CO-CHAIR

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Cedric L. Richmond brings decades of leadership at the highest levels of government, law, and public engagement. A New Orleans native, Richmond served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Louisiana’s Second Congressional District, where he chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and served on the Ways and Means, Homeland Security, Small Business, and Judiciary Committees. After Congress, he was appointed Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, later serving as a senior advisor to the Democratic National Committee. Richmond is the founder of Richmond Consulting, LLC, and a lifelong advocate for equity, opportunity, and effective governance. He holds a B.A. from Morehouse College and a J.D. from Tulane University School of Law.

CO-CHAIR

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Desirée Charbonnet, a partner at Charbonnet Law Firm, has been a practicing attorney since 1996 and is known for her advocacy for victims of negligence and clergy abuse. She previously served as Chief Judge of the New Orleans Municipal Court, where she earned national recognition for her leadership in cases involving domestic violence and human trafficking. Charbonnet’s lifelong commitment to justice and civic service extends beyond the courtroom through her board service with the Louisiana SPCA and her deep engagement in the New Orleans community.

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Ryan Berger is an Executive Principal of The Berger Company, a real estate investment and development company headquartered in the French Quarter. The Berger Company has established an arrayed portfolio of retail, hospitality, parking, and real estate debt holdings in New Orleans and select markets nationally. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Ryan is deeply committed to serving the New Orleans community. He serves or has served on the Boards of New Orleans & Company, French Quarter Festivals Inc, Isidore Newman School, WYES, and the NOCCA Foundation, and has had leadership roles with and is a proud supporter of the Vieux Carré Commission Foundation, the Audubon Nature Institute, Junior Achievement, Early Partners, and Son of a Saint.

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With more than 25 years of experience in public service and community engagement, Emily Arata serves as System Vice President at Ochsner Health, where she leads strategy to improve community health through civic partnerships and policy engagement. She previously served as Deputy Mayor of External Affairs for the City of New Orleans and held senior roles in state and federal government, including Deputy Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor and Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She serves on numerous civic boards and is widely recognized for her dedication to public service and community advancement.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Renee Lapeyrolerie, who served as Moreno’s campaign manager, will lead New Direction New Orleans as the transition’s executive director. Lapeyrolerie brings decades of public service and strategic management experience. She has led numerous consequential campaigns across the state, including two presidential campaigns, and served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Her leadership extends to prominent roles at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and, just prior to Moreno’s campaign, the Sewerage and Water Board. Lapeyrolerie’s dedication to public service is also reflected in her tenure on the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District. Currently, she serves on the Preservation Hall Foundation Board. A proud Loyola University alumna, her career exemplifies a lifelong commitment to community development and service.

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Louisiana State Senator James “Jimmy” Harris III represents Senate District 4 and serves as Chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. A graduate of St. Augustine High School, Morehouse College, and the Southern University Law Center, Senator Harris has held senior-level roles at the federal, state, and municipal levels, including Director of State Relations for the City of New Orleans and Director of Special Projects for Congressman Cedric Richmond. He currently serves on several key Senate committees, including Finance and Judiciary A, and remains deeply engaged in civic life through organizations such as the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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Aimee Quirk is Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Development Officer at Ochsner Health and CEO of Ochsner Ventures, where she leads growth initiatives reshaping the future of healthcare through strategic partnerships, investments, and innovation. A former Senior Advisor for Economic Development for the City of New Orleans, Quirk has played a leading role in attracting private investment and creating permanent jobs in the city. She began her career in law, serving as a judicial clerk and later a partner at Jones Walker. Quirk holds degrees from Louisiana State University and Tulane University School of Law and currently serves on the boards of GNO, Inc., The Idea Village, Business First Bancshares, and Obatala Sciences, Inc.

