LaKisha G. Camese is an engaging public policy and social justice advocate with a background in medical cannabis lobbying & regulatory compliance, post-conviction exonerations, voter protection electioneering, and all aspects of business law.

LaKisha received her Juris Doctorate from THE Southern University Law Center. She is originally from New Orleans, La., where she received her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from THE Southern University at New Orleans. Prior to law school, LaKisha worked as a DNA Paralegal for the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office where she was afforded the opportunity to work with the Innocence Project of New York in the exoneration of one of her clients.

In addition to serving as the 2020-2021 Moot Court Board Parliamentarian, LaKisha also served as the Chair of the Student Bar Association’s Diversity Committee, as well as the 2020-2021 President of SULC’s Minorities for Medical Marijuana student organization. LaKisha has always been a strong champion of “Sankofa.” As such, she not only served with the SULC Pro Bono Organization but also was a 2020-2021 Marshall Brennan Fellow, where she taught local high school students constitutional law and prepared them for two mock Moot Court competitions. While serving on the Moot Court Board, LaKisha was awarded Best Oralist Presenting Both Arguments in the Price Media International Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

LaKisha has worked with the Louisiana State Capitol House of Representatives Department of Transportation in drafting legislation and the 19th Judicial District Court drafting post-conviction relief petitions and memoranda in response to currently incarcerated inmate grievances. Further, LaKisha served as a delegate for Texas’ Senate District 23, Deputy Registrar, and various electioneering positions during her 13 years in Dallas.

While working at Ilera Holistic Healthcare – the vendor for the Southern University Agricultural Center’s Medical Marijuana program in Louisiana, LaKisha directly increased the hiring of diverse candidates by 35%; the usage of minority and women-owned vendors by 30%; increased community outreach by 40% and partnered with local municipalities in drafting cannabis decriminalization legislation. LaKisha has served as the Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM) Inc. National Program Director for Project Clean Slate – which provides no/reduced cost cannabis expungement and wrap-around services to those most harmed by the War on Drugs as well as led several successful federal lobbying efforts for cannabis and hemp legislation.

LaKisha recently joined the phenomenal Black Women for Wellness Action Project team as a Policy Analyst which has put to great use her SULC background in abortion access and reproductive rights advocacy. In her spare time, LaKisha enjoys delighting friends and family with her delicious & decadent desserts from her former cake decorating days as well as being a doting plant mom and nature lover.