What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?
I currently live in Gentilly, I grew up in Michoud, New Orleans East and attended McMain.
Describe your job to us!
( A real life Chess match ) Trying to figure out anticipate and prevent more shootings and killings to keep the city healthy and safe requires a lot of strategic thinking, as well as trying to predict what may happen next is challenging but exciting at the same time.
Tell us about your career path.
My career path started the moment I was arrested for armed robbery in 1998, I had to find my way back after being incarcerated for 13years. From a sign language interpreter at JazzFest to cleaning floors for Jani King, I was ready to do whatever it took to not go back to prison. I started community organizing with OPEN Orleans Public Education Network, then I began teaching adult education for the Urban League of Louisiana, the grant for the program ended but I landed a job with JOB1 as the Education Director, I really liked working with the youth but I was offered an opportunity to help launch a new initiative called STRIVE. It was a work readiness training program, in less than two years we expanded the training model to four opportunity centers across the city, after many successful outcomes I was promoted to Training Director with the New Orleans Business Alliance, unfortunately the funded for the program ended during Covid and applied to work with the city, bringing all my work experience into play to now leading the Office of Gun Violence prevention
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
When we prevent a shooting, when we actually intervene and someone changes their thinking, it gives a lot of hope and energy to the idea that people can change
What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?
So many people in the city are hurt and dealing with trauma and depression, when you layer poverty and a poor educational system, you run into many challenges but the greatest challenge is getting people to believe better is a real possibility not just for some but for all
What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?
My absolute favorite thing is the music, I travel a lot and New Orleans has its own sound and feel and you can carry that sound and music wherever you go, as long as the music lives, New Orleans will live.