What New Orleans neighborhood do you live in? / Where did you grow up?
I currently live in Council District D, 7th Ward. I was born and raised in the 3rd ward of New Orleans, Mid City, to be specific.
Describe your job to us!
As the Director of Federal Relations for the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations, I am responsible for contributing to the strategic planning and execution of the City’s federal legislative and regulatory priorities. This includes leading and overseeing the legislative and regulatory portfolio at the federal level for all City departments and agencies, the Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY), the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), and the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO).
Tell us about your career path.
My career path began as early as 16 years old when I became a published author in Time Magazine. After receiving notoriety for my publication, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver invited me to the 44th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., where I attended as a guest speaker for an education forum. After graduating from my senior high school as Valedictorian and receiving over half of $1 million worth of scholarship offers; I further pursued my education at Louisiana State University, where I graduated within 3 years. Following graduation, I moved to Washington, D.C. to begin my internship as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leader. Upon completion of my internship, I was offered a full-time position at the age of 21 years old by the late and Honorable Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, then Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform, where I served as his Staff Assistant. My career on Capitol Hill continued as I became a Staff/Legislative Assistant for the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, led by then chairman, the Honorable Congressman Bennie G. Thompson. There, I received my Top Secret Security Clearance and was shortly promoted to Clerk for the Subcommittee on Emergency, Preparedness, Recovery, and Response. In 2021, after teleworking for a year during the pandemic, I decided to return home to New Orleans and work for the administration of Mayor LaToya Cantrell. I became a District E Liaison for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office. In 2022, I began working for the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) as an Innovation Analyst. And now year 2023, I am currently serving as the Mayor’s Director of Federal Relations.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
What I enjoy the most about my job is being able to utilize my network and experience I’ve gained while working on Capitol Hill to build coalitions and expand relationships with key decision-makers, policymakers, and elected officials within every level of government, for the betterment of my beloved City of New Orleans.
What challenges do you find to be the greatest in your role?
There are no challenges within my role great enough worth mentioning. I love what I do and do what I love.
What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?
I’ve traveled to many cities, states, countries, and continents, and still there’s no place like it. My favorite thing about New Orleans is its uniqueness, and rich culture created for and by natives like myself.