Meet LaDessa Lewis

We recently connected with LaDessa Lewis and have shared our conversation below.

Hi LaDessa, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from watching my parents live it every day. They worked long factory shifts, then after clocking out they ran a nightclub, pouring the same sweat and discipline into both jobs. Seeing them move from grueling, honest labor to late nights managing a business showed me that hard work isn’t limited to one place; it’s an attitude you carry everywhere.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the executive director of Men 2 Be a boys mentoring nonprofit organization whose mission is teaching boys how to be successful young men, which is unique and different because I’m a female behind the vision, but it takes dedicated men like my husband Derrick and other men in the community to make it happen. That balance of male and female leadership drives the passion and accountability these boys need a combination of compassion, structure, and real-world mentorship that truly changes lives.

What’s most exciting is that we’ve been gifted Attucks, a historic Black school, and our hope is to revitalize it into a thriving community hub. We plan to restore the building and build programs that support academic achievement, life skills, leadership development, and family engagement, making Attucks a place where young people can grow, belong, and become impactful members of the community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My journey has been shaped by three key things: an entrepreneurial mindset from running a salon for 28 years, the maturity and resourcefulness I gained as a teen mom, and the steady foundation of family and faith. Owning a business taught me resilience, money management, and how to spot and act on opportunities; becoming a young parent forced me to grow up fast, prioritize, and become a go‑getter; and the support of family and faith gave me the emotional strength, forgiveness, and stability to learn by trial and error. For those starting out, don’t let others change what’s in your heart, many people, from misunderstanding or fear, may discourage you even if they mean well. Never be afraid to fail; if you never try, how will you ever know? As a young girl I wanted to try out for flag and rifle but didn’t because of fear. I still wonder about it today. Now I try things and trust Jesus with the rest; there is no true failure in Christ, and it will be okay even if things don’t go as planned.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The number one obstacle I’m facing is that my vision and passion aren’t always shared or desired by others, you can’t control people. I’m learning to relax, go with the flow, and trust Jesus to send the people we need and steer away those we don’t. I’m also accepting that things may not unfold exactly as I imagine, but I’ll keep doing the work with the right heart and intent.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.men2beinc.org
• Facebook: Men2Be