Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lathan Singleton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lathan , 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.
Well I found my purpose pretty early in the game. Growing up football was my life, I loved the game, the friends I gained from it and the identity it gave me. Playing football while living with Sickle Cell disease for as long as I did is not common or advised. My body began to break down, I was in the hospital more frequently and missing school, my ambition was strong but my body wasn’t, I ended up quitting football that year, I was 17 years old. Because of my life with Sickle Cell I was no stranger to adversity, overcoming obstacles and enduring pain was all I knew. Losing football was different, I felt like I lost my identity, my support system and my purpose when I lost football. Months go by and that feeling of loss has only gotten worse, I was in and out of doctor’s offices and hospital rooms and losing my morale. On the day I return to school, I get called to the office by my counselor, I update her on my health and my plans for after high school when she asked me a question. A classmate of mine had recently had a child who was born with Sickle Cell Disease, and she requested that I work with her to help her better understand the life her child will have to live and how to live it and thrive. At 6 months that child had his first sickle cell crisis, it’s an extremely painful, damaging and traumatic episode people living with sickle cell have to endure. I started to see myself in that child, I knew what he was going through more than anyone else could. A fire was lit within me that day, my purpose and my identity was reborn and reinforced by my experiences up to that point. By helping that family with raising their child I had began to understand what my true purpose was and it had nothing to do with football. It was to use my voice and my story to increase the quality of life for people living sickle cell disease and other chronic diseases, advocate for the unspoken and strive to effect my community in a positive way. I became a servant to a cause and in that I found my purpose as a community organizer, patient advocate and advisor. Those experiences birthed The Unspoken Hero Society and at 31 my mission and purpose have only strengthened.
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 a community organizer, I cultivate and host events that will help communities in need, blood drives for people living with Sickle Cell Disease, care package & clothing drives for those who are impoverished. These are people and communities I know well and see as family so being able to contribute to them in a positive way means the world to me. Im a HIPAA certified patient advocate for those living with Sickle Cell Disease, I communicate with ER and hospital providers in order to make our patient’s hospital stay a comfortable one. I’m a patient adviser, I help transition young people living with sickle cell disease from pediatric care to adult care. Helping them understand what living with sickle cell disease in adulthood means and how to thrive with it. Im the founder of The Unspoken Hero Society, a community based organization dedicated to increasing the quality of life for those living with sickle cell disease/chronic diseases and those who are impoverished, we provide resources, mentorship and advocacy for those communities. Wherever you find our logo you will find a friend.
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?
Resiliency, being able to bounce back after a loss is of the upmost importance. The reason I’m still here and able to live in my purpose is because I never gave up, I never lost hope and I always believed everything will be okay.
Empathy, being able to not only understand someone’s story but someone’s feelings was essential to my growth. I believe people born with Sickle Cell Disease are naturally empathetic. Because of the pain we endure from a young age we see pain from a different point of view. We don’t shame it because it’s all we know. My understanding of pain and hardship made it easy to see it in others and there for made it easier to build strong bonds and comradery with the people around me.
Community Organizing, I come from a family of public servants, pastors, teachers, principals, social workers, etc. at a young age I was already volunteering at random places for causes i didn’t understand at the time. But seeing what the outcome of all of these events stuck with me. The impact made was obvious and I was glad I was apart of it. Even if I only served food to one person as a teenager I felt I contributed. Being able to see and feel all of this at a young age was essential to my growth as a man and future community organizer.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are always looking for collaborations and partnerships. You cannot fight this fight alone and with so many amazing people doing beautiful things for the community it would be foolish not to. We are looking to collaborate with those who have a strong sense of community and are willing to give back in any way shape or form. Other community based organizations, local businesses, volunteers, artist, schools. All are welcome, we’d love to collaborate with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unspokenherosociety.org
- Instagram: LathanJames and Unspokenherosociety
Image Credits
Tatiana Golitsyna
