Capstone operates 30 previously vacant non-productive lots in the Lower 9th Ward, which it transformed into productive gardens, orchards and apiaries to distribute food to those who need it at free or reduced cost. David worked in commercial agriculture for nine years. Following a 22 year career in law enforcement which included five years as Chief of Police David became a full-time volunteer. In 2009 he made his first trip to New Orleans to help rebuild houses. Recognizing a greater need in the Lower 9th Ward David founded Capstone. Five years later, Capstone currently operates community gardens, orchards, and apiaries on 30 blighted and nonproductive lots that provide food to those in need at no or reduced cost.

Farm2School Database is a project of the Louisiana Farm to School Alliance (LAF2S) that increases the capacity of farm to school activities by providing a platform for schools and farmers to connect; leading to improved health outcomes for students and increased economic opportunities for farmers. Katie is the Executive Director and Co­Founder of the Louisiana Farm to School Alliance, a statewide network representing more than 100 organizations working in food, farming, nutrition and education to share resources and support for new and existing Farm to School efforts. LFSA builds a dialogue for statewide farm to school programming. She has worked in food education and policy since 2012 when she began coordinating the “local food in schools initiative” for KIPP New Orleans School’s signature program: The Healthy School Food Collaborative. In 2014, she worked alongside Tulane PRC to successfully pass Louisiana’s first farm to school legislation. Working collaboratively with key stakeholders, Katie focused on reforming procurement policy in Louisiana so that schools could easily purchase products from local farmers and in 2015 her team gained full support from the Louisiana State Legislature. She is the designated state lead in Louisiana for the National Farm to School Network (NFSN). With the support of NFSN and Market Umbrella, she is leading Louisiana in a $1.5 million dollar tri­-state initiative called “Seed Change” that builds capacity for Farm to School activities and create long-term program sustainability at the state level.

Gator & Crane is a grocer nourishing coastal cities by making healthy, sustainable products and zero-waste recycling services affordable and accessible. Emily is the firebrand founder and CEO of Gator & Crane, Inc. She is an international educator turned green grocer who has worked in all aspects of the food industry for nearly two decades. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from Northern Illinois University and an MA TESOL from The New School for Public Engagement. She believes food is a unifying force and that Louisiana’s culinary traditions new and old will be the catalyst for achieving a hunger, waste free world, one meal at a time. Darrell Greiwe has 15 years of experience in food and beverage startups. He has held successful positions at many influential companies in Chicago and New York, and now works in retail in New Orleans. Darrell holds a BA from the New School for Social Inquiry with a focus in Economics. He plans to combine his experience in retail management and hospitality with his passion for food, wellness and sustainability to help New Orleans lead the way in the fight against food waste.

Growing the Greenway is an initiative by Friends of Lafitte Greenway, advocating and creating sustainable community gardens along the Lafitte Greenway to improve health outcomes of local residents, strengthen neighborhood bonds, support environmental stewardship education, and foster economic growth in the Lafitte Greenway. Sophie is the Executive Director of Friends of Lafitte Greenway, a nonprofit organization committed to building, programming, and promoting the Lafitte Greenway as a great public space. Sophie previously managed the NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership, a coalition of 100 organizations that promotes community economic development in New Orleans’ Tremé and Mid-City neighborhoods. She also worked on the Faubourg Lafitte Housing Development at Providence Community Housing where she led neighborhood research and developed the education strategy. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors of Broad Community Connections and is an active member of the ReFresh NOLA Coalition. A big believer in the power of community engagement, Nellie Catzen is the Community Health Program Coordinator for Friends of Lafitte Greenway. Nellie has 5 years of nonprofit project coordination experience, and has spent most of her career working in youth empowerment, food justice, racial justice, and environmental advocacy. Before joining the Friends of Lafitte Greenway, she spent two years as Special Projects Coordinator for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans where she focused on strengthening the agency’s services to refugees and immigrants. She holds a degree in Environmental Health from the University of Pennsylvania Nellie is passionate about healthy food, community organizing and live music.

