Founder and Visionary Leader of Rising from the Shadows, LLC 

Latoya Alston is the Founder and Visionary Leader of Rising from the Shadows, LLC, a Christian-faith-based wellness brand dedicated to guiding individuals toward holistic healing, resilience, and personal empowerment. Through her leadership, she has built a platform rooted in self-love, mental health advocacy, and support for survivors of domestic violence. Her work reflects a deep commitment to helping individuals move from merely surviving to intentionally thriving, with an emphasis on spiritual grounding, emotional restoration, and purpose-driven living.

Latoya is an accomplished scholar and practitioner with a strong interdisciplinary academic foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Master of Arts in Sociology from East Carolina University. She later obtained a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family from Liberty University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at East Carolina University. This academic journey informs her practical work, allowing her to merge theory, lived experience, and applied practice in the areas of education, prevention, and human development.

Professionally, Latoya serves as an Instructor, Academic Advisor, Author, Entrepreneur, and Prevention Education Advocate. She is intentional in leveraging both her educational expertise and her lived experience as a survivor of domestic violence to create safe, affirming spaces where individuals can heal spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. Her work prioritizes equitable access to support systems and resources, including spiritual counseling, community-based programming, educational tools, and empowerment-focused materials that promote dignity, clarity, and forward movement.

Under her leadership, Rising from the Shadows, LLC has expanded into a mission-driven platform that integrates wellness education with practical outreach. One of its cornerstone initiatives, H.A.V.E.N. (Help Achieve Victorious Endings Now), is designed to equip youth and communities with foundational principles for resilience, self-awareness, and personal growth. Through this initiative and related programming, Latoya continues to advance a model of empowerment that is both preventative and restorative in nature.

In addition to her organizational leadership, Latoya is the author of inspirational workbooks and journals that encourage intentional living, reflection, and personal transformation. Her writing extends her mission beyond direct service, offering accessible tools for individuals at various stages of healing and growth.

Outside of her professional and academic commitments, Latoya values deeply rooted connection and restoration through family and personal joy. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones and embraces her role as an “auntie-mom” to two amazing children, Mariah and Christian. She also finds joy in classic and nostalgic television, gaming experiences like Mario Kart, arcade outings, and peaceful beach retreats. While she appreciates simple pleasures—like 75-degree weather—she describes her greatest fulfillment as being fully present and grounded in the relationships that matter most, embracing what she often refers to as her “imperfectly perfect” life.