La'Shunda Williams '19
Alumni Service Award
La’Shunda is a Hartford native and moved to East Hartford eight years ago with her family. She has worked with youth in the Greater Hartford Community for the past 20 years mentoring, motivating, and educating them on how to be successful while giving back to their community.
In 2008, La’Shunda joined Hartford Communities That Care, Inc. and their efforts to reduce violence, underage drinking, and substance abuse. During her time at HCTC, she learned to write grants and operate a functional, non-profit organization under the leadership of Andrew Woods, her mentor.
In 2015, La’Shunda decided to pursue a career in higher education, holding a full-time position at Goodwin University while finishing her bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Albertus Magnus College. She earned her degree in 2016 and decided to start her very own non-profit, Young-Educated-Determined to Succeed Inc. (Y.E.D.S.). Y.E.D.S. is a community-based organization in East Hartford providing youth with leadership skills and positive, healthy, recreational activities. In 2018, La’Shunda expanded her programs to youth in the Greater Hartford area.
La’Shunda graduated in 2019 with her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Goodwin University. She will continue to work with the youth in the Greater Hartford area, ensuring Y.E.D.S. is an organization people can trust, consistently meeting the needs of those it services. La’Shunda has received the Goodwin University Community Service Award, the Let’s Talk Ministries Community Service Award, and an official citation from the City of Hartford, and will be an honoree at the 2020 100 Women of Color ceremony.