"I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept." 
— Angela Davis

Meet the Mind Behind the Mission.

Dr. Lesli Davis, DSW, LCSW, LCAS, CSI

Strategic Leader. Cultural Healer. Community Disruptor.

Dr. Lesli Davis is a high-impact clinical and operational leader with over 20 years of experience transforming systems, building innovative programs, and advocating for communities often pushed to the margins—especially those impacted by the criminal legal system.

Known for turning resistance into results that are both measurable and meaningful, Dr. Davis blends trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and strategic disruption to drive change that actually matters.

She earned her Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University and both her Master’s and Doctorate in Social Work from Simmons University. Her scholarship centers prison and jail reentry, substance use, Smart Detention, Critical Race Theory, family preservation, and autism spectrum disorder.

Whether serving as Principal Investigator on a grant-funded pilot, directing multi-program behavioral health operations, or supporting clients one-on-one in therapy, Dr. Davis brings clarity, compassion, and deep strategy to everything she leads. Her career spans roles as therapist, case manager, program director, consultant, and educator—always grounded in equity, healing, and innovation.

Today, whether she’s mentoring emerging clinicians, offering individual therapy, speaking on national panels, or designing culturally responsive care systems, Dr. Davis leads from the front—with boldness, intention, and a blueprint for change that centers people, not just policy.

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Credentials with Purpose.

Rooted in truth. Grounded in justice. Built for impact.

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

Grounded in systems-level research and transformative leadership.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Delivering culturally responsive, identity-affirming therapy and support across trauma, transition, and legacy work.

Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS)

Specialized in substance use, co-occurring disorders, and trauma-informed supervision with an equity-driven lens.

Certified Clinical Supervisor (CSI)

Board-approved through NCSAPPB to provide advanced clinical supervision across six core domains: counselor development, ethics, program quality, performance evaluation, administration, and treatment knowledge.

Dr. Davis blends structure and soul to develop confident, culturally grounded clinicians.

Financial Social Work Certificate

Certified by the Center for Financial Social Work to integrate behavioral economics, emotional healing, and financial empowerment.

Dr. Davis helps individuals and communities move from financial survival to stability—because healing includes money, safety, and sustainability.

Advanced & Foundation Certificates in Forensic Social Work (NOFSW)

Expertise in trauma-informed reentry, legal system navigation, and community healing for justice-involved populations.

NOFSW Member & Peer Reviewer

Actively contributing as a published scholar, peer reviewer, and national presenter on forensic and reentry-focused social work.

The credentials are just the beginning —
Dr. Davis is best known for her clarity, compassion, and courage.

  • Trauma-Informed Therapy & Supervision

  • Continuing Education & Professional Training

  • Speaking & Panel Moderation

  • Justice Reform & Community Healing

  • Consulting for Agencies & Institutions

Interested in Booking or Featuring Dr. Davis?

Fill out the form below to access Dr. Davis’s official media kit and speaker information. You’ll receive a downloadable PDF with her full bio, credentials, past appearances, and booking details.

Testimonials

  • "I was introduced to Dr. Lesli Davis while consulting with a local non-profit, and was blown away from day one. The authenticity, the knowledge, and the impeccable connections she creates effortlessly were magnetic. I am fortunate enough to receive clinical supervision from Dr. Davis. The impact she has had on my personal and professional life is immeasurable. She has inspired me, challenged me, and motivated me in ways in which I didn’t know were possible. Dr. Davis is not just a light in the lives of those she supervises, trains, consults for, manages, or works with; she is a light everywhere she goes. She has an incredible ability to create shifts in perspective that have altered the way I show up in this world. It is because of Dr. Lesli Davis that I have decided to further my own education, and I hope to one day have half the impact she has on the lives she touches in this work."

    — Megan Peevey

  • “I began meeting with Dr. Davis during a tumultuous time in both my professional and personal life spheres. She met me with compassion while also pushing me to grow. With her guidance, I began to rebuild my confidence and come to believe that I could do more than just survive the “grind”— I could learn to advocate for myself and my needs and as a result, come to lead a more fulfilling life!”

     — Community Chaplain, Durham, NC

  • "Working with Dr. Lesli Davis has been a true blessing in my life. In some of my darkest and most difficult moments, she has walked beside me with compassion, wisdom, and grace. With Dr. Lesli's help, I was able to reconnect with my true self, find peace in the midst of chaos, and begin to heal in ways I never imagined. Emotionally I’ve grown stronger, more grounded, and more hopeful. I’m so thankful for Dr. Lesli’s presence on this journey—because of her guidance, I’ve not only reclaimed my life but have stepped into it with renewed purpose and faith.  Finding “acceptance” has been a true eye-opener that I will never forget."

    — L.P.

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