Top Box Foods is a non-profit organization offering delicious, nutritious, high-quality foods at affordable prices to people living in areas with limited access to healthy eating options. Sam is the Co-Founder and Director of Host Site Development of Top Box Foods, New Orleans. He plans to graduate from Tulane University in the Spring of 2016 with a BA in both Political Science and Communications. In 2012, Sam chose Tulane University because of their involvement in the rebuilding of New Orleans. Drawn to communities in need, the New Orleans food desert continues to both intrigue and motivate Sam. Inspired by city figures such as Burnell Cotlon and Councilmember LaToya Cantrell, he challenges himself by connecting with a new community each week, learning more about their experience while promoting healthy eating habits along the way. After spending several months volunteering for Top Box Foods in Chicago and falling in love with the organization’s values and abilities to create change, Connor moved to New Orleans with the ambitious purpose of co-founding the first national branch of Top Box Foods. Since moving to the Crescent City in 2013, Connor attends school as a part-time student and serves as the Vice President of Top Box Foods New Orleans. Top Box Foods NOLA has successfully delivered over fifty thousand pounds of fresh produce to families all over the city. In his roll as VP, Connor continues to strive for newer and more innovative ways to help residents of New Orleans gain access to the healthy and affordable food they rightfully deserve.

Coastal Reward creates a revenue source from credit card rewards that will contribute to funding coastal restoration projects and research in Louisiana. Amory holds a M.S in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University and a B.S from Sewanee: The University of the South in Biology. While studying at Tulane she held two internships. One was a field-based internship in the Louisiana marsh analyzing the recovery of indicator species after the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill. During the other internship, she co-authored a comparative study of restoration programs around the United States. Amory is passionate about coastal restoration for Louisiana. She proposed Coastal Rewards in an effort to address the severe lack of funding for coastal restoration projects in the state.

New Orleans Mosquito Control Board creates a livable environment by protecting the health and safety of the public from vectors and urban pests. Claudia is a native of Chicago but has lived in Louisiana for the last 15 years. She earned an undergraduate degree at Purdue University, a Master’s at the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from the Entomology and Nematology Department at the University of Florida. After graduating, she was hired by Dow AgroSciences then moved to Louisiana. In February 2004, she decided to focus on Formosan subterranean termites and became Principal Research Entomologist for the City of New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board. In 2006, she became Assistant Director, and in 2010 she was promoted to Director of the department. As director, she provides technical support for the City of New Orleans and the pest control industry. She conducts independent research and collaborates with the pest control industry to enhance existing products and test of new products. She also collaborates with government organizations and universities on a variety of research projects involving rodents, mosquitoes, termites and a variety of other urban pests. Claudia provides information about termites, mosquitoes, rodents and pest issues after natural disasters to pest control professionals and the public. She leads three academies (termite, pest, and mosquito) for the City of New Orleans. She participates in several professional societies at the national and local level. Claudia enjoys traveling and speaking at pest control and public health meetings around the country.

Coastal Waters Workforce strengthens workforce development by certifying high school students with skilled jobs in the water sector. Christina graduated from the University of New Orleans with a BS in Earth and Environmental Science. While in college, Christina worked as a Geology Trainee for Minerals Management Service, now Bureau of Ocean Energy Management assisting with Gulf of Mexico lease sales. Upon graduating, she took a break from geology to work at under performing schools in Orleans and Jefferson parish. While teaching, Christina engaged students in Science and Mathematics while preparing them for standardized test. In recent years, Christina has dedicated her career to training young adults for careers in environmental technology and wetland restoration.