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Sharonda Williams serves as Vice-President, General Counsel, and Director of Government Affairs at Loyola University New Orleans. She previously served as City Attorney for the City of New Orleans from 2013 to 2015, leading the city’s work on major consent decrees with the U.S. Department of Justice and resolving long-standing firefighter pension and back-pay litigation. Williams has more than two decades of legal and civic leadership experience, including service as Chair of the Regional Transit Authority, Vice-Chair of Urban League of Louisiana, and Chair of Louisiana Appleseed. A graduate of Xavier University and Loyola University School of Law, Williams is a member of the Port of New Orleans Board.

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Jennifer Greene is an accomplished trial attorney and community leader. She has spent her career advocating for justice and serving her community through civic and nonprofit engagement. Greene is a Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s ("AAJ") Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus, Past Chair of the Louisiana Association for Justice's Women's Trial Lawyer Caucus, and served on the Board of Governors for both organizations. Greene also sits on AAJ's Public Education, Public Affairs, FAIR and Trial Lawyers Care committees. She is a co-founder of Emerge Louisiana, the local affiliate of Emerge America, which trains Democratic women to run effective campaigns for public office. In addition, she serves on the National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees, Komen New Orleans Honorary Board, the Dress for Success New Orleans Advisory Board, as a Historic District Landmark Commissioner for the City of New Orleans and served on District Attorney Jason Williams' Transition Team. A graduate of Rhodes College and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, Greene is licensed to practice in Louisiana, Arkansas, and before the Supreme Court of the United States.

CO-CHAIR

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Raised in New Orleans and Franklinton Louisiana, Ms. Major is an Anti-Racist Community Organizer, trainer, and facilitator with over 50 years’ experience in many local, national, and international community development efforts. Her work is extensive and includes everything from nurturing leadership development efforts within local communities to assisting institutions in developing strategies to de-institutionalize racism. In the early 1980s, Ms. Major became assistant director for Bread for the World in Washington DC, where she helped to craft international food policy before returning to New Orleans to organize tenants of public housing against rent and utility spikes with the Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and Social Justice. She was a founder and lead organizer of the St. Thomas-Irish Channel Consortium, which created a national model for comprehensive, strategic community development. Later, under her tenure as Director of the St. Thomas Community Health Clinic, the clinic became the first in the country to declare racism as the number one healthcare issue for African Americans. After Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Major, was named by then Mayor C. Ray Nagin and former President George Bush to Co-Chair the Bring Back New Orleans Committee. Ms. Major then founded Citizens United for Economic Equity, a local Community Development Financial institution (CDFI) created to help storm affected businesses recover with a $5 million grant from the Federal government and which continues to provide loans to small and minority owned businesses. She has also held the position of Chair of the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, where she oversaw the development of small and disadvantaged business policy that is now a model for the region. Additionally, she has been the Board Chair of Robert R. Moton Charter School and is currently Special Consultant to the Executive Director of the St. Thomas Health Center.  She is a Co-founder and Chair of the New Orleans Citizens Committee, a diverse group of New Orleanians organized to push back against regressive policies that negatively affect individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized. Ms. Major continues to work as an Anti-Racism Trainer with The Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Ministries Against the Death Penalty. Ms. Major co-authored with the Reverend Joseph Barndt the book “Deconstructing Racism: A Path toward Lasting Change,” published January 2023. She has received numerous awards and citations for her achievements but says. "Being a respected member of my family and community is the greatest award I will ever receive." Ms. Major received her Master of Social Work from Southern University in New Orleans. 

CO-CHAIR

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Pete November serves as the president and chief executive officer of Ochsner Health, a leading academic health system in the Gulf South region. Ochsner is Louisiana’s largest not-for-profit health system as well as its largest private employer. Named CEO in 2022, he has held a wide range of senior leadership roles since joining Ochsner in 2012. Under his leadership, November has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare innovation, enhancing the physician and team member experience, advocating for patient-centric high-quality care and supporting economic growth and development across the Gulf South. He is a champion for cultivating a culture of trust, transparency and collaboration, ensuring that both patients and Ochsner teams have access to improved care delivery and the resources needed to thrive in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. November has shepherded several significant partnerships that are improving healthcare access for community members across the Gulf South region, including the development of Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana and a relationship with MD Anderson Cancer Center. Throughout his tenure, Ochsner has prioritized a commitment to its patients, teams and communities with forward-focused work to support workforce development programs and train future generations of healthcare professionals, highlighted by the creation of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM). November holds numerous community roles, including serving on the Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of the National World War II Museum and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region. 

