Councilwoman LaDonna Sherwood shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi LaDonna, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Dancing and listening to music. I love to dance, but I really love music. Both cause me to lose track of time. I love all types of music from Italian arias to rock and rap. But music changes your energy. And dancing is electric when you let your body move. Dancing is both medicine and therapy. I didn’t think I could dance, then I just stopped thinking and started moving. Don’t Forget to Dance
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m LaDonna Sherwood—Councilwoman for Ward 3 and a lifelong Beaumont neighbor. I came up serving this community as a small-business owner and organizer, showing up where help was needed: youth programs, park clean-ups, and everyday problem-solving on our blocks.
My “brand” is simple: access, action, and accountability. I listen first, then move fast on practical wins that make daily life better—safer streets, cleaner water, stronger parks, and real opportunities for our young people to learn a trade or land that first job. I don’t do politics as usual; I roll up my sleeves and work with anyone who wants progress.
A big part of my story is hands-on youth work through LCCA—mentoring, leadership, and career-readiness programs that keep our kids moving forward. And for 19 years I’ve provided non-emergency medical transportation, getting older neighbors and patients to appointments safely and on time. That work keeps me grounded in what families actually need—reliable services and respect.
Right now, I’m focused on youth investment, improving and activating our parks, and pushing forward long-overdue infrastructure fixes in Ward 3. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a clear mission and an open door.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My mother and my grandmother made me who I am. The confidence, enthusiasm, and perseverance people see in me came from watching how they moved through the world and listening to what they taught me.
My grandma’s mantra was, “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” She meant you’ve already lost if you don’t make the effort. My mother would add, “If God is for you, He’s more than the world against you.” Together, those truths built my backbone. I stopped asking, “Why me?” and started asking, “Why not me?” That shift turned obstacles into assignments and setbacks into lessons.
Their wisdom guides how I lead, serve, and show up for others. It’s why I keep a can-do spirit, why I choose action over excuses, and why failure isn’t an option—I can, I will, I must.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success can confirm your gifts; suffering reveals your foundation.
My faith taught me to “glory in trials,” because trials produce perseverance, perseverance shapes character, and character grows hope. I’ve lived that. In hard seasons I learned to breathe through the fire instead of run from it.
Gold is refined by heat, diamonds by pressure, and pearls by irritation—our souls aren’t so different. Suffering taught me to listen more than I speak, to ask for help, to start again, and to carry other people’s burdens with compassion. It built discipline when doors closed, creativity when resources were thin, and humility when timelines slipped.
Success told me I could. Suffering taught me why I must—so the strength I gain can become hope for someone else. Every struggle has produced a greater work in me, shaping something rare, priceless, and precious.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
For me, it’s the belief that we all we got. In my culture, too often we’re waiting for someone else to step in—a savior, a leader, an outside solution—when the truth is, sometimes nobody is coming. And more importantly, nobody is actually holding us back but ourselves. Our own thinking can be our biggest obstacle.
That’s why I hold on to the value of self-determination. We have to reprogram our mindset so that failure is not an option. It’s about pushing past doubt, leaning on each other, and taking responsibility for the community we want to see.
I believe deeply in collective strength. When we stop waiting for permission and start acting together, we find that the power to build, change, and thrive has been in us all along. We all we got—and that’s more than enough.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
If I’m not giving everything I’ve got, then something is wrong. My philosophy is simple: do your best and nothing less. The work isn’t about applause—it’s about impact.
Like Drake said, “I’m just tryna stay alive and take care of my people, and they don’t have no award for that.” That resonates with me. I’ve never needed accolades or recognition to validate what I do. The reward is in knowing I showed up, put in the work, and made a difference.
For me, it’s about doing good for goodness’ sake. The satisfaction comes from seeing progress in people’s lives, not from hearing my name called.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.voteladonna.com
- Instagram: @voteladonna
- Linkedin: LaDonna Sherwood
- Facebook: Councilwoman LaDonna Sherwood
Image Credits
First one The City of Beaumont
