LaShawn M. Hoffman
LaShawn M. Hoffman is a visionary leader at the forefront of civic engagement, community development, and public health. With a career dedicated to fostering safe, healthy, and economically vibrant communities, LaShawn heads a boutique consultancy specializing in smart community development, strategic neighborhood planning, public health advocacy, and innovative nonprofit management. His work bridges public health and community revitalization to create sustainable and equitable solutions.
LaShawn has played an instrumental role in numerous initiatives and leadership positions, including serving as Chairperson for the Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center Community Coalition Board since 2010. In this capacity, he leads diverse teams of community advocates, academic partners, and agencies in addressing health disparities through community-based participatory research. He also served as Chairperson of the CDC Prevention Research Center Network Community Committee and has been a trusted advisor on national task forces tackling pressing public health challenges.
A champion of equity in both public health and community development, LaShawn has spearheaded initiatives addressing oral health, chronic diseases, and the COVID-19 pandemic, often focusing on marginalized and vulnerable populations. His leadership in the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network and other programs highlights his commitment to reducing health disparities and promoting health equity. Simultaneously, he has been instrumental in tackling critical housing challenges. As the former CEO of a community development corporation, he managed over $5 million in affordable housing initiatives, co-developed strategic property acquisitions using Neighborhood Stabilization Funds, and pioneered a Community Land Trust model to ensure long-term housing affordability. His efforts have strengthened neighborhood preservation and fostered socio-economic and cultural diversity.
LaShawn’s achievements include addressing the foreclosure crisis, protecting vulnerable homeowners, and fostering socio-economic and cultural diversity through housing and community development. These efforts earned him the prestigious Loeb Fellowship at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 2015, recognizing his contributions to community economic development. In 2022, he was elected President of the Loeb Fellowship Alumni Association, leading a global network of over 500 professionals shaping the built and natural environment.
With more than 15 years of service, LaShawn has a proven track record of leadership in civic engagement and policy development. His publications and presentations on community engagement and participatory research have advanced understanding and practice in these critical areas.
LaShawn’s dedication to empowering communities, addressing systemic inequities, and fostering collaborative solutions continues to drive his impactful career.