Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, LaMetra learned firsthand about how “poverty” helps build “community.” LaMetra grew up where something as simple as borrowing a cup of sugar from your neighbor was normal. Growing up with social norms such as this is what helped shape LaMetra’s understanding of how community help others in need no matter how big or small. LaMetra’s understanding of community is realizing that “we are one.” LaMetra was born the youngest of 3 siblings that were raised in a 2 (two) parent household. LaMetra is from a strong family that has taught her the importance of family and community.
Trying to find her way as a young black female living in “dangerous and risky” neighborhoods in Chicago, LaMetra was well cared for and protected by not only her family, but also her community. Throughout her life, LaMetra has learned how to persevere in the face of hardships and personal trauma, which has shown her just how resilient she really is! To be resilient is to have the “ability to adapt and to cope with difficult situations and trauma with a bounce back mentality”. That’s LaMetra! She has taken her experiences, both personally and professionally to “the streets” also known as her community. She uses her voice to be an advocate for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community.
LaMetra is an advocate for the under-heard, under-served, and impoverished populations, and doesn’t hesitate to be an advocate when policies and procedures does not include them, their barriers, obstacles, and needs. LaMetra realizes and understands that generational poverty, cultural food insecurities, and multicultural child indignities are REAL and that populations mostly effected by these realities are people of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities…including immigrants. LaMetra states “poverty reduction and community development sit at the core of why I do what I do”. LaMetra flourishes in reading, writing, and understanding grants and policies to ensure a safe, equitable, inclusive, and resilient environment and program output for all people.
LaMetra makes it her life’s mission to be a positive role model in her community, never shying aways from showing empathy, relatability, and compassion for struggling families in need. LaMetra teaches her 3 daughters and granddaughter to be the same. She calls it “planting the seeds for our future communities.
LaMetra has a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Illinois State University where she learned how to use music as a therapeutic tool to help people. LaMetra’s older brother was in college when he was killed on the streets of Chicago in 1992. This devasted LaMetra and her family. At the age of 13, LaMetra made it a priority to obtain a college degree for her parents to see, continuing her brother’s legacy. LaMetra shares how being the first in her family to graduate from college has helped shape her view of what diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is. During her college career, she had the privilege to share a community with people of other races and ethnicities. This was mind blowing for LaMetra. LaMetra grew up in a predominately black neighborhood, where people of other races and ethnicities did not live in her community. They only served her community either as teachers, doctors, dentists, and convenient store owners/operators. She moved to Dubuque in 2016 in hopes of exposing her children to a diverse community with the focus of making diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging a part of their foundation and who they are as individuals in their community. LaMetra recently became a first-time homeowner, changing the trajectory of what is known as generational poverty for her 3 daughters and granddaughter. LaMetra is a support for families in Dubuque who want to do the same.