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Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader and proponent of constitutional, community-based policing, Michael S. Harrison has been at the forefront of bringing about departmental reforms and changing for the better essential relationships between the police and the communities they serve.  He currently serves as the Co-lead monitor overseeing a four-year court mandated reform agreement in the Minneapolis Police department and was recently awarded the five-year monitorship overseeing the Mayoral/Community Commitment reforms in the Louisville Police Department. As a consultant for the past two years, he consulted for the US Department of Justice in their pattern and practice investigation in the Memphis Police Department. Additionally, he led and participated in assessments of multiple law enforcement agencies across the country. Prior to consulting, Harrison led the Baltimore Police Department as its 41st Commissioner from February 2019 to August 2023. He has earned an unparalleled reputation among law enforcement officials at local, state and national levels for his ability to implement reforms mandated by federal consent decrees, coordinate effectively with political and community leadership, and forge trusted relationships with local residents faced with endemic violence and the collateral effects that result. Before coming to Baltimore, Harrison served in the New Orleans Police Department for nearly three decades. He joined the NOPD in 1991 and ascended steadily through the ranks. He was appointed to Superintendent in 2014 and led the Department for four ½ years. Michael Harrison has been instrumental in the development, implementation and assessment of community policing programs that have led to demonstrably increased partnership and collaboration. Moreover, he is skilled at moving progressive law enforcement bills forward through the legislature and implementing evidence-based crime fighting strategies, many of which resulted in tangible crime reductions. Harrison was appointed to the Police Executive Research Forum Board of Directors in 2019, serving as its President from 2021 to 2023. He has been a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association and served as both the Central and Eastern Region Representative. Additionally, he was active as a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force. Harrison received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Criminal Justice from Loyola University New Orleans. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and the F.B.I’s National Executive Institute. A firm believer in civic duty, Michael Harrison served honorably for eight years with the Louisiana Air National Guard. He also currently serves as Overseer of Access Fellowship Church in New Orleans.

CO-CHAIR

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Mary Claire has over forty seven years of professional management experience providing visionary leadership and optimizing individual and organizational performance.  She is a licensed clinical social worker with a Masters of Social Work from Tulane University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans.   From 2003 to 2012 she served as the Director of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.  In 2007 she created the New Orleans Family Justice Center, a comprehensive victim services center and served as its Executive Director of the New Orleans Family Justice Alliance from 2012 – 2023. She currently serves as the CEO of the New Orleans Family Justice Center and the HOPE Community Health Center.

CO-CHAIR

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Ms. Claiborne is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chaffe. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has received her designation as an Accredited Senior Appraiser in Business Valuation (ASA) by the American Society of Appraisers. She holds Securities Licenses 79, 24, 27, and 63. Ms. Claiborne is also Accredited in Estate Planning (AEP) by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Ms. Claiborne specializes in business valuation services primarily for estate and gift taxes, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), fairness opinions, corporate planning,  litigation support including expert testimony, exit planning, and shareholder transactions and restructuring.

