Lawrence Coles Profile

Posted by: Courtney Lampen | September 27, 2024

By: Ashley Noelle Ver Beek, Contributor  

Alumni: Lawrence Coles (NYC 2010) 

Organization: SPEEK LYFE Movement, Inc.  

Current Roles: Executive Director, Teaching Artist, Producer 

Lawrence Coles (NYC 2010) is a seasoned producer, teaching artist, educator, youth pastor, and director of SPEEK LYFE Movement, Inc. Founded in 2005, the mission of the nonprofit organization is to create programming that enhances the spiritual and moral awareness of at-risk teens, using creative arts, sports, and workshops. Through programming in music, radio, film production, sports, and leadership, SPEEK LYFE empowers New York City youth to value and leverage their own voices. Lawrence has been married to Vinnessa Coles for 12 years, and their daughter, Eliana, is 11 years old.   

Lawrence Coles at SPEEK LYFE presentation

What led you to the work you do?  

SPEEK LYFE Entertainment started as an outlet for me and my friends to do ministry in a different way—a way that allowed us to find and share our authentic voices without being censored. We were 20-somethings who were really into our music and went to clubs, but we had questions we didn’t feel comfortable asking in church. We were not alone. 

At the same time, many newer Christian artists didn’t have a space to share their gifts, so we sought to create a forum where those things could happen. We held spoken word and open mic events, and SPEEK LYFE became a platform for us and them. As we embodied our voices, it was revitalizing to be artistically authentic—while in church. 

However, we weren’t embraced by everyone. As a young Christian Black man, I always wanted to present an alternative to what kids see all the time on TV and in music videos. I aimed to present other options—you can still be cool and do music, but you can do it for God. 

Now, we teach music, production, leadership, and sports contractually at schools, detention centers, and community centers. I can dive into it in a way that I couldn’t before. After the pandemic, I was finally able to work full-time at SPEEK LYFE, living from the seeds planted in 2010. 

  Lawrence Coles, SPEEK LYFE

Where have you seen transformation happen through the SPEEK LYFE environment and programming? 

Our goal is to empower kids to recognize that they have a voice. We get to express that creatively in the music. It’s funny because the gospel naturally comes out in certain situations.  

To survive in certain environments, kids put on a protective shell—armor. This past school year, a few students held this exterior for survival. After a few months, it was amazing to see them drop the armor and become kids again. They were able to share the truth about what was going on in their lives. Off the rip, you would think this is a tough kid, but soon find out he had lived in two shelters. He went to school in Brooklyn, but his family lived in the Bronx in temporary housing. 

Another kid shared in his final song that he, too, used to live in a shelter. Looking at him, you would have never guessed this. The lyrics spoke volumes as he shared his process of getting his confidence up and overcoming challenges.  

It’s amazing when kids realize they can take pride in their own stories! Being able to express that verbally and creatively over music is, in a lot of ways, what hip-hop is about. It’s about the struggle and overcoming the struggle. We always push the kids to create positive content that people will hear and be encouraged.  

  

What leadership principles or creative practices guide your work? 

When I think about connecting with youth, Paul’s words come to mind: “I have become all things to all people” (1 Cor. 9:22). To me, that means if I want to get to the kids, I must speak their language. Sometimes, I purposefully use outdated slang when we’re in a classroom, and they tell me, “Nobody says that anymore!” I ask, “What are people saying now?” That opens a discussion on how kids communicate with each other and how we can connect with them, too. It helps us speak their language. Experiencing the culture of the youth we work with and what they’re going through is a must if we want to effectively communicate with them. That’s sacrificial. That’s innovative. The results are powerful.   

The same is true about music. Hip-hop has evolved over time, but young people remain drawn by its artistic elements. As artists and producers, my team and I know what resonates musically. When the kids hear my brother rap, they’re surprised and excited about hearing it. That automatically changes how they see us. Then, we can partner to help youth create something that resonates with them. 

 

“The Future Is Ours”  

Two classes of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities participated in the SPEEK LYFE music production program in Far Rockaways, Queens, New York. They collaborated to create this song, channeling their voices, creative decisions, and pride in their future.