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Introducing CityU’s 2024 Commencement Speaker:
Dr. Alfonso Brown
Receiving an education has the power to transform your life and it can do so in unexpected ways. For Dr. Alfonso Brown, his academic journey was inspired by immensely personal circumstances. When first he started taking classes at City University of Seattle, he was one of almost 700,000 unhoused Americans. This also corresponded with one of the few periods in Alfonso’s life where he was not actively enrolled in a degree program. He had been forced to take a year off, which resulted in a loss of financial aid and federal benefits, which contributed to his situation.
His journey began with a decision to learn more about the systems that he felt were failing him and the thousands of individuals in similar situations. Dr. Brown wanted to better understand how nonprofits functioned and how these systems provided support to individuals in need and what exactly they offered to people.
“I really wanted to know what was behind the support systems and those processes and how they worked for individuals that were experiencing needs in the community because I wasn’t seeing very much action,” said Dr. Brown. “I wasn’t getting help personally and I wasn’t seeing people get helped. So, I wanted to understand how those processes and those systems worked together – or if they worked together – so that I could get a better understand of why there hasn’t been much change.”
After completing his master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership, Dr. Brown continued with his studies and decided to pursue his doctorate. “A doctoral degree deals with solutions and systems and problem solving. Individuals that select these programs want to be hands on and to leverage their education to help create better community environments for people, like those experiencing homelessness,” Dr. Brown explained.
Dr. Brown successfully completed his dissertation for his Doctor of Education in Leadership in December 2023. He was nominated and selected as student speaker for the CityU Commencement Ceremony in June 2024. “The last time I was at T-Mobile Park, I was working in the kitchen washing dishes. And what I remember most about that day is that I couldn’t envision what circumstances would ever allow me to stand on this field, but oh how times have changed,” he shared in his intimate speech about his journey to that moment. Shortly after, his degree was conferred, and he officially became Dr. Alfonso Brown.
As part of his research during his doctoral studies, Dr. Brown also published a book, Homeless: Against All Odds. In it, he aims to share his story and to provide a voice for the individuals that cannot deliver their own stories themselves. “I’ve committed myself to telling the story for them, on behalf of them,” said Dr. Brown. “The goal is to share my story so that others understand that people who have lived this experience – in some cases, twice as long as I have – are going to be faced with difficult challenges once they have those basic needs met.” Dr. Brown explained that the book is written through a research lens, but with personal context and stories provided as examples for each theory discussed.
One striking example that Dr. Brown shared is that he only recently began sleeping in a proper bedroom and on a bed. “The first 6 years that I had the opportunity to have my own space, I slept in the living room on the floor,” he explained. “Whenever I slept in a room in a confined space, sometimes I would wake up and I wouldn’t know where I was. It took me a while to get over that chemical response.”
It’s details like this that Dr. Brown wants to share so that when new systems are implemented to help unhoused people, that support continues and helps people to adjust to their new lives. Public attitudes influence how communities respond to challenges, like homelessness, and how they develop the support services that are intended to help individuals like Dr. Brown. He wants to break down those stigmas and biases to encourage stronger and better support systems.
“The goal is to create a platform where I can help people get a voice.”
– Dr. Alfonso Brown
Advice to Future Students
When asked about what advice he would provide to others, Dr. Brown immediately responded, “Don’t stop moving.”
With the exception of one year, Dr. Brown has been enrolled in academic programs continuously for the past 10 years. Momentum keeps you going and keeps you encouraged to continue. It helps you to create small wins and celebrate your accomplishments as you progress.
Congratulations Dr. Alfonso Brown!
Thank you for your inspiration and words of wisdom.
For more information on Dr. Alfonso Brown, you can view his portfolio here or his book here. You can also view his complete Commencement speech here.
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about CityU’s Doctor of Education in Leadership program, please visit www.cityu.edu or call 888.422.4898.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, King County has a list of their resources available here: King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has a resource guide available here: Homeless Resources and Programs.
