Yohance J. Lacour

Yohance J. Lacour is a Pulitzer and Peabody Prize-winning journalist, activist, artist, and entrepreneur whose work amplifies marginalized voices, exposes systemic injustices, and inspires transformative change in the fight for Black Liberation. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Lacour began his career as a playwright, journalist, and budding activist. He used storytelling to shed light on issues impacting Black communities and advocate for justice.

Lacour’s journey took a pivotal turn when he served a ten-year prison sentence, a period that profoundly shaped his perspective on race, identity, and systemic inequity. Upon release, he returned to his roots as a journalist and storyteller, leveraging his unique lens to uncover hard truths and fight for justice. His work with the Invisible Institute’s Audio Team and Wrongful Conviction Unit has brought national recognition, including his acclaimed podcast, "You Didn’t See Nothin’," which revisits the 1997 hate crime against Lenard Clark, a young Black teenager brutally attacked in Chicago by a group of white men and its aftermath to reveal deeper societal failures.

Beyond journalism, Lacour channels his creativity into the arts and entrepreneurship. He leads podcasting workshops for system-impacted youth, empowering them to tell their stories and advocate for change. At the Logan Center for the Arts, he spearheads a digital storytelling initiative, inspiring the next generation to embrace storytelling as a vehicle for liberation. His mixed-media artwork is also featured in permanent collections at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Lacour’s entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his luxury sneaker label, YJL, which blends cultural innovation with the leatherworking skills he developed during incarceration. Through art and design, Yohance redefines creativity and advances economic independence as a form of empowerment.

As a speaker, Lacour captivates audiences worldwide on race, art and culture, design, journalism, and politics. He's given the keynote address at Harvard on storytelling and social justice, highlighting his ability to connect across diverse perspectives and spark meaningful conversations about systemic change. His insights challenge assumptions, inspire action and envision a more liberated future.

Lacour passionately pursues equity, dignity, and self-determination through journalism, activism, and entrepreneurship. His vision for Black liberation continues to push boundaries and empower others to reimagine what is possible.