Lashawn Hardy is a dedicated and accomplished community health worker, specializing in HIV outreach and education. With a foundation in human service outreach and community organizing, Lashawn aims to enhance the well-being of people, focusing on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Lashawn holds certifications in HIV Testing & Counseling in Illinois and Missouri and is skilled in HIV Navigation Training. Besides being a D-Up! Intervention Facilitator, Lashawn is also a certified Community Health Worker. His skill set extends to social media marketing, PREP 101, transformational organizing, and social network strategy, coupled with an ability to do motivational interviewing and community organizing. Lashawn is truly a man of God. His faith is a major part of who he is. He is a servant leader. He is also a dedicated, loving father of 3 young men. He completed his high school education at Curtis Miller High School as a top graduate with a 4.0 GPA, finishing his coursework a semester early. He then pursued higher education at Wiley College, completing 60 credit hours before transferring. Professionally, Lashawn has been an outreach specialist at The Community Wellness Project since April 2020. In this role, he work to find high-risk individuals, including men seeking men (MSM) and high-risk heterosexuals (HRH), and collaborate with community partners to reduce the spread of HIV. Lashawn educates individuals about HIV prevention and treatment, provides HIV testing and risk reduction counseling, and distributes safer sex supplies. Notably, he has been a leading PREP navigator, referring over 100 high-risk individuals to PREP services in 2022. Previously, Lashawn served as a Direct Support Professional at Caritas Family Solutions, where he supported individuals with developmental disabilities, and held various roles in SEIU as a union organizer, showing a commitment to social and economic justice. Lashawn’s extensive experience and skills in community health, particularly in HIV outreach, reflect his dedication to making a significant impact on public health and community welfare.