CO-CHAIR

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Ann Davis Duplessis is a highly accomplished Senior Vice President with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. She currently holds the position of SVP Bank Administration, leading high-performing teams across a comprehensive array of departments and divisions for Liberty Bank and Trust, a 1-billion-dollar minority-owned community bank. Mrs. Duplessis manages and directs the retail and consumer banking system, business development, private & institutional customer acquisition, digital and online banking, customer service call center, deposit operations, and loan servicing. In addition, Mrs. Duplessis serves as president of Liberty Insurance Company, a Liberty Bank and Trust subsidiary. Mrs. Duplessis is the President/CEO of Duplessis Real Estate Group, LLC, a residential and commercial real estate company serving the New Orleans and Baton Rouge markets. Mrs. Duplessis is a former Louisiana State Senator who served as chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee, Vice Chair of the Education Committee, and Senate floor leader for Governors Kathleen Blanco and Bobby Jindal. As Senator, Mrs. Duplessis authored and passed 57 major laws on parental choice, education reform, early childhood K-12 education, pro-business initiatives, economic development, banking, and more. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to education reform, early childhood K-12 education, pro-business initiatives, economic development, and more. After her time as a Louisiana State Senator, Mrs. Duplessis served as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans and Interim Executive Director for the French Market Corporation under former Mayor Mitch Landrieu. She is a community servant and volunteers serving on multiple local and national boards. More notable board positions include former Chairwoman of the LSU Board of Supervisors and former Chairwoman of the New Orleans Business and Industrial District. She serves on the American Federation for Children national board, the Delgado Foundation Board, the New Orleans East Hospital Service District, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), and the Ballet Association. Additional notable honors include being an inductee in the Louisiana Women Leaders Business Hall of Fame, and she was recognized twice in the New Orleans Magazine and Crisis Magazine. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Tulane University and graduated from the LSU Graduate School of Banking. Her most treasured accomplishments are being the wife of Virgil Duplessis, mother of three beautiful daughters, and grandmother of four adorable granddaughters and two terrific grandsons!

CO-CHAIR

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Michael Hecht is President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the economic development agency for southeast Louisiana.  GNO, Inc.'s mission is to create a region with a thriving economy and an excellent quality of life, for everyone.  Under Michael's leadership, GNO, Inc. has been named “Economic Development Organization of the Year” in the USA by the International Economic Development Council. Recently, Michael led the effort for New Orleans to prepare for Super Bowl LIX, subsequently called “the best Super Bowl ever” by NFL Commissioner Goodell.  Currently, he is leading Louisiana’s effort to build a new $2B port, the only greenfield deepwater port in America. Before coming to GNO, Inc., Michael led the quarter-billion-dollar Katrina Small Business Recovery Program for the State.  Previous to coming home to Louisiana, Michael worked for Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York City, running the post-9/11 small business program. Michael's entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding a conglomerate of restaurant ventures, including “Foreign Cinema,” named Restaurant of the Year 2000 in San Francisco.  He began his career as a strategic management consultant in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Michael holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and an undergraduate degree from Yale. Michael has been recognized as “One of the Ten People Who Made a Difference in the South,” “One of the 20 Business ‘Icons’ of the Tricentennial,” and “2018 CEO of the Year.”  He serves as the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Finland, and is on the national board of the International Economic Development Council. With family roots in Louisiana back to the 1830s, Michael now lives in New Orleans with his wife, Marlene, who is pursuing a Ph.D. at Tulane.  They have two young adult sons.

