Nice to Meet You: Dacian Wilson

Meet Dacian, a thoughtful and dedicated community disaster program manager. He explains his role and how his life experiences help him navigate community preparedness and disaster response.

Q: Could you explain what your title means and take us through your workday, or what projects you work on? 

A: I serve as a community disaster program manager with the American Red Cross, where my role focuses on helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies such as home fires and severe weather events. 

In this position, I coordinate volunteers and resources to ensure that individuals affected by disasters receive timely support, including shelter, food and essential services. I am responsible for planning and organizing response efforts, as well as making sure our teams are trained and ready to act when emergencies occur. 

I also work directly within communities to promote safety and preparedness. This includes supporting initiatives like installing smoke alarms and providing education on how to reduce risk and stay safe during disasters. 

While much of my work involves careful planning and coordination, emergencies can require quick decision-making and adaptability, often in fast-moving situations. Overall, my role is centered on making sure help is available when people need it most. 

Dacian Wilson spoke with WHO-13 News about smoke alarms and home fires

Q: How long have you been with the Red Cross? Is this your first position with the Red Cross? If not, what was it? 

A: I have been with the Red Cross for 18 months.

Q: What do you like about your work? 

A: My favorite aspect of my role is the community engagement. Given the broad geographic scope of my chapter, I have the opportunity to work across diverse communities, connect with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and promote best practices that strengthen community resilience. This work is both meaningful and highly rewarding. 

I also value the strength and experience of my team. Their depth of knowledge enables us to approach our work with confidence and take informed action. When I encounter unfamiliar situations, I can rely on their expertise to provide clear guidance on how to respond effectively and appropriately. 

Q: What do you like to listen to during the workday? 

A: My listening preferences vary depending on the context. When preparing for a significant meeting, I may listen to artists such as Curtis Mayfield, Al Green or 50 Cent. During a typical workday in the office, I tend to listen to R&B music. While actively responding to a disaster, I have found myself drawn to gospel music. On longer commutes, I often listen to podcasts focused on football, pop culture or topics related to my academic background in psychology and human behavior. 

Q: In what part of the region are you located, and what do you enjoy about your community? 

A: I’m based in the Des Moines office, It’s a place that reflects a wide range of communities, and that diversity is something I value deeply in my work. 

My background has shaped how I connect with others. I spent part of my upbringing in Chicago, where I experienced the pace and complexity of a large city and learned to navigate different environments and perspectives. I later attended a small rural high school in Iowa, graduating in a class of about 29 students. Life there was close-knit in a very different way. Our prom was so small it only filled half the gym, and much of my time was spent either playing sports or alongside friends on their farms, helping with everything from vaccinating piglets to baling hay and gathering for tailgate-style get-togethers. 

Experiencing both urban and rural life has given me a broader perspective and a genuine appreciation for the communities I serve. It allows me to meet people where they are, build trust more naturally, and connect in a way that feels authentic across the diverse areas within our chapter. 

Q: How do you spend your time when you aren’t working? 

A: I have a 2-year-old daughter who keeps life busy in the best way. Outside of that, I try to keep things simple and make time for the things that help me reset and stay grounded. I enjoy spending time in the sauna, going on walks and catching football games when I can. 

I also value time with friends and family and appreciate being able to slow down and be present with them. I enjoy writing, listening to music and podcasts and finding time for hobbies like going to the range, cooking and smoking cigars. Overall, I try to keep a balance between staying active, staying connected and making space to recharge. 

Q: What has most surprised you while working for the Red Cross? 

A: The number of home fires that occur. I still haven’t wrapped my head around how common they are.  

Q: What is a Red Cross moment that sticks with you? 

A: Early in my role, I responded to a disaster action team (DAT) call following a house fire that resulted in a fatality. A mother had managed to get most of her children out of the home, but tragically lost one in the fire. I remember sitting with the parents at a Perkins, simply focusing on being present and offering support. Given how early I was in my training, I primarily took on a listening and observational role. 

What stayed with me most was the way they processed the situation. While there was deep grief and shock, there were also moments of unexpected humor and levity that felt natural rather than forced. Despite experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, they carried themselves with a remarkable sense of dignity, gratitude and even joy in small moments. It challenged my assumptions about how people experience tragedy and reminded me that human responses are often far more complex than we anticipate. 

That experience reinforced for me that the work we do truly centers on reducing human suffering. It also helped shape my perspective on the importance of showing up consistently, even in difficult moments. On nights when I am tired, on call at 3 a.m. or balancing early commitments the next day, I am able to stay grounded in the mission and move through those challenges with purpose. 

While I am still growing in this role, my experience with the Red Cross has strengthened my sense of empathy, resilience, and service in ways that continue to shape how I approach both my work and my outlook.