About Lanae Norwood
Lanae is the Founder and Principal Consultant of L. Norwood & Associates, a boutique movement-building firm rooted in the communities it serves, culture, and liberatory values. Innovative and cutting edge, L. Norwood & Associates provides digital communications, content, organizing, and strategic services to nonprofit organizations and political campaigns that engage and liberate Black, Indigenous, people of color, and other oppressed communities.
Lanae is a polymathic strategist, organizer, trainer, facilitator, speaker, thought leader, and expert in communications strategy, narrative shifting, digital marketing, and organizational and leadership development. With more than 17 years of professional experience and lived experiences as a system-impacted youth, Lanae has deep California and national connections to BIPOC communities, activists, and organizations. She is committed to centering oppressed communities in her movement-building work and building grassroots people power. She loves creating new possibilities, galvanizing opportunities, and mapping the way forward.
Beginning her career in the corporate sector, Lanae developed deep expertise in digital and traditional media solutions by developing marketing strategies for hundreds of businesses over 12 years. After transitioning to the nonprofit sector in 2015, she led campaigns and projects related to civic engagement, program development, voter engagement, organizing, and social justice advocacy.
Lanae is proudest of her leadership in and contributions to several community-driven campaigns and projects: #SchoolsNotPrisons, AB 392 – Stephon’s Clark Law (#LetUsLive Coalition), Voting While Black (Color of Change C4/PAC), Amendment 4 (2018 Florida Second Chances campaign), the Rethink Public Safety Coalition, #EndPoverty (Working Hero Action), My Black Counts, My Black Vote Counts, Yes on Proposition 16 (Opportunity for All), the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub Project, COVID recovery campaigns, and now reparations.
In the heart of San Bernardino, Lanae proudly established the Anne Shirrells Community Center, named in honor of the late youth advocate. To ensure the community center was resourced year-round, she developed strategic partnerships with the city of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino school district, foundations, businesses, and community stakeholders. Lanae developed programs that provided youth academic support, cultural arts, wellness programs, and social-emotional services. Under her direction, the Anne Shirrells Community Center served thousands of San Bernardino youth and their families.
Lanae has been recognized by Congress, the State of California, and multiple other organizations for her nonprofit organizing and leadership. Her works have been featured in several media outlets, including ABC, NBC, LA Times, Blavity, and Essence Magazine.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lanae is a proud mother of two. She is an outdoor enthusiast in her free time and looks forward to traveling to at least one new country per year.