CO-CHAIR

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Kevin Ferguson is a dedicated civic and business leader and passionate advocate for the people and culture of New Orleans. A New Orleans native, Kevin has committed his career to uplifting his hometown by bridging the worlds of business, community development, and community service. After graduating from Florida State University with a focus in history, Kevin returned to New Orleans with a clear mission: to contribute to the city’s vibrant recovery and renaissance following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. He brought with him a deep commitment to the city and a personal passion for bettering the quality of life for all New Orleanians. Kevin spent more than a decade with the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints organizations, rising through the ranks to help lead premium sales both organizations. His tenure reflected a broader commitment not just to sports business success, but to the economic and cultural life of the city through its beloved teams. Today, Kevin serves as the Vice President of External Affairs and Membership at New Orleans & Company, the city’s official destination marketing and tourism organization. In this executive leadership role, he is responsible for designing and executing strategies that grow organizational membership, build meaningful community partnerships, and strengthen New Orleans' reputation as a premier destination—while ensuring the needs of local residents are prioritized in every conversation. Kevin’s portfolio spans critical areas of public and civic engagement, including government relations, workforce development, and advocacy for quality-of-life issues such as public safety, homelessness, public transportation, environmental sustainability, and accessibility. Under his leadership, New Orleans & Company has launched and supported many transformative initiatives. Through these efforts, Kevin has positioned New Orleans & Company as a leading voice on responsible tourism development, and as a connector among tourism professionals, city leadership, non-profits, and local neighborhoods. A committed civic volunteer, Kevin actively contributes to numerous boards and organizations that advance equity, resilience, and opportunity in New Orleans. He is past board president of Young Leadership Council. He currently sits on the GNO Inc. NextGen Council, where he collaborates with emerging regional leaders focused on innovation and growth. He supports community development through his board service with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Kevin also contributes to cultural preservation and civic engagement as a board member of the Louisiana Museum Foundation, and lends his time to Grace at the Greenlight, a non-profit providing essential services for the unhoused. Additionally, he supports public safety and community trust efforts through the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation. Throughout his career, Kevin Ferguson has sought to exemplify a new generation of leadership in New Orleans—driven by a deep love for the city, a hands-on approach to collaboration, and a strong belief that what improves the lives of residents also enhances the experience of each visitor who comes to treasure the Crescent City.

CO-CHAIR

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Councilmember Lesli Harris is a dedicated advocate, attorney, and community leader committed to justice, housing equity, and preserving New Orleans’ culture. As a student at Tulane Law, she began her career representing children in need through Tulane’s Juvenile Law Clinic. She spent 16 years at Stone Pigman, becoming the firm’s second Black woman partner and specializing in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing clients like the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans. She also fought for marriage equality, representing the Forum for Equality and same-sex couples in the case that helped overturn Louisiana’s anti-gay marriage laws. In 2025, Councilwoman Harris was re-elected without opposition to a second term as the representative for District B, marking the first time in the district’s history that an incumbent ran unchallenged. She also became the first New Orleans City Councilmember overall to secure re-election unopposed since Troy Carter in 1997. Before joining the City Council, Lesli served as Chief of Staff to Loyola University’s first woman president, where she played a key role in stabilizing the university’s finances and leading its COVID-19 response, drafting policies to protect students, faculty, and staff. On the Council, she has championed quality-of-life, public safety, justice, and housing initiatives, securing funding to eliminate the backlog of untested sexual-assault kits and working to reopen the city’s DNA lab, earning her the Champion of Change Award from STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response). She has been a leading advocate for affordable housing, receiving an award from The First 72+ for her work securing stable housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. Lesli has also emerged as one of Louisiana’s most effective housing advocates. She led the effort to establish the City of New Orleans’ first dedicated Housing Trust Fund, building a broad coalition of advocates and local leaders that achieved a landslide 75% voter approval at the ballot box. The Fund now guarantees a permanent, recurring stream of city funding for affordable housing, investing millions each year into homeownership assistance, rental support, and housing preservation programs that help working families remain in their neighborhoods. Her leadership on this initiative earned her the Mondale Brooke Award from the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center. In addition, she partnered with several local organizations, the New Orleans Health Department, and the Office of Homelessness Services to create Home for Good, a coordinated housing initiative designed to connect unhoused residents directly with permanent supportive housing. With her support, the program is well on its way to housing more than 1,500 individuals, offering wraparound services to help families achieve stability and self-sufficiency. Lesli remains deeply engaged in the community, serving on the boards of the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board, the New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Fund, the Louisiana Museum Foundation, and the Sanford “Sandy” Krasnoff Criminal Justice Council. A proud resident of Central City, Lesli is committed to fighting for a safer, more equitable, and more vibrant New Orleans.

