Denali is the Executive Director of Youth Run NOLA, an out-of-school youth-development organization that develops leaders and healthy communities through running. After graduating from Tulane University, she joined Teach For America and taught middle and high school English at C.F. Rowley Alternative School in St. Bernard Parish. She then joined the staff of KIPP Central City Academy to teach 8th grade English. Throughout her years in the classroom, Denali supported the founding and growth of Youth Run NOLA as a volunteer coach and Program Director before transitioning into a full-time role with the organization in the summer of 2014.

impact

While in the Startup Accelerator, Youth Run NOLA: WeRunNOLA Maps worked on their strategic plan by building out WeRunNOLA Maps as a new program under Youth Run NOLA and reframing the organization to target all community members, and not just youth. They also built out their fundraising and sponsorship strategy, and secured a $2500 corporate sponsorship from Lululemon Athletics to help develop regional and/or neighborhood-based running routes. Youth Run NOLA completed the design of a running route in Central City with the help of the youth in their program.