Meet Our Researchers: Deja Logan

Deja Logan is a senior research analyst in Child Trends’ Parenting and Family Dynamics area.

To start, can you briefly describe your research activities and responsibilities at Child Trends?

Currently, I use qualitative methods and community-engaged research approaches to lead and contribute to projects on equitable reproductive health care and community violence. I spend my days conducting interviews and focus groups, doing qualitative data analysis, writing, project management, and supporting a group of youth researchers based in Washington, DC.

Can you tell us about your primary research interest(s)?

My research focuses on family, economic mobility, and well-being. Specifically, I’m interested in how race, socioeconomic status, and various systems impact how families of color form, function, and thrive. I’m also interested in the role of neighborhoods and community resources in determining family well-being and socioeconomic trajectories. In all my research, I examine issues of equity and aim to center the communities I engage with.

What sparked your interest in these areas?

My interest was sparked by my own experiences as a Black woman. I was raised in Prince George’s County, MD, which is considered one of the wealthiest Black counties in the United States. However, I saw a variety of socioeconomic experiences among my peers despite living only a few miles away from each other. This made me curious about what factors impact youth and their families’ access to opportunities and outcomes.

My time as an undergraduate at Howard University affirmed my curiosities and interest in studying Black families. Courses like Sociology of the Family and Seminar in Community Development allowed me to critically examine topics such as family formation among Black Americans, the racial wealth gap in the United States, gentrification, and the power of community voice.

What books or journal articles have most influenced you?

The Black Family: Essays and Studies by Robert Staples was the initial book that drew me to a research career on Black families. Mothering while Black by Dawn Marie Dow and Promises I Can Keep: Why Poor Women Put Motherhood Before Marriage by Kathryn Edin and Maria J. Kefalas have influenced me as a qualitative researcher who studies families. Lastly, bell hooks’ Salvation: Black People and Love has shaped how I engage with communities.

What are your hobbies or interests outside of research?

Outside of research, I like activities that keep me active and away from the computer! I enjoy traveling, exploring DC, trying new restaurants, being outdoors, and spending time with loved ones.

To wrap up, can you tell us a fun or interesting fact about yourself or your family?

I’ve modeled in New York Fashion Week multiple times.