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Erika Mann is a lifelong educator, transformational leader, and advocate for equity in education with more than 25 years of experience dedicated to improving outcomes for underserved youth in the Greater New Orleans region. A native of New Orleans’ 7th Ward, she brings a deep, personal connection to the community she serves. Ms. Mann currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the historic Dryades YMCA, making history as the organization’s first female CEO. Her leadership is rooted in service, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to transparency and community empowerment. Prior to her current role, she led the James Singleton Charter School as Head of School, Assistant Principal Landry Walker High School and retired school leader and educator in Jefferson Parish Public Schools, establishing a track record as a highly respected school turnaround expert. Erika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Loyola University New Orleans, and a Master of Education with certification in school administration from the University of New Orleans. Her philosophy of leadership centers on a belief in building capacity from within—empowering staff and communities to drive long-term success and sustainability. Beyond the classroom and boardroom, Erika is an engaged community leader, mother, and mentor. She has coached youth and high school sports including volleyball, basketball, soccer, and softball. She has served as a coach and team manager with Carrollton Boosters, the Louisiana State Soccer Olympic Development Program, and the Chicago Fire Juniors of Louisiana Soccer Club. These experiences have further shaped her collaborative, team-first approach to leadership. A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Erika finds inspiration in her two daughters: Alex, a first-generation Medical Director and decorated collegiate athlete, and Tori, a graduate student, policy intern with Congressman Troy Carter (Jan-May 2025), and decorated collegiate student-athlete. Her daughters are a testament to the values she upholds—service, character, integrity, and faith. Alongside her daughters, Erika is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her fiancé, Marc, whose encouragement and partnership have been instrumental throughout her leadership journey. His steadfast belief in her mission has been a constant source of strength through both challenges and triumphs. Erika’s mission is to protect and elevate the legacy of the Dryades YMCA, a cornerstone of the African-American community in New Orleans since 1905. Under her guidance, the organization continues its legacy of impact, preserving its heritage while driving innovation for future generations having tripled the childcare program’s enrollment and revenue.

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Born and raised in New Orleans, Carlos is a proud graduate of the New Orleans Public Schools, graduating from Eleanor McMain Secondary School in 1984. He went on to study History, Studio Art and Education at Tulane University where he earned a BA in History, a BFA in Glass Sculpture, as well as his Teacher Certification for Secondary Social Studies. Carlos also holds a Masters in History Teaching from the University of New Orleans. He and his wife Elizabeth (Ben Franklin ’84) raised their six children in New Orleans, all of whom attended New Orleans Public Schools. Out of a sense of loyalty to the system that gave him his education and a sense of urgency that the system must improve, Carlos joined the New Orleans Public Schools teaching core, including teaching social studies at Ben Franklin High School from 1993-2000. Having struggled with severe learning disabilities, Carlos is keenly aware of the need to meet each child’s unique learning needs. While teaching at Ben Franklin, Carlos served as the Learning Disabilities Contact Teacher, giving students under his care the support he had never received. At Ben Franklin Carlos also helped create the new geography curriculum and won state approval for a new elective, History of the 20th Century. Carlos also served as the Freshman Class Sponsor, helping the 9thgrade students adjust to life in high school. In 2000 Carlos began working fulltime as a freelance glass sculptor. His work has shown nationally, has been featured in many publications, and has won numerous awards. Helping to rebuild the arts community post-Katrina, Carlos was a co-founder, then President and CEO of the New Orleans Creative Glass Institute (NOCGI) which built a state-of-the-art public-access glass studio in Mid-City. Opening in September of 2006, NOCGI was the first business to open in central Mid-City post Katrina.  As President and CEO, Carlos helped oversee NOCGI’s merger with YaYa, Inc. to create the YaYa Arts Center in Central City. Rebuilding public schools after Hurricane Katrina, Carlos was elected to be the Founding Board Chair to reopen Audubon Montessori / L’Ecole Franco-Américaine as Audubon Charter. Working with the school community and the Orleans Parish School Board, Audubon rehired its faculty and reopened in January of 2006. Carlos later served on the board of Ben Franklin High School, servings as its President from 2018 to 2020. Carlos’ other board service includes Founding Treasure/Secretary of New Orleans College Beyond, Secretary then Vice President of the Louisiana SPCA, and Board Member of the NOCCA Institute and the Ruby Bridges Foundation. While serving the LASPCA, Carlos was the founding Chair of the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee which advocates for animal welfare legislation and helps negotiate the animal control contract between the LASPCA and the City of New Orleans.

