At the young age of 17 years, Lena hosted the first Black radio show (1931). The radio station of course did not make it known she was a black woman. Her love of piano and music made her want to share it with whomever listened. The colour barrier did nothing to stop her. At the age of 22, in 1936, she went to the YWCA and tried to join. They turned her away and told her if she wanted to join, she would have to enroll five other black women. She returned the next day with ten black women. Nothing could hold her back when she put her mind to it. In the year of 1959, she made a decision that would affect Black people nationally. Lena was responsible, indirectly via politics, for having the colour barrier lifted on the CP Hotels nationally.