# 116, OTOH, Ryan Davis, Children International director, Part 2, June 20 2025

In part 2 of our conversation with Ryan Davis, Executive Director for Children’s International in Little Rock, April and Glen explore his work with the Rockefeller Foundation as a faith-based consultant, as well as with various interfaith Initiatives that include Christians, imams, rabbis, and Buddhist representatives to discuss and engage with legislative bodies on public policy. His runs for public office are motivated in part by his belief that we all have a "prophetic mandate" to speak to those in power, regardless of political affiliation. Ryan describes his political identity as a "Christian Democratic Socialist," and explains the importance of government providing assistance to those in need, including the “working poor” who can have their financial earnings easily exhausted by unexpected expenses. Governmental budgets he sees as reflecting the values of that society, so with respect to relying on non-governmental assistance, he states "we can't food pantry our way out of this problem.” Ryan describes how an east African directive shapes his thinking and career: “Work with the clay while it is still wet.” By helping people when they’re young, Davis hopes to shape the future and lessen the number of “broken adults.”  As a concluding story, he recalls a question a young person asked him that inspired him to continually remind himself of “why I am here.”