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Dr. Takeisha Charles Davis is a daughter, mother, and sister who was born and reared in New Orleans, Louisiana, and formally educated at Xavier University of Louisiana, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Harvard School of Public Health. In 2005, Dr. Davis returned to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, where she served in various positions, including the Director of the Center for Community and Preventive Health, Office of Public Health Medical Director, and Assistant State Health Officer. Currently, Dr. Davis serves as the President and CEO of the New Orleans East Hospital. At NOEH, Dr. Davis is committed to reducing disparities in health outcomes and promoting health equity by focusing on evidence-based, clinical and population health initiatives.

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Donna M. Glapion is a native New Orleanian, lifelong public servant, and passionate advocate for children, families, and communities across Louisiana. A graduate of McDonogh #35 Senior High School, she earned a B.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with concentrations in media production, marketing, and public relations, and completed postgraduate studies in Spanish at the Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Donna’s career in public service began in the very office she would one day lead—first as a volunteer and later as an aide to the late Councilmember Dorothy Mae Taylor, her mentor and trailblazer. In 2021, she was appointed Interim Councilmember-At-Large for the City of New Orleans, becoming only the second African American woman to serve in that position since Councilmember Taylor, 30 years prior. Across more than three decades, Donna built a dynamic career spanning public, corporate, and academic sectors. She has managed statewide political operations, served as Section Administrator at Tulane University Medical School, led operations at Orleans Parish charter schools, and coordinated statewide programs for the national nonprofit Share Our Strength. In November 2022, Donna was elected Clerk of First City Court, where she continues to serve the residents of Orleans Parish with integrity and dedication. She also serves as an elected member of the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, representing New Orleans East, District E. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for more than 39 years, Donna is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of her city. She was honored to reign as Queen Zulu in 2017, celebrating the rich heritage of New Orleans.

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Brandan “Bmike” Odums is a New Orleans based visual artist, filmmaker, and community builder whose large-scale murals and exhibitions transform public spaces into monuments of resilience and imagination. Emerging from the city’s street art movement, he is best known for founding Studio BE, a 35,000-square-foot art space that has become a cultural landmark. Through his nonprofit Eternal Seeds, Bmike extends his practice into education, mentorship, and youth-centered programs that nurture the next generation of creators. His work blends spray-painted layers, bold text, and archival references to honor untold histories while envisioning liberated futures. From post-Katrina reflections to tributes to Black cultural icons, his pieces bridge memorial and myth, reminding viewers of the transformative power of art. Across walls, canvases, and communities, Bmike creates not only images but ecosystems, spaces where imagination becomes a blueprint for survival and change.

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As a youth Osborne’s interest in art was largely fueled by his mother and his older brother whom were hobby artist. While in high school, Osborne was introduced to painting by his mentor artist Richard C. Thomas. Osborne attended the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (N.O.C.C.A.) and later graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Xavier University in New Orleans. For the following five years he taught art at Alice Harte Elementary until Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and he relocated his family to Georgia. With his wife’s (Stephanie) encouragement, Osborne decided to dedicate his time completely to art. After two years in Georgia, he moved his family back to New Orleans and created a new body of Katrina related works. Osborne’s work quickly became internationally recognized for its powerful scenes glorifying New Orleans. “New Orleans has an incredibly rich culture and what make Nola so wonderful is that we love people. When you visit, you can feel it.” Osborne says. His 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Official Jazz & Heritage Festival Posters are a handful of the most collected works in the world. Osborne gained partnerships with companies such as Nike, NBA, CocaCola, Hancock Whitney Heineken, Raising Cane’s, Zulu Organization, Tulane University and Coup De Fondré Winery to name a few. In 2017 Terrance Osborne Gallery opened in uptown New Orleans at 3029 Magazine Street.