Lyonel LaGrone II
Kalamazoo
Summary
Dedicated and mission-driven professional with a strong commitment to leadership, community transformation, and lifelong learning. Brings a resilient work ethic, emotional intelligence, and the ability to thrive both independently and collaboratively. Known for compassionate leadership, thoughtful communication, and an unwavering commitment to service and empowerment.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Pastor / Co-Director
Uptown Church Extended Hands
Grand Rapids
01.2025 - Current
- Senior administrator for community-based education and youth development serving ALICE households.
- Direct GED preparation and adult education programs supporting postsecondary readiness and workforce pathways.
- Lead SOAR partnership with Cornerstone University including dual-credit mentoring and service-learning.
- Manage youth pipeline programs focused on academic engagement and social-emotional learning.
- Oversee partnerships with higher education, K–12, law enforcement, and nonprofits.
- Handle program logistics, outcome tracking, compliance, and grant reporting.
Community Impact Director
United Way of South Central Michigan
Kalamazoo
09.2022 - 06.2024
- Provided leadership representation and partnership development across the UWSCMI region.
- Ensured equitable access for ALICE and BIPOC-led organizations to UWSCMI investments.
- Led local Community Impact teams and supervised staff.
- Supported grant-funded initiatives through data tracking, evaluation, and reporting.
Equity and Compliance Coordinator / ADA Coordinator
Hope College
Holland
08.2021 - 10.2022
- Served as ADA/504 Coordinator ensuring compliance with ADA, Section 504, and Fair Housing Act.
- Managed student complaints under Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy.
- Provided leadership responding to bias incidents; developed training and policy related to accessibility.
- Led accessibility task force and provided education on Title IX, Cleary Act, ADA, and policy compliance.
- Participated in campus-wide committees and initiatives such as GROW.
Program Coordinator (Part-Time)
Center for International Student Development, Calvin University
Grand Rapids
10.2020 - 08.2021
- Coordinated student programming to foster academic, social, and spiritual development.
- Implemented and supported events including Unlearn Week, Diversity Months, Black History Month, MLK Day, International Education Week, and Rangeela.
- Collaborated with Counseling and Wellness center for wellness programming.
- Served as mentor to diverse student populations.
Managing Director (Part-Time/Project Based)
SIPI Global
Grand Rapids
12.2017 - 08.2020
- Translate community concerns into policy solutions.
- Evaluate ordinances and legislation impacts on marginalized communities.
- Organize community groups around policy initiatives and compose grant proposals.
- Overall program administration and accountability.
Senior Policy Liaison
Linc Up Community Revitalization
Grand Rapids
05.2017 - 03.2019
- Principal author of the Grand Rapids Human Rights Ordinance (passed 7-0 in 2019).
- Led civic engagement campaigns translating community concerns into policy solutions.
- Composed model ordinances to advance fair housing, fair lending, civil rights, affordable housing, and police-community relations.
- Managed Linc Up Community Engagement Fellows program.
- Tracked equity-impacting policy data and developed curriculum.
Civil Rights Research Analyst
IBS
Grand Rapids
02.2010 - 12.2017
- Provided analytical support for municipal projects related to housing, lending, civil rights, and equity.
- Developed data collection and reporting systems for public agencies and stakeholders.
- Promoted civic engagement and contributed to research development.
- Most recent project: Muskegon County Michigan – Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
Grant Program Officer
Hope Network Foundation
Grand Rapids
02.2010 - 07.2012
- Managed federal, state, local, and foundation grants for a 2300-employee disability services agency.
- Coordinated proposal processes for Government and commercial RFPs.
- Developed grant program infrastructure including compliance matrices and indirect cost rates.
- Chaired Hope Network Taskforce on Common Services and Procurement focused on raising funds for brain and spinal cord injuries, mental illness, developmental disabilities, specialized transportation, and autism spectrum disorders.
