Meet Debora Logan Lawson

We were lucky to catch up with Debora Logan Lawson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Debora Logan, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I previously worked for our local police department in the Community Service Division—specifically with the Police Activities League (PAL). For 22 years, I had the privilege of working with children ages 8–18. As the Mentor Coordinator, I was able to help guide them toward positive paths and new possibilities. Many of these children had never been outside their own neighborhoods. Their view of the world came mostly from television or what they saw outside their windows—often things that were far from uplifting.

In our program, each child was paired with a same-gender mentor for one hour each week. During that time, mentors listened, played games, helped with homework, and served as a supportive, trusted presence—someone who encouraged them through both their highs and their lows. We mentored over 60 children 3 days a week. We took them on field trips, movies, flew kites in the spring, and so many other activities where they could learn different things. It was watching their eyes light up for me- I loved seeing them view things for the first time.

I retired from the PAL program in June of 2015. That was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make. But it was time. I wanted to be able to spend more time with my family, and especially my grandchildren. PAL was my second job, which was supposedly part-time. I was still working my “day” job of 40 years as an Administrative Assistant for a family-owned business.( I retired from there earlier this year in April.)

When I retired from PAL, I had all this free time, but when I watched television, I didn’t like how the black and brown communities were being portrayed on mainstream media. I thought if that was all the kids saw and thought, we were in trouble. The focus is solely on the negative aspects, perpetuating stereotypes of drug trafficking, robberies, and arrests. Very rarely do we witness stories about the CEOs, doctors, lawyers, and heroes, who contribute positively. I wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of children and in the communities I lived and served.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am recently retired after almost 40 years of employment. Divorce, mother of two grown adults, Larmont Jr., 38 & Kelah, 48. Two beautiful grandchildren, Roman, 4, and Kayla, 14.

When I semi-retired from the PAL(Police Activities League), my boredom didn’t last very long. I told a dear friend of mine that I didn’t like how our communities were being portrayed- He said, “Do something then.” LOL I wasn’t sure what that “something” looked like. After some research, I decided to create a magazine. I knew I didn’t want to do a newspaper, 1) because I wanted something colorful, something where you wanted to keep turning the pages to see what was next. Something to keep you intrigued and anticipating the next issue. 2) Because at the time, there was already a local minority newspaper business serving the community, and I did not want to be in any competition with anyone. The newspaper was real-time; we tell stories of today, yesterday, and what’s to come tomorrow. Newspapers are black/white & gray; I wanted color.

So, The Lextropolis Magazine was created in October of 2015. My dear friend was a photographer, and I showcased a lot of his work, and some of my own as well.

The magazine was an opportunity for me to show children individuals who look like them doing positive things. The impact on our children cannot be understated. They deserve to see and be inspired by positive role models, realizing that they, too, can achieve great things. It’s not about race; it’s about giving our communities a voice and empowering the next generation.

This October, we celebrated our ten-year anniversary with a phenomenal community celebration right here in the city.

We also recently hosted one of our signature community events: the Insure & Empower Insurance Symposium. This event focused on life, medical, and Medicare/Medicaid topics—especially important during the current open enrollment period. Our guest speakers were two professional insurance brokers who provided valuable information and answered individual questions. We plan to host this event again in January 2026.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe my determination was the best quality I had at the time. There was so much happening in our city, and oftentimes I didn’t hear about them until AFTER they had happened. There are so many stories in our community and nationally that need to be told. They needed to be heard. We’ve talked to people who thought they were forgotten and/or shocked. I have been blessed to feature Sinbad, Legasi, Danny Glover, Adele Givens, and recently Chuck Adams, a semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent Show.

I’m not a journalist, I don’t pretend to be-I’m a lover of stories. Sharing history. With today’s climate, many of our stories are being lost, forgotten, or banned,

My second quality would be that I’m not afraid to try; I’ve had many doors closed in my face. People not believing in what I was doing, and the naysays…whew!!

Thirdly, being a black woman and entrepreneur, I’m seldom invited to the table. I’ve had to create my own table, do my own thing, and invite others to join me. I am thankful for my team. It consists of writers, sales personnel, media gurus, and photographers.

I also use what I call “Community Models.” They consist of people who have aspirations to be a model, allowing them to be seen. The Lextropolis is sometimes a stepping stone for our writers to be seen as well. Several of my writers have moved on and have written for a larger magazine company. I’m proud of their accomplishments, and I’ll do anything to help them excel.

Starting a business is one of the most rewarding journeys you’ll ever take—but it’s also one that comes with challenges, setbacks, and unexpected turns. The key is not to avoid these moments, but to learn how to move through them with purpose.

1. Stay rooted in your “why.”
When obstacles arise, remind yourself why you started. Your purpose will keep you grounded when motivation wavers.

2. Embrace the learning curve.
Every setback carries a lesson. Instead of seeing challenges as failures, see them as information—guiding you toward better decisions, stronger systems, and clearer direction.

3. Be consistent, even when it’s hard.
Consistency is more powerful than perfection. Small, steady steps forward—even on tough days—keep momentum alive.

4. Surround yourself with support.
Build a network of people who uplift you, challenge you, and believe in your vision. Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be a solo journey.

5. Adapt with grace.
Your business will evolve, and so will you. Be willing to adjust your approach, rethink strategies, and reinvent ideas without losing sight of your core mission.

6. Celebrate the wins—big and small.
Acknowledging progress fuels motivation. Don’t wait for monumental milestones; honor every step that brings you closer to your goal.

7. Protect your peace.
Your mindset is your greatest asset. Prioritize rest, reflection, and boundaries. A burned-out entrepreneur can’t lead with clarity.

Remember: Every successful business owner has felt uncertainty, doubt, and frustration—but they kept going.
Your journey may be challenging, but it is shaping you into the leader your business needs.

Keep going. Your growth, your vision, and your success are worth it.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

We operate solely on advertising dollars. Our magazine is currently free; however, that may change if we can’t secure more dollars. We do have several advertisers who have supported us since day one, and we are very grateful. There are days I think people don’t realise where our funding comes from. We had humble beginnings. I put up the startup money to start the magazine, and for the next four years. Year five, I stepped out on faith and was able to begin compensating my team for their commitment and hard work. Unfortunately, they are worth so much more than I can pay. But they believe in what we do- and how it impacts the community. It’s a necessity!

I feel like we offer great prices, discounts and deals. We have Spotlight features, Event highlights,
Interviews and Q&A features. We have collaborated with other businesses or nonprofits, event photography, and so much more.at no avail.

I am currently considering using an influencer more to help us get in front of potential clients, and revising some of our advertising opportunities for the same clients. Create a new advertising campaign and build a compelling marketing team.

Our Current Stats To Date

Our Media Reach — Growing Stronger Every Month!
– Facebook — 5.9K Members (and climbing!)

We gained over 200 new members in the last 30 days!

Organic Reach: 38,000

Paid Reach: 40,300

– Instagram — 600+ Engaged Followers

Organic Reach: 14,885

Paid Reach: 38,125

– Twitter (X) — 660+ Followers (We don’t use this platform much any longer)

– Website — 128,000+ Visits

Community-driven traffic with strong repeat visitors.

– #TeamLextropolis — 20 Ambassadors Strong

Each member averages 3,000 impressions per post,
creating an additional 60,000+ views every time they share our content.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

The top 4 – Impeccable Images
6th photo – a selfie by Kiah Arnold (Team Lextropolis)
The rest are all Lextropolis property owned by me.

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