LaKesha D. Stringer, The Mission Continues

Host- Faye PrescottCo-Hosts - Emmett Prescott & Eddie Patterson, Jr.Guest - LaKesha D. StringerLaKesha was born in Columbus Georgia.  She was raised in both Columbus Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama. She graduated high school at 17 years old in May 1999 and entered active-duty United States Naval forces in September 1999.LaKesha served honorably onboard the USS MOBILE BAY CG 53 and the USS COWPENS CG 63 in Yokosuka, Japan before going on shore duty to the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi from December 2003 until 2008. With 3 combat tours, LaKesha has learned much about sacrifice. Returning home to Columbus, Ga as a survivor of mental and physical trauma from combat LaKesha was a homeless Veteran; due to these ailments, she was unable to communicate with her Family.She joined the American Legion in 1999 but became a contributing member in 2011 after much mental counseling through VA services and attaining housing through the HudVash program at the Central Alabama Valley Healthcare System with the help of Dr. Marguerita High, Dr. Donald Gibson, and many others. In 2021-2022 she became the first Black Commander in 103 years at Charles S. Harrison American Legion Post 35 in Columbus, Ga, and the second Female Commander. After her term as commander ended, she is one of the 1st Female Commanders to turnover that leadership role to another Female Veteran.She served as one of four of The American Legion Department of Georgia 3rd District Junior Vice Commanders for 2022-2023.She is currently The American Legion Department of Georgia's 3rd District Service Officer.LaKesha began volunteering at the Homeless Resource Network in 2011 also which is, as of June 2022 Southwest Georgia Housing Opportunities where she has served on their board from 2015 until 2023.She became a Veterans Treatment Court Mentor in both Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama from 2015 until 2023.She is a The Mission Continues Fellowship Alumni and recipient of the Mark Weber Award of 2016 for her efforts in ensuring 50+ Veterans received housing through all available resources during her fellowship in 2015. She has been the Platoon Leader for Columbus, Ga 1st Service Platoon from October 2019 - 2023.LaKesha has always had a heart and the courage to serve but attributes her push to rise to help in a greater capacity to words from The Mission Continues’ Taylor Sprague, “You Have Always Had Permission to Serve!” and to her late Sister, Sheila Abbott, “Make It Happen!”She founded KEI ENTERTAINMENT, LLC in 2005 while on active duty and continues to use her marking company to benefit the nonprofits that she’s a part of locally and abroad.The Mission ContinuesTHEIR MISSION is to connect veterans with under-resourced communities. Their programs deploy veteran volunteers to work alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve educational resources, tackle food insecurity, foster neighborhood identity, and more.THEIR VISION is for all veterans with a desire to continue their service to be part of a movement to transform communities.If you are ready to join The Mission Continues and make an impact VISITMissioncontinues.org