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. As a proud D.C. native, I was molded by public systems and community resilience. I also spent a significant part of my upbringing in Oxon Hill, Maryland, attending Prince George’s County Public Schools before completing my studies through homeschooling and Prince George’s Community College. Those formative years across the D.C.–Maryland line taught me the power of education, the importance of a voice, and the responsibility to act when others won’t.

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My path hasn’t followed tradition; it has been forged through purpose. I earned an Associate of Arts in Legal Studies and a 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 commitment to scholarship continues as I currently pursue a Doctorate in Law and Policy (DLP), a mission to master the tools required to reform the very institutions I serve.

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My professional foundation is built on a diverse record of public service. I have served as a Judiciary Clerk, a Deputy Clerk, and a City Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. These roles instilled in me the values of discipline, public trust, and persistence. Since 2022, I have dedicated myself to the next generation, during my time, as an educator within the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Then, moving from an Educational Aide to a Middle School Science Teacher, and thereafter, I bring real-world policy awareness and mentorship into the classroom, empowering students to think critically and lead boldly.

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Beyond the classroom and the courtroom, I am a creator. Known artistically as LaPret, I have been an elected member of ASCAP since 2007. Through rap, production, and my video podcast, "LIFE As Larry: Stop This Car," I champion "Reflective Reality Therapy," addressing men's mental health and emotional growth. As the CEO of LaPret World LLC, I ensure that art meets advocacy and creativity becomes a vehicle for resistance.

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My leadership has always been community-centered. I have served as Vice President of the National Youth Rights Association and as the founding President of its D.C. chapter. In Columbia, Maryland, I served on the Oakland Mills Community Association board, where I chaired the Community Together Committee to bridge social divides.

I am 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