Donovan Scribes (fka Donovan M. Smith) is an award-winning writer, producer, and communications consultant based in Portland, OR.

Scribes has contributed to a variety of publications, including The Oregonian, Street Roots, and The Skanner. He co-wrote/hosted/produced the 10-part iHeartRadio podcast series Uprising: A Guide from Portland, which delves into the 100+ days of protest in Portland in 2020 and reached the top 100 on iTunes. Elected as the Vice President of the Portland NAACP in 2021, he was instrumental in revamping the image and direction of the storied branch. He led a strategic community effort to re-develop George Park through his organization The Kidz Outside, securing a $3 million+ first of its kind private-public partnership between Portland Parks and Recreation and Portland Parks Foundation.

For 5 years, Scribes delivered his workshop “Music As A Tool for Justice” across the state of Oregon as part of Oregon Humanities’ celebrated Conversation Project.

In May 2025, Scribes releases his special magazine in collaboration with the Portland Mercury to commemorate the 5 year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. The issue, BLACKOUT: a 5 Year Retrospective of Portland’s Racial Justice Protests features a dozen essays and interviews with Black Portlanders of diverse backgrounds to discuss the impact of the protests and the gains and losses since then.

As a communications consultant, Scribes has placed more than 300 headlines internationally, secured landmark legislative victories, and produced content for leading brands and organizations.