In August 2022, Lashawn began his 10th year of service for the Communities In Schools of Mid-America organization as Vice President of Government and Community Relations. Over the past nine years, Lashawn has worked to serve others in a variety of positions with CIS. He began as a Student Support Coordinator at Parsons High School. Lashawn was promoted to Area Director in Southeast Kansas, where he supported eleven Student Support Coordinators in ten schools in four school districts. He then transitioned to more community and external relations-focused work for Communities In Schools as Director of Community Engagement and then as Director of External Relations. Experiencing poverty as a youth fuels his passion for advocating for students and families less fortunate.
Born in Pontiac, Michigan Lashawn attended Pittsburg State University where he participated as a member of the Gorilla football team from 1994-1997, earning two Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s in Physical Education. He has worked in the fields of recreation, mental health services, and as a case manager for the developmentally disabled. Lashawn is a current participant in the prestigious Leadership Kansas 2022 program and serves on several local and state taskforce or committees.
Lashawn has three adult children (two boys and one girl) and three gorgeous grandchildren (two girls and one boy)