BY ELYSE WILD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE SMITH
Single-Momming with Latesha Lipscomb
Latesha and Caius Lipscomb are familiar faces to many in Grand Rapids. The dynamic mother-son duo can frequently be seen at community events, neighborhood association meetings and fundraisers. “He goes everywhere with me,” Lipscomb said. She laughs and adds that her eight-year-old son, “is more popular than me.” Lipscomb has been deeply involved in the community for many years. Along with owning and operating her signature concierge cosmetic service, I GOT FACE, she has worked for various nonprofits, including the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute and the Inner City Christian Federation. Today, she is the engagement relationships manager for Amplify GR, a nonprofit that seeks to create equity in some of Grand Rapids’ most under served neighborhoods: Madison Square, Cottage Grove and Boston Square. “We want to amplify that good that already exists in the neighborhood,” Lipscomb explained. “We don’t want to be the hero of the story, but to function as a quarterback. As an engagement manager, I have the honor and privilege to work with residents to make sure we are constantly uplifting their voice and honoring their priorities.” Lipscomb said that the organization was just gaining momentum with the success around one of their main initiatives, the Boston Square Together Collective Design Process, when coronavirus hit. “COVID came at a time when we were kind of on a roll in terms of giving the people what they want to see in their neighborhood,” she said. “We have now to be very creative
“I think there is a focus, passion and fire that single moms have because we are trying to compensate for all of the voids that our children may face.” 32
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • May 2020
