CHARLOTTE, N.C. — May 25, 2021 marks one year since George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. After his death, people around the country marched for justice, and called for changes against police brutality. 

One Charlotte woman worked directly with the Floyd family leading up to the trial. 

LaToya Evans, CEO of the LEPR Agency, started her career in public relations working for major companies like Bank of America and IBM. 

She said the Floyd family called her last summer, and asked her to help with interviews and other appearances. 

“Being able to help them understand positioning and speaking to crowds about how their lives have been changed by the loss of their brother, their friend,” Evans said. 

Evans said working with the Floyd family was emotionally challenging at times, especially when it came to viewing the infamous body camera video, and other moments from that day. 

“Part of that is being able to take yourself out of a situation that you know is emotional, and being able to give it that professional lens, and not get dragged into the pain of it. That sometimes means holding back those tears,” she said. 

Evans said working with the Floyd family has changed her life, and she knows her purpose in helping give a voice to the voiceless is solidified in history. 

“To be able to wake up and know that the work that you do, the things that you say, the things that you write literally can change the course of history … I don’t think that you could ask for a more purposeful life,” she said.

Evans is still working with the family, and she has also helped coordinate the events in Minneapolis that will mark one year since Floyd’s death.