Donavon Hawk

{{Short description|American politician and activist}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Donavon Hawk

| state_house = Montana

| district = 76th

| term_start = January 4, 2021

| term_end =

| successor =

| predecessor = Ryan Lynch

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1981}}

| birth_place = Hardin, Montana, U.S.

| party = Democratic

| residence = Butte, Montana, U.S.

| alma_mater = Montana Technological University

| website = {{URL|https://www.hawkforhouse.com}}

}}

Donavon Hawk is an American politician and activist serving as a member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 76th district. Elected in November 2020, he assumed office on January 4, 2021.{{cite web |title=Copper Book: Lawmakers of Montana, Legislative Session of 2021 |url=https://leg.mt.gov/session/copper-book/ |website=Montana State Legislature |publisher=Montana Legislative Services Division |access-date=June 3, 2021|page=43}}

Education

Hawk spent two years studying fashion and apparel design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He then earned certificates in surgical technology and occupational safety from Montana Technological University.{{Cite web|last=Cast|first=Michael|title=Donavon Hawk, activist turned politician|url=https://mtstandard.com/news/local/donavon-hawk-activist-turned-politician/article_228ae9d1-b291-5fa2-8716-b16e0f2ca3bd.html|url-access=subscription|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Montana Standard|date=16 November 2020 |language=en}}

Career

After working as a retail manager in Washington, D.C., Hawk returned to his hometown of Butte, Montana, where he became active in local politics and activism. He worked with the Silver Bow County Democratic Party and currently serves as the treasurer of the Montana Democratic Party.{{cite web |title=Party Officers |url=https://montanademocrats.org/party/officers/ |publisher=The Montana Democratic Party |access-date=June 5, 2021}} Since August 2018, he has worked as the marketing and public relations coordinator for the Butte Family YMCA. Hawk was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in November 2020 and assumed office on January 4, 2021.{{Cite web|title=Donavon Hawk|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Donavon_Hawk|access-date=2021-04-27|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}

During the 2021 session, Hawk served as a member of the House Judiciary, Education, Local Government, and Legislative Administration Committees.{{Cite web|title=- Montana State Legislature|url=https://leg.mt.gov/legislator-information/roster/individual/6867|access-date=2021-06-21|website=leg.mt.gov}}

Personal

Of Crow and Lakota heritage, Hawk is a member of the legislature’s Indigenous Caucus.{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=JoVonne |title=Legislature's Indigenous caucus works to keep Native issues at forefront |url=https://montanafreepress.org/2023/03/15/legislatures-indigenous-caucus-aspires-to-keep-native-issues-at-forefront/ |website=Montana Free Press |access-date=25 April 2023 |date=15 March 2023}} Hawk is also openly gay.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/07/31/dems-suspicious-of-lgbt-inclusion-trump-speech/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_11c7b3c0271324dd1e2255a10f7548b84de39fc1-1627998157-0-gqNtZGzNAk2jcnBszQi6|title=Democrats suspicious of LGBT inclusion in Trump speech|date=July 31, 2016|work=Washington Blade}}

References