24 Carrot Garden is a cooperative garden space in St. Roch where youth can explore entrepreneurship interests through gardening. Youth work to nurture and harvest plants, research ways to cook them, and experiment with creating value-added products. At 24 Carrot Garden, youth divide 100% of produce sales, teaching youth the value of hard work and the basics of financial literacy. Angel Chung Cutno Angel Chung Cutno is a Louisiana native and began her teaching career in Houma, LA before moving to California. In California, she gained experience in community organizing and gardening, nonprofits, and developing project-based curriculum. She recently moved back to Louisiana with her husband and became highly involved in her immediate community straight away. In addition to being a Rotary member and leading as a co-director of 24 Carrot Garden, she serves on OPSB‚ District 2 Education Council and works as the “Culture Queen” at New Harmony; a high school focused on passion-based learning through the lens of coastal restoration. Lauren Barron Lauren Barron is from Metairie, Louisiana. She studied at Louisiana State University where she received her BFA in graphic design. She has held leadership positions in various forms, including in radio and art collectives. She recently created an artist collective called Creme de la Femme, with its first show including several artists that she curated. She has worked for 24 Carrot Garden for one year and has created partnerships through restaurant and chef connections.

Bailey’s Grocery and Market is a business that provides healthy, fresh food choices and economic development to the Lower Ninth Ward Community. The Bailey family has served this community since 1948 and serves as a catalyst for economic growth, housing, and supporting new jobs. Conrad M. Bailey, Sr. Conrad Bailey, Sr., is runs the operations of Bailey’s Grocery and Markets. He brings 20+ years of experience in the grocery management, in addition to 20+ years as a supervisor for Crescent Crown Distributing. Wanda G. Bailey Wanda Bailey is chief financial officer for Bailey’s Grocery. She and Conrad have been married for 38 years and have lived in the Lower Nine for sixty-four years. Together they have two sons and two granddaughters.

Beautify is a business delivering hair, nails, and makeup services directly to consumers by connecting them to licensed, vetted, and talented Beauty Pros. The Beautify business model allows customers to book through a mobile app, which allows customers to receive all of their traditional, beauty services in a non-traditional, personalized capacity. Kiyann Clanton Kiyann Clanton is the founder of Beautify, a veteran manicurist, and mom. As a current professional in the beauty industry, she found it daunting to maintain a regular beauty routine without compromising hours in a salon; often compromising her beauty routine. She realized that when she received her beauty services, she felt confident, empowered, and at the top of her game. She wanted to create a way in which busy moms and entrepreneurs alike can receive beauty services on their own terms. With few options to receive an at home, on-demand, or mobile service, Beautify was born. Kikis’ focus is to empower women of all-sorts to look and feel good, but also impact the beauty industry by offering educational financial, and professional development to beauty professionals. Maya Sewell Maya is a current Accounting Major and intern who has a strong passion in the cosmetic space. Maya possesses a strong desire to work in the beauty industry while contributing a youthful approach to the brand.

Bright Side Oysters grows and sells premium quality oysters year round through “off-bottom cultivation,” a technique that allows for multiple crops per year and less damage, which results in a higher yield. Nathan Herring grew up with a fish tank next to his bed and a curiosity for the aquatic environment. In college, he studied Wildlife and Fisheries Science with a focus on Aquaculture and worked in the food industry. Every summer, he found a way to work or study close to the water such as taking classes and doing an internship at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab, cleaning up after the BP oil spill, and volunteering in the conservation field. After school, he worked for the NYC Parks department with the Million Trees Initiative where he was a Forestry Restoration Technician. There he gained an appreciation for ecosystem conservation work and was introduced to the importance of oysters to the health of marine environments through the Billion Oyster project. After much research and soul searching, he decided that raising oysters is the perfect outlet to satisfy all of his interests, make a positive impact on the marine environment, and to make a living

Conceived as the policy arm of the National Food and Beverage Foundation, Culinaria Center for Food Law, Policy, and Culture is a membership-based community advocacy organization, fighting for equitable environmental and social policies in Louisiana. Shawn “Pepper” Bowen is an Environmental, Food, and Water attorney and the Founding Director of Culinaria Center for Food Law, Policy, and Culture. She is also chair of the New Orleans Food Policy Advisory Committee, Trustee on the CrescentCare board, and a Steering Committee member of Value Louisiana’s Regional Sustainability Committee. Pepper holds a BS in Computer Information Systems from Tulane University, an MS in Computer Information Technology with a concentration in eCommerce, and a JD with certificates in both Environmental and International Laws. Her writings focus on remediation of invasive species, food systems, and environmental impacts on food.

GEM Construction Group is a construction company specializing in residential and commercial projects, new construction and renovations. GEM Construction Group is also an environmentally-driven business, with a focus on water management. Glenn Moore was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He worked in construction since the age of eight and is a graduate of McDonogh 35 Senior High School. He played football and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s in Business. Glenn is a veteran of the United States Air Force National Guard, an entrepreneur in Construction, Fitness, and Music, father of 3 beautiful daughters, and loves being a blessing and helping others.

Gienetix is a dental supply company working to revolutionize oral hygiene. Gienetix raises the standard of oral healthcare for patients and improves the method of treatment of dental professionals through new ideas and innovative products. Metoqua Anderson, RDH MBA Founder of Gienetix, Metoqua Anderson, is an experienced dental hygienist who invented the glossal angle. She is a graduate of LSU Dental School and has been a dental hygienist for a decade; serving in both private practice, corporate, and public health service. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of patients through preventive dentistry. She is a former member of the National Health Services Corps and her mission is to use her skills as an oral health professional to bridge the gap between the under-served population and quality dental care. As an oral health professional and MBA graduate, she leads the roles of marketing as well as research and development for the company. Justin Anderson, CPA Justin Anderson is a certified Public Accountant and co-founder of Gienetix. For nearly a decade, Justin has served in nonprofit, governmental, private, and healthcare organizations. He has leadership experience working as the CFO of a mid-sized nonprofit organization, and he is the owner and operator of a small, private business in his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana. He leads Gienetix’s finance and operations roles.

Insanitea Kombucha provides tonic drinks packed with healthy enzymes to provide “smoother days” by ultimately improving gut health. Jordi Figueras hails all the way from Spain and made New Orleans home 8 years ago. Originally an Electrical Engineer, Jordi decided to change paths and in 2010 and entered Tulane University’s MBA program. After sidetracking in the New Orleans software development world, Jordi decided to venture off on his own and start Insanitea Kombucha. Jordi loves testing different flavors, thinking about the benefits of fermentation, and being his own boss.

Irene Morgan Schools are small, holistic high schools that serve young people who have had contact with the criminal justice system. IMS is guided in all things that they do by centering the needs of students and their families. Adrienne Wallace Irene Morgan Schools’ CEO and founder, Adrienne Wallace, has more than 15 years developing the skills and talents of young people who have previously been incarcerated or are at high risk of being swept up in the system of mass incarceration. Adrienne’s a racial justice advocate, a math teacher, an experienced school leader and soon, a lawyer (Roll Tide!). Adrienne has led school integration and development projects both in the United States and Latin America; she also developed a social justice curriculum. Adrienne is the daughter of a teacher and a therapist, resulting in her appreciation off high-quality education and mental health care. Adrienne founded Underground with Black Students for Black and Brown students who are disproportionately impacted by the system of mass incarceration. Melanie Dukes As the Chief of Vision and Execution for Irene Morgan Schools, Melanie brings over 15 years of experience in building innovative programs and processes across a variety of sectors. She believes strongly in social justice and is dedicated to removing the barriers to equity in education, specifically along the lines of race and ethnicity, so all people are empowered to pursue their own path to success. Currently, Melanie serves as the Senior Director of National Operations for Relay Graduate School of Education. In this role, she provides coaching and high quality support to operations leaders and deans across Relay’s various campuses. Prior to joining Relay, Melanie served as a school-based Director of Operations for KIPP NYC. She has also consulted with education non-profits in Brazil and Mexico. Melanie holds a MBA in Finance & Non-Profit Management from Columbia Business School, and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. She is working towards her M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs with a focus on Social Justice at New York University. Malaika Hankins Malaika Hankins is an educator, a student, and an advocate for justice. She is currently pursuing dual Master degrees in Social Work and Public Policy from the University of Minnesota; where she is studying the intersection of education, juvenile justice, and racial equity. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Malaika worked as the Middle School Program Coordinator at Student U, a college-access nonprofit in Durham, NC. In this role, she was responsible for daily afterschool and summer programming for 150 students and families. She has certifications in hosting restorative justice meditations from the International Institute for Restorative Practices and is a racial equity facilitator with Embracing Equity. Malaika currently lives in Minneapolis, MN but is excited to be returning home to open a school in New Orleans as an Underground School Leader Fellow. Ella Every-Wortman Ella Every-Wortman is an educator, social justice youth worker, and restorative justice facilitator. Ella teaches History with the San Francisco Unified School District and is pursuing a Masters in Teaching with the NYU Steinhardt Teacher Residency Program. Ella previously served an Associate Teacher at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, providing individualized learning support in an inclusive classroom setting. Since 2016, Ella has designed and implemented original curriculum on social justice topics for self-identified young women as a Dean and Faculty member for the Sadie Nash Leadership Project. Ella trained as a Restorative Justice Facilitator with the Baltimore Community Conferencing Center in 2016 and facilitated school based restorative circles through the New York Peace Institute. They graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Human Rights and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. While at Columbia, they were a core organizer for Columbia Prison Divest, a successful campaign to divest the universities’ endowment from the private prison industry.

The Mastectomy Boutique is a New Orleans-based, specialty healthcare boutique that caters to the needs of those surviving breast cancer after mastectomy surgery, while also educating expecting mothers and addressing women’s health issues and disparities. Dr. Iisha K. Bailey is a New Orleans native and the founder/CEO of The Mastectomy Boutique. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy and has nearly 12 years of experience as a licensed pharmacist, clinical trainer, and preceptor mentor. Dr. Iisha K. Bailey has nearly two decades of customer service skills, a decade of retail management experience, and experience as a trained mastectomy fitter. After a considerable amount of thought, prayers, faith, the desire to care for others, and investing from her personal savings; she was motivated to fulfill the need of a catered healthcare boutique for breast cancer care and awareness in the Greater New Orleans area. In 2016, four of her love ones were impacted by cancer (breast, pancreatic, skin, and colon) and since then have ended their journey. The hardest hit for Dr. Bailey was the death of her nephew, who was a victim to gun violence in 2016. The death of her nephew and loved ones has become one of the driving forces in her life and has inspired her to create awareness on breast cancer/health, healthcare disparities, and the effects of gun violence on surrounding communities. Dr. Iisha K. Bailey works to meet healthcare needs, oversee the vision, deliver the message, educate and carry out The Mastectomy Boutique’s God-given mission.

Mastodonte is a stormwater management and construction company that provides a holistic approach to historic renovations and stormwater management systems. Mastodonte also offers apprenticeships to young people of color through their lab garden and educational workshops. Arien Hall Arien Hall is a Baton Rouge native who attended Loyola University New Orleans with a focus of Arts in Music. After leaving school, she taught music with several orchestra programs around the city, including Ellis Marsalis Center for Music and the Make Music NOLA program. During her work with various non-profits, Arien learned of the AmeriCorps program and the benefit that helping rebuild New Orleans could provide. While working with SBP, she gained skills in carpentry and building. After leaving the non-profit sector, Arien retained a job with Evans + Lighter Landscape Architecture, where she received training in permaculture practices and sustainability as well as construction of stormwater management systems. She now holds six years of experience in the field of construction and stormwater management. Luisa Abballe Luisa Abballe hails from bustling New York and is a graduate of Fordham University, where she studied Sociology and Visual Arts with a concentration in painting and drawing. While at Fordham, she became involved in service work and diversity peer education. She continued both when she came to New Orleans in 2011 serving in AmeriCorps, and then as a carpentry manager at SBP. Permaculture techniques and stormwater management became a focus as flooding posed a constant problem for homeowners in the field. Luisa joined the Evans + Lighter team as a project manager, where she gained knowledge and expertise in installing stormwater management systems and landscapes. Luisa is a licensed horticulturist and has a passion for teaching the skills of the trade in stormwater and ecological systems.

The New Orleans Council for Community & Justice’s Anytown NOLA is a one-week camp experience that unites Louisiana high school students to share experiences of their diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, racial and economic backgrounds. Delegates leave Anytown with a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be a world citizen. Jordan Michael Bridges is an artist, advocate, social innovator, and experienced professional that is passionate about youth and addressing the social challenges of today. He is the Programs Coordinator at the New Orleans Council for Community & Justice, a human relations organization dedicated to promoting understanding and respect among all races, religions, and cultures; through advocacy, conflict resolution and education. In addition to his professional work, Jordan has found much success with his musical endeavors and continues to work within the local music community to advocate for the arts and access to arts education.

New Orleans Stormwater Management Training Corps (NOSTC) provides affordable solutions to the city’s struggling drainage system by mitigating stormwater at the residential level. To accomplish this, NOSTC educates and trains the area’s opportunity youth for entry into the workforce in the burgeoning stormwater management industry. Oji Alexander Oji Alexander is the Executive Director of Home by Hand, Inc., a non-profit affordable housing developer that works to improve neighborhoods and build the skills and family assets of low and moderate-income households. This is done by advancing the national self-help housing movement and creating new resources. He is the former Senior Project Manager at Project Home Again, a nonprofit housing and community development organization in New Orleans. In this capacity, Oji led the development, maintenance and sale of over 170 new, energy-efficient, hurricane-resistant homes in the neighborhoods of northern Gentilly. He has worked with NORA and private real estate professionals to facilitate the transfer of over 250 properties that were blighted or abandoned so they could be used for housing development, gardens or lot-next-door expansions. Oji managed a staff of two in addition to overseeing Project Home Again’s construction team. He worked at PHA since 2008. Prior to joining Project Home Again, Oji was the manager of a 190-seat restaurant in Westhampton Beach, NY where he managed a staff of 50 employees. He received a Bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication with minor in secondary education from The State University of New York at Albany. In addition, he is an active community member of Gentilly’s Oak Park neighborhood. He sat on the boards of NOLA Tree Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to replacing the tens of thousands of trees lost during Hurricane Katrina, Kickball of Crescent City, a New Orleans based Social Aid and Pleasure Club and Home By Hand, a non-profit self-help housing developer and is a Propeller Incubator Alumni. Monique Pilié Monique Pilié was born and raised in New Orleans. After seeing the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, she started a non-profit to help replace the 100,000 trees that were lost in New Orleans due to the storm. She