LaNaisha Edwards
Lead Chapter Coordinator
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
LaNaisha Edwards is currently earning a Master Certificate in Restore Justice at Vermont Law school. She is a survivor of multiple violent crimes, activist, restorative justice practitioner and advocate. In 2010, LaNaisha’s younger brother, Vinnie Edwards, was murdered and, and in 2016, her younger brother Vaughn Edwards was murdered. These tragedies caused her to reevaluate her life and start taking positive steps towards rebuilding. In 2013, Edwards began her education at California State University - Dominguez Hills where she received a BA in Human Service with a minor in Public Administration.
Since the murder of LaNaisha's younger brothers, she continued to share her story publicly with the goal of showing the is healing in storytelling and healing in turning your pain to power. She is dedicated to creating opportunities for transformation and healing for everyone impacted by violence including people who have been harmed and people responsible for harm.
LaNaisha's work is formed through her lived experience. She started her journey to healing by turning her pain into power, working with organizations across California and supporting programs that focus on reducing community and gang violence. She has worked with Los Angeles Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) program, Urban Peace Institute where she is a one of many violence interruption training facilitators. LaNaisha is also the Lead Chapter Coordinator for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, the Program Director for Restore Justice, co-chair for the Los Angeles District Attorney Office Crime Victims Advisory Board. In addition, she consults for the Office of Violence Prevention in areas related to prevention and intervention of gang violence. Most recently, LaNaisha Co-Founded United Communities for Peace.