduated with a BA in Social and Criminal Justice and an MA in Public Administration from Ashford University. As a Senior Program Associate for the Deaf Action under Activating Change, she provides invaluable technical assistance to Deaf and Hearing Anti-violence programs. Before joining AC, she established BRIDGES, GA’s first direct Deaf-led program. DeAnna’s commitment to the community is further demonstrated by her role as the founder and CEO of Diamond Speaks LLC. In this company, she designs and delivers customized training on antiracism, Deaf Black trauma-related, and allies for Black/Brown interpreters. DeAnna is now a new Region 3 NAD Representative.

DeAnna’s journey is not just about personal empowerment but also about a series of significant professional achievements. In 2018, she was honored with the Gender Justice award from the GA Commission on Family Violence and the Collaborate award from the GA Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 2020, she was recognized as a Deaf Community Leader by Hamilton Relay. These accolades, along with her belief in manifesting an unbreakable life and achieving greatness, are a powerful testament to her empowerment and determination. She’s a happily married mother of 5 and 2-year-old granddaughter, a testament to her impressive professional journey.

DeAnna believes that her humble mindset has guided her professional journey and been instrumental in her success.