Lawrence Goshon, a native of Denver, Colorado, experienced the benefits and pleasure of growing up in a two-parent household. Despite his family’s best efforts to keep him from the dangers of street life, Lawrence found himself back in the “hood” at the age of 14. By 15, he had become an active member of a gang and soon faced a violent crime conviction, which led to a 7 ½-year sentence at Colorado Department of Corrections.

In 2018, Lawrence had a life-changing encounter with Johnnie Williams, a man known for his work in the community. Johnnie encouraged Lawrence to join the field of Gang Prevention, and soon after, Lawrence became involved with GRASP.

Since joining GRASP, Lawrence has dedicated himself to helping youth and adults find alternatives to gang life and violence. He has worked with multiple programs such as AGRIP (Aurora’s Gang Reduction Impact Program) and AIM(At Risk Intervention and Mentoring), serving as an advocate, mentor, and community leader. Lawrence’s work includes enhancing community understanding through mediation and providing guidance to young men and women seeking positive change.

Lawrence’s transformation from a gang member to a dedicated mentor and advocate for youth empowerment stands as a testament to the power of second chances and the resilience of those of our community.