504HealthLearn The Pitch 504HealthLearn is a program of 504HealthNet that enhances training methods available to primary care providers and clinic support staff serving the Greater New Orleans Area in order to improve the delivery of care for underserved patients. Susan Todd serves as the Executive Director of 504HealthNet. She brings a unique blend of expertise in the area of primary care access and strengthening health systems in addition to a passion for community involvement. She has worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). While there, she worked on Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace enrollment. She also handled financing issues, conducted research and analysis for health reform implementation, and participated as a core team member in the White House Initiative Strong Cities, Strong Communities. Through that initiative, Susan assisted the New Orleans Health Department with their health care access plan and additional projects. Susan earned her Masters of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and her BA in International Studies from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. She is originally from Baton Rouge, LA. Jahangeer Khan is the Project Coordinator for the Member Services division of 504HealthNet. He grew up in Baton Rouge where he received his Bachelor of Science degree from LSU A&M and Master of Public Health in Health Policy & Systems Management from LSUHSC here in New Orleans. He is a U.S Albert Schweitzer Fellow For Life and has successfully led multiple local initiatives in both primary care and specialty settings. His professional endeavors exemplify his dedication to bringing high quality healthcare to all Louisiana residents. 504HealthLearn blends two fields he has always had a strong passion for: healthcare and education.

Bausey Medical Solutions uses telemedicine to lower the cost and increase the reach of healthcare. Nathaniel is the President of Bausey Medical Solutions. As a Graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business and a member of the Honors Society of Georgia Tech, his love for business and passion for service have combined to make Bausey Medical Solutions. He returned home to New Orleans to enroll in Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business MBA program, and to help the underserved. In being a successful entrepreneur, Nathaniel knew that combining great ideas with great people can always lead to innovation. Bausey Medical Solutions is the solution to helping the underserved in healthcare.

The Resilient Teacher supports and empowers new teachers to thrive in high needs, urban schools by providing access to high quality mental health and counseling services. Stephanie is the founder of The Resilient Teacher, and a school counselor who has worked in New Orleans Charter Schools in a variety of roles for the last five years. She deeply believes in the necessity and power of mental health services in transforming the educational landscape of NOLA, both for the students in schools and the educators that teach them. In 2012, she received her Master of Education in Counselor Education from the University of New Orleans. She is a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor registered with the Louisiana LPC Board of Examiners. Stephanie spent her first 17 years in Maryland, but plans to spend the rest of them in New Orleans.

Adinkra (Elizabeth Fletcher), utilizes unschooling methods and home study networking as a way to develop life-long learners who value community, education, and culture. Elizabeth is the Founder and Executive Director of Adinkra NOLA, a burgeoning home-study curriculum provider and support organization for people of color. In addition to becoming a Louisiana State Certified English teacher, Elizabeth is also a certified parent educator, an educational consultant, and a 2010 recipient of the New Orleans NAACP Jessie Vickman Special Teacher Award for her work involving youth in the political process. Her goal at Adinkra NOLA is to ensure that the minority population has access to a modern, quality education that develops them socially, emotionally, and academically. She believes in the genius and creative natures of ALL children and that it is her job as a community leader to do as much as she can to cultivate the innate abilities that children carry within themselves.

The Beautiful Foundation, Incorporated provides a safe environment for the leadership development of young, underserved young women by focusing on self-esteem, entrepreneurial thinking while providing support for their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Lauren serves as the Executive Director of The Beautiful Foundation , Inc. In May 2012 she received her B.A. in Theatre Arts with a minor in Business Administration from Loyola University New Orleans. Throughout her college years she served as a mentor for the organization. Upon graduating, Lauren stopped mentoring to heavily pursue her career as a production makeup artist. While pursuing her career as a makeup artist, she realized that she wanted to integrate her love for mentoring and her love for makeup. In 2014, she began working for The Beautiful Foundation once again while still doing makeup. The only dilemma was that The Beautiful Foundation was in the process of dissolving. This came as sad news to Lauren because the organization had such a big impact on her as a 2005 participant. Standing firm on not seeing the organization dissolve, Lauren inquired about taking on the role of executive director and in early 2015 Lauren’s wish was granted. She is excited to bring a young, fresh vibe to the organization and looks forward to impacting the lives of young women in her city!

