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Lem Cartman | Speaker & Strategist

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Maya Angelou said it best “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” I am a reflection of my family, the Chicago community that raised me, the institutions that shaped me, and the experiences that stretched my worldview. I carry all of it with me.

True leadership, has never been about having all the answers, it’s about creating the space for people to find answers together. Every lesson, every opportunity, and every success I’ve experienced has been the result of collective power.

Thank you to my teams @weincglobal , @morningblackwvlp , and @henryfordhealth for walking with me, building with me, and believing in the work.

I’m humbled to be named one of this year’s Common Purpose 25 Under 25 Legacy Leadership honorees. This recognition isn’t mine alone, it’s ours. I’m looking forward to continuing the work, together. No matter where I go… even if I come as one, I stand as 10,000. by @lemcartman

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10 months ago

Strong communities are built through strong partnerships.

Grateful to help welcome Councilwoman LaTisha Johnson to Henry Ford St. John Hospital for a tour and conversation about serving District 4 and the East Side of Detroit.

It was an opportunity to showcase the incredible work happening across our hospital and explore how healthcare, local government, and community leaders can work together around a shared commitment to the people we serve.

The best solutions are built together.

The work continues.

#Detroit #HenryFordHealth #CommunityBuilding #Leadership #EastSideDetroit taken in St. John Moross Hospital by @lemcartman

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4 months ago

Who is WE?
An at-a-glance look at the WE ecosystem.

1. Who is WE

2. The Ubuntu Philosophy

3. WE Consulting

4. WE Initiatives

Standing for With Everyone, WE is a collaborative ecosystem grounded in the belief that collaboration is essential for meaningful change.

This is the foundation.
The work continues with everyone.

#WithEveryone #WEInc #Collaboration #Ubuntu by @lemcartman

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9 months ago

Grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Southfield Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board, representing Henry Ford Health.

Through my work, I’ve come to understand just how closely health and community development go hand in hand. The places we live, work, and build our lives shape our health, our opportunities, and ultimately the strength of our communities.

Looking forward to working alongside local leaders, learning from the community, and doing my part to support Southfield’s continued growth.

Another opportunity to serve. Another opportunity to learn. Let’s get to work! 🤝🏾

#southfield #communityhealth #communitydevelopment #henryfordhealth taken in Southfield City Centre by @lemcartman

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3 days ago

4th Quarter, let’s finish strong 💪🏾

#4thquarter #finishstrong #lockin by @lemcartman

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4 days ago

Education is more than what happens in a classroom.

It happens when someone takes the time to teach, encourage, challenge, listen, and create space for someone else to grow.

For Martell, that has meant creating opportunities for young people to explore technology, build, and learn through hands-on experiences.

For Lem, it has meant creating spaces like his leadership camp where young people can discover their voice, develop their leadership, and see what’s possible for themselves.

Their work with young people reflects something we believe deeply at WE: investing in people is investing in the future.

This World Teachers’ Day, we’re celebrating the educators, mentors, coaches, facilitators, and community leaders who do that work every day.

To everyone helping someone learn, grow, and become: thank you.

Happy World Teachers’ Day. by @lemcartman

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6 days ago

Meet @lemcartman, Founder and Chief Strategist of @weincglobal, and the 2026 Policy Forum keynote speaker!

WE Inc. is a social impact consulting firm that has supported 14 organizations across the country and helped deploy more than $16 million in resources toward marginalized communities. Through this work, the organization brings institutions, communities, and people together to turn ideas into collective action.

As a strategist, civic leader, and public speaker, Lem's work bridges healthcare, public policy, community development, and youth leadership. His national and international experiences have strengthened his commitment to developing young leaders who think globally and act locally.

Lem serves as Manager of Community Relations within Corporate Government Affairs at Henry Ford Health. In this role, he helps advance community engagement tied to the Future of Health development and a $600 million reinvestment agreement with the City of Detroit.

Prior to joining Henry Ford Health, Lem helped lead a trauma recovery program at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago that achieved an average 20 point improvement in PTSD symptoms, which is more than double the national average. His background includes experiences spanning Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as speaking at the International Youth Conference in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly.

Lem is a nationally recognized 25 Under 25 honoree, Benjamin A. Gilman Scholar, Mackinac Future Leader, and member of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. He has brought his perspective to stages including the Detroit Economic Club, IBM Innovation Summit, New Leaders Council National Convention, and Cities United.

Originally from Chicago's South Side and now rooted in Detroit, Lem centers his leadership on a simple belief: young people should not only be prepared to inherit the future, they should have a meaningful role in shaping the decisions being made today.

We are excited to have Lem join this year's Policy Forum and look forward to his keynote address. by @lemcartman

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6 days ago

The goal was never just to make it into rooms I once dreamed about.

It was to learn from them, contribute to them, and eventually help open them wider for somebody coming behind me.

Still learning. Still building. Still becoming.

But every now and then, it’s worth looking back and realizing how far a dream can travel. 💫

#youthleadership #leadership #communityimpact #purpose #keepbuilding taken in Los Angeles, California by @lemcartman

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9 days ago

WE Inc. was honored to be at the 20th Presidential Inauguration of Rev. Brian Konkol at Valparaiso University on September 25, where Lem Cartman served as the alumni speaker.

In a warm and thought-provoking address to the Valpo community, Lem challenged us to remember that our light matters most in the places where it may be hardest to see.

And wherever we go, we never go alone. We carry the people who believed in us, supported us, challenged us, and poured into us along the way. We may arrive as one, but we carry the impact of thousands with us.

More from Lem’s address coming soon.

#WEInc #ValparaisoUniversity #Leadership #CommunityImpact #PersonalGrowth taken in Valparaiso University by @lemcartman

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12 days ago

Let’s call a spade a spade.

We keep calling systems “broken” when many of them are doing exactly what they were designed to do.

If a system continually and historically, produces the same outcomes for the same communities, at some point we have to stop treating those outcomes like accidents.

That’s not dysfunction. That’s design.

#systemsthinking #youthleadership #globalleadership #IYC14 #ungeneralassembly taken in Manhattan, New York by @lemcartman

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17 days ago

Two days from now, Lem Cartman will be at Valparaiso University for the 20th Presidential Inauguration, delivering a keynote as the university welcomes its new president.

Swipe through for a look back at two previous moments Lem has shared from the stage at Valpo, including MLK Day and a commencement ceremony.

From honoring the legacy of Dr. King to celebrating the next generation of graduates, these conversations have always been about more than a speech. They’re opportunities to challenge, encourage, and equip people to think differently about their role in the world.

We’re looking forward to being back at Valpo on September 25.

#WEInc #Leadership #ValparaisoUniversity #PublicSpeaking #CommunityImpact taken in Valparaiso University by @lemcartman

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17 days ago

Lem Cartman is headed to the International Youth Conference 14 in New York City this Wednesday as a panelist for “Policy Leadership & Global Advocacy.”

Hosted by the International Organization of Youth and supported by organizations including the United Nations, IYC14 brings together young leaders and changemakers for conversations on the future of global leadership and governance.

Swipe for a glimpse of Lem in a previous panel, then follow along as he joins this year’s conversation.

#WEInc #IYC14 #GlobalLeadership #YouthLeadership #PolicyLeadership taken in New York City by @lemcartman

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19 days ago