Some Of Our Work

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IN THE LAB

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PROOF IN PRACTICE: CASE STUDIES

At the heart of my work is a belief that the places we work and the way we lead can - and must - reflect our values.

Whether I’m facilitating a workshop, building tools with a team, or guiding strategy behind the scenes, my goal is always the same: to create space for transformation that’s both meaningful and manageable. The case studies below highlight what that looks like in action - real organizations, real impact, and real change.

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Strengthening Ethical Practice in Public Health

Ethical decision-making in public health is rarely simple—and as the field evolves, especially with new technologies and shifting infrastructure investments, public health leaders need clear, practical tools to navigate complex questions around equity, power, and responsibility.

Health Resources in Action (HRiA) contracted me to provide technical assistance for Region 1 Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) activities. The aim: strengthen internal and external capacity for ethical analysis, organizational culture change, and responsible innovation across the region.

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Walking the Walk with Equity Work:

Supporting Staff Wellness and Preventing Burnout

Nonprofit leaders—especially leaders of color—are on the frontlines of equity work, often without the internal supports they need. Chronic stress, unclear boundaries, and a culture of overwork contribute to burnout, undermining both staff wellness and mission impact. The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg recognized this challenge and launched a capacity-building initiative to support equity-centered organizational change from the inside out.

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Maddy Frey Frey Evaluation, LLC

It has been such a joy and pleasure meeting and getting to work with Dawn Hunter over these last few years on our Fighting for Public Health initiative. When she joined the team, she brought a huge dose of strategic thinking as well as the ability to consistently and concretely center equity in our work. Her input and perspective helped our team connect our findings with audiences who cared, all while promoting and contributing to a culture of connection and healing. Dawn is one of my favorite colleagues ever, and I would welcome any opportunity to work with her again!
Sandy Stibitz | Program Manager, NCCPHT | National Network of Public Health Institutes

Dawn Hunter is such a pleasure to work with! In addition to her wealth of experience in public health law, Dawn is an expert facilitator with a talent for making material accessible and engaging. Dawn’s ability to see both the forest and the trees makes her a valued partner in both the planning and execution of projects. We can always count on Dawn for consistent quality work!
Kate Holmes, MPH Health Resources in Action

I had the pleasure of collaborating with Dawn on several projects involving health departments, public health nonprofits, and national organizations. Dawn's expertise is wide-ranging and diverse, seamlessly integrating her impressive experience into trainings, resources, and keynotes on topics ranging from communications and messaging to ethics and equity.
What truly sets Dawn apart is her incredible ability to bring her work to life through her extensive practical experience. As a partner of the Dawn Lab, I am always confident that I can reach out to Dawn with any idea, knowing she will generously share her time and expertise to make it happen in ways I hadn't even considered.
I am continually grateful for the warmth, humor, curiosity, and genuine connection she infuses into every aspect of her work. Dawn is not just a colleague; she’s a trusted partner whose contributions make a real difference.
Participant in Civic Health, Voting, and Public Health: What's at stake in 2024

Dawn was a wonderful speaker and very knowledgeable and I loved her passion…Thank you for offering this important and relevant training. I learned a lot of new information!
Participant in Advancing Equity through Communication

This was such a wonderful an insightful training. People don’t have a structure for how they think about communications, and this offers such clear and concise information that we can use and apply to campaign initiatives and communications in general.