Damien J. Leach, MPH

Damien J. Leach (he/him/his) is a Black community organizer, artist, and educator currently pursuing his doctorate in Community Health Education at UMass Amherst. His work centers on advancing health equity through culturally grounded, arts-based approaches. Drawing from his lived experiences growing up in Roxbury, MA and years of grassroots organizing, Damien collaborates with community members across generations, artists, and local leaders to address structural violence, mental health disparities, and cultivate collective healing through cultural and artistic programming.

His artistic roots in graffiti and poetry reflect his belief in storytelling as a powerful tool for resistance, connection, and cultural affirmation. Prior to his doctoral studies, Damien led youth and community engagement efforts at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Office of Equity and Community Health, where he helped launch public health campaigns and wellness initiatives tailored to marginalized communities.

Damien is passionate about creating intergenerational spaces of joy, resilience, and imagination.

  • Youth leadership roots in Boston organizing spaces, such as the Boston Student Advisory Council (2005 - 2013)

  • Massachusetts General Hospital (2015 - 2023)

    Over a span of 8 years, Damien held a number of roles at MGH, including:

    • Youth and Community Engagement Project Manager

    • Community Care Van Manager

    • COVID-19 Outreach Strategist

    • Youth Community Advisory Board Facilitator

    • Community Partnership Manager for STEM & biomedical literacy programs with youth, including interactive simulation workshops (YSIMS)

    • Communications Specialist

    • Healthcare Systems Administrator

    • Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor

  • Founded and ran a community-based wellness initiative in 2017 called One Love Health Club

  • Teaching Fellow & Graduate Research Assistant in School of Public Health & Health Sciences, UMass Amherst (2023 - Present)

  • Co-Principal Investigator for The Graffiti Storytelling Project through the Center for Community Health Equity Research at UMass Amherst (2024 - 2025)

  • Consultant & Partner Engagement Strategies Associate for Promoting Good (2025 - Present)

Damien’s Work