Upturn Arts (formerly Hope Stone New Orleans) provides “Arts for All” to the New Orleans community. Dana M. Reed graduated with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education (2003). In 2010, She relocated from New York City to New Orleans to establish Hope Stone New Orleans (now Upturn Arts) where she is Founder and Executive Director. New Orleans Magazine named her “Top Ten to Watch” in 2013 and Ashe Cultural Arts Center awarded her “Cultural Ambassador of New Orleans” in 2012. As a dancer, she currently performs her own works with Gris Gris Strut in New Orleans. She believes that art has encouraged her to respect herself and others, and to have pride in her work. She says that art has also allowed her to create an original artistic voice and given her strength to move forward no matter what obstacles she may encounter. Dana believes that instruction in the arts is a necessity in all communities.

RisingFoundations aims to stop the cycle of incarceration through homeownership, gainful self-employment, and financial services. Kelly is the co-founder and Executive Director of RisingFoundations. She is a recent graduate of UCLA School of Law where she specialized in public interest law and policy, business law and policy, and critical race studies. Prior to law school Kelly worked as a Project Coordinator at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL) managing a statewide advocacy campaign to End Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles (JLWOP). Kelly helped create public policy and impact litigation strategies, including the implementation of the Graham v. Florida decision in Louisiana, which made JLWOP unconstitutional in non-homicide cases. Through this work Kelly was exposed to the many barriers people and their families face when someone returns home from prison and began taking innovative approaches to combat the lack of reentry resources in New Orleans. Calvin Duncan is the co-founder of RisingFoundations. In 1985, Calvin was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life without parole. He spent 28 1/2 years in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit and won his own freedom in 2011. While in prison, he was a jailhouse lawyer for 23 years. Upon released, Calvin continue to provide incarcerated individuals with assistance in gaining access to the court. In 2013, he was awarded a Soros Justice Fellowship to help incarcerated individuals overcome procedural barriers that prevent them access to the court, and he is also the 2015 Echoing Green Fellow.

unCommon Construction uses apprenticeship and construction to highlight learning opportunities and empower hardworking high school students. In 2005, Aaron dropped out of college and responded to Hurricane Katrina with the Red Cross. Later that year, he took is first job in construction as the least skilled worker at a day labor company. Since then, he’s been an AmeriCorps NCCC member, a construction supervisor with Habitat for Humanity, a student at Tulane University, and a teacher through Teach For America. Today, he’s bringing those experiences together through unCommon Construction, and is most proud of the fact that he hasn’t paid for a haircut in nearly 10 years.

A project of the Youth Empowerment Project, YEP Design Works gives underserved youth a competitive edge on the pathway to sustainable creative careers. Alberta graduated from Barnard College with a degree in Art History and Human Rights (summa cum laude) and joined Teach For America in New Orleans. She taught and held leadership positions for four years in New Orleans public high schools. During her time teaching, saw a systematic lack of high-quality arts education and career training in creative digital media to meet the needs of creative youth. Inspired by a youth arts organization she’d graduated from as a teen, she developed the concept for Young Creative Agency with 4.0 Schools in 2012 and piloted in her classroom. YCA concluded its full pilot year in the fall of 2015. She has worked with Artists For Humanity, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Teen Vogue, Gris Gris Lab, Arts Council of New Orleans, Pelican Bomb, The Joan Mitchell Foundation and KidSmART.

Coastal Engineering Solutions solves complex engineering and planning issues associated with coastal land loss and flood risk reduction. Brent is professional engineer and coastal scientist who has spent most of his career planning and designing flood protection projects and coastal ecosystem restoration projects. Brent also focuses on the beneficial use of maintenance dredge materials for restoration projects, specifically in long distance sediment transport and alternative delivery of dredge material for the sake of driving down costs.

An initiative of Youth Run NOLA, WeRunNOLA Maps develops lifelong healthy habits amongst youth and their family members through developing regional or neighborhood-based running routes. 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.