I was born Larry Thurman Pretlow II on June 19, 1989, in the heart of Washington, D.C. — a city that raised me, challenged me, and shaped my purpose. I’m a proud D.C. native, molded by public systems, community resilience, and a deep desire to serve. I also spent a significant part of my upbringing in Oxon Hill, Maryland, where I attended Prince George’s County Public Schools, later completing studies through homeschooling and Prince George’s Community College. Those early experiences—across both sides of the D.C.–Maryland line—taught me the power of education, the importance of voice, and the responsibility to act when others won’t.

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My path hasn’t followed tradition. It’s forged through purpose.

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I earned my Associate of Arts in Legal Studies and Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Maryland Global Campus. In May 2025, I graduated with High Distinction from Liberty University, earning a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Law and Public Policy. My studies weren’t just academic—they were part of a larger mission to reform the very institutions I serve in. And that mission continues.

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Before entering public service, I worked as a Judiciary Clerk, a Deputy Clerk for DUIs, and a City Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. These roles taught me discipline, public trust, and the power of persistence.

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Since 2022, I have worked in public education, beginning as an Educational Aide and Long-Term Substitute Teacher before becoming a Middle School Science Teacher. Teaching has allowed me to bring real-world perspective, policy awareness, and mentorship into the classroom—empowering students to think critically, lead boldly, and believe in their own potential.

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As an artist, I go by the name LaPret. Since 2007, I’ve been an elected member of ASCAP. My music is testimony. Through rap, songwriting, and production, I speak on D.C. statehood, youth power, and identity. I am also the CEO of LaPret World LLC, where art meets advocacy and creativity becomes resistance.

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I’ve served as Vice President of the National Youth Rights Association and was the founding President of its D.C. chapter. I later served on the Oakland Mills Community Association board in Columbia, Maryland, where I chaired the Community Together Committee to bridge divides and build lasting dialogue.

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I’m a father of three and the youngest of six, born into a family of U.S. Army veterans. Service runs in my blood—but I serve in my own way: with boldness, with purpose, and with a vision that refuses to fade.

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Let Audacity Reign, Refuse Yokes!
— Larry T. Pretlow II