Adjunct Instructor
ITT Technical Institute
Wyoming
11.2009 - 01.2012
- Developed lesson plans and taught courses including Professional Communications, Project Management, Principles of Supervision, Microeconomics, Economics and Change, Project Risk Management, Virtual Teams, and Information Systems Security.
Fair Lending Compliance Manager / Fair Lending Test Coordinator
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
Washington
05.2007 - 05.2010
- Managed national discrimination compliance monitoring investigations for financial institutions.
- Maintained relationships with regulatory agencies and banking executives nationwide.
- Recruited and supervised national market research analysts.
- Executed project plans and methodologies supporting fair lending corporate practices.
- Conducted detailed investigations and provided training on fair lending.
Principle / Fair Housing Consultant
DM Consulting Group
Washington
09.2004 - 05.2007
- Managed housing and lending investigative projects in Washington, D.C.
- Facilitated town hall forums and financial literacy training.
- Served as Market Research Consultant for the National Fair Housing Alliance.
Education
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) (in Progress) - Black Leadership And Ministry
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Kansas City, MO05-2027
Master of Arts - Ministry Leadership
Cornerstone University / Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
MI01.2023
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Management
Strayer University
Washington, DC01.2004
Bachelor of Arts - Social Science
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI01.1997
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program administration
- Grant writing
- Data analysis
- Policy development
- Leadership representation
Certification
- Certified Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Facilitator, Cultural Intelligence Center, 08/01/21
- CPR Certified
Guest Lecturer And Workshop Facilitator - Topics
- College Access and Student Success
- Equity in Higher Education
- Community-Engaged Learning Models
Service And Community Leadership
- Board of Directors, Charlie's Place Youth Development, 06/01/22, Present
- Fellow, Center for Student Pastoral Theologians, 03/01/21, 05/31/21
- Fellow, Center for Public Justice – Sacred Sector Program, 05/01/19, 08/31/19
Publications
- Negotiations for White Space: Quest to enact robust Human Rights Ordinance in Grand Rapids, 07/01/18
- Michigan Proposal 3 - What You Need to Know, 10/01/18
- Additional civic engagement articles published on therapidian.org
- "Stewards of Adamah: The Intersection of Race, Theology and the Environment", Calvin University, 02/01/21
- "A New Gaze: What does a Healthy Hope College Look Like? An Exposition on Acts 3:1-10", Hope College, 02/01/22
Teaching And Student Engagement Experience
- Adjunct Faculty / Instructor, Muskegon Community College – Business Department, 01/01/16, 12/31/17
- Adjunct Instructor, ITT Technical Institute, Wyoming, MI, 11/01/09, 01/31/12
- Instructor, Davenport University, Diversity in Society, Achieving Career and Educational Success, 01/01/25, Present
Personal Information
Authorized To Work: US
Timeline
Associate Pastor / Co-Director
Uptown Church Extended Hands
01.2025 - Current
Community Impact Director
United Way of South Central Michigan
09.2022 - 06.2024
Equity and Compliance Coordinator / ADA Coordinator
Hope College
08.2021 - 10.2022
Program Coordinator (Part-Time)
Center for International Student Development, Calvin University
10.2020 - 08.2021
Managing Director (Part-Time/Project Based)
SIPI Global
12.2017 - 08.2020
Senior Policy Liaison
Linc Up Community Revitalization
05.2017 - 03.2019
Civil Rights Research Analyst
IBS
02.2010 - 12.2017
Grant Program Officer
Hope Network Foundation
02.2010 - 07.2012
Adjunct Instructor
ITT Technical Institute
11.2009 - 01.2012
Fair Lending Compliance Manager / Fair Lending Test Coordinator
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
05.2007 - 05.2010
Principle / Fair Housing Consultant
DM Consulting Group
09.2004 - 05.2007
Doctor of Ministry (DMin) (in Progress) - Black Leadership And Ministry
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Master of Arts - Ministry Leadership
Cornerstone University / Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Management
Strayer University
Bachelor of Arts - Social Science
Aquinas College