about us

LaShawn Walker is the Founder, President and CEO of Suburban Balance, a non-profit family organization serving Kansas & Missouri that provides educational and cultural

opportunities to suburban kids of color to help ensure they experience a well-balanced

lifestyle while growing up in their suburban communities or attend schools that lack

diversity! LaShawn founded the non-profit in 2012 and to date, more than 500 families

from Missouri & Kansas have joined the organization, serving more than 1500 students! The organization works to eliminate inequities that create health and educational disparities.

LaShawn is also the driving force behind the Inspirational movement, "LIFT HER UP", a

movement of more than 2000 followers she founded in 2017 to inspire more women to

support, encourage, elevate, nominate, celebrate and LIFT one another up in business

and beyond! The inspiring movement takes place every year during Women’s History

Month and in 2024 drew it's largest crowd of 1,100 women. The movement will also focus on advancing women's economic power which will have a ripple effect on everything from health to household income, the future of their children's education and the overall economy.

LaShawn is a visionary and passionate advocate for culture exposure, equity in

education and balance! She founded Suburban Balance 11 years ago with a strong

desire to provide educational & cultural opportunities for kids growing up in the suburbs!

LaShawn and her family have resided in the suburban community of Lee’s Summit for

the past 21 years! Through Suburban Balance, she has created an avenue for kids to

come together to learn about their culture and have fun while doing so! Additionally,

through SB children gain access to robust programming centered around

Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Advocacy! Recently, the non-profit launched the

L.E.A.D Academy, fostering Leadership, Entrepreneurship and helping students use

their voices to be the change they seek! The organization also focuses on teaching

students the importance of voting, networking, financial literacy and closing the wealth

gap through entrepreneurship! Through Suburban Balance students are able to build

important bonds and long-term friendships to last a lifetime! One of LaShawn's long

term goals for SB was to create an organization that caters to the entire family! Through

the various initiatives she and her team have launched over the years, her goal has

been achieved, SB has now built a strong network of moms and dads, thus making it an

organization for the entire family to enjoy! The organization has also tackled important

issues such as mental health, voter education and Equity in education! The non-profit

has made significant progress and in part due to the advocacy work of Suburban

Balance, in June of 2019, the Lee’s Summit School Board rendered a 6-1 re-vote on

hiring a consultant to do district diversity training. Due to the continuous advocacy work

of the organization over the years under LaShawn’s leadership, the Lee’s Summit

School district now has an Equity Policy! LaShawn’s heart to serve and give back and

advocate on the behalf of children along with her team has made a difference! The 

organization is well known for its work on helping students prep and gain access to 

college  and provides support through completion.

In 2016, LaShawn was recognized for her work with Suburban Balance as an “Examiner

Women of Distinction Honoree”, a select group of women making a difference in

Eastern Jackson County! This recognition was the result of her dedication and

commitment and the work she’s done with Suburban Balance. This by far has been one

of LaShawn's most notable recognitions since founding the non-profit! Being honored

for the work that she's so passionate about is priceless! In 2017 LaShawn returned to

the awards ceremony and participated in the Examiner Women of Distinction as an

Alumni to support the new honorees! Participating as an Alumni opened her eyes to

various possibilities to further her work and in part led her to launch "LIFT HER UP".

In 2017, LaShawn was named an appointee of Jackson County Executive, Frank White

Jr to serve on the Community Advisory Committee at the Health Forward Foundation.

She left her duties in 2018 to focus on building her non-profit. Most recently, LaShawn

was named the recipient of two Humanitarian Awards! The “Truman Heartland

Community Foundation” recently named her the 2023 “HUMANITARIAN OF THE

YEAR” and she has also been named The Kansas City People’s Choice Award

Humanitarian recipient! In July and September of 2023, LaShawn will be recognized on

stage as she receives her awards.

LaShawn has held corporate careers in banking, pharmaceutical sales and has been a

small business owner. LaShawn has been married to her college sweetheart for 30

years (June 2023) and has one son and 2 granddaughters. LaShawn enjoys writing,

reading, landscaping, decorating, spending time with family & volunteering in the

community, mentoring young girls and staying busy with Suburban Balance and the “Lift

Her Up Movement”! Her initiatives for 2023 is to continue addressing Mental Health,

increasing awareness & removing the stigma, building the Suburban Balance new

LEAD Academy, continuing her advocacy work on Equity in Education and preparing

young people to be leaders today and tomorrow!