OUR HISTORY
Rev. Dr. Lee A. Earl and his wife Zandra
LAZERA was founded in 2018 by Rev. Dr. Lee A. Earl and his wife, Zandra, an extension of their ministerial journey. Guided by Rev. Earl's belief that God had called him to a new season of purpose, LAZERA was established to provide holistic, human-centered support to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, emotional distress, and systemic barriers.
Following the passing of Rev. Earl in 2020, leadership of the organization was assumed by his daughter, Yolonda Earl-Thompson, who embraced the responsibility of sustaining and growing the organization. Under her leadership, LAZERA has evolved from a grassroots outreach ministry into a trusted community-based organization advancing health equity, youth leadership development, prevention, family well-being, and community wealth building.
Today, LAZERA serves marginalized and under-resourced and historically underserved communities throughout the Franconia-Mount Vernon District and the Richmond Highway/Route 1 Corridor in Fairfax County, Virginia. Through strategic partnerships, community advocacy, leadership development programs, and culturally responsive support services, LAZERA works to address the social determinants of health and create pathways for individuals and families to thrive.
Under Yolonda's leadership, LAZERA has expanded its impact through innovative initiatives such as the 1 Brotherhood Empowered Teen Leadership Program, which develops young leaders through mentorship, civic engagement, and rites-of-passage experiences. LAZERA also serves as the backbone agency for, COMMUN1TY+, a collective impact, resident-centered systems change initiative sponsored in partnership with the Meyer Foundation and Northern Virginia Health Foundation that advances community wealth building, health equity, and resident leadership throughout the Route 1 Corridor. Additionally, LAZERA leads the Healthy Community Action Team (HCAT), sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, bringing together residents, and community partners to address childhood obesity.
Grounded in the belief that those closest to community challenges are also closest to the solutions, LAZERA continues to build on its founding legacy by empowering residents, fostering belonging, strengthening community voice, and creating opportunities for lasting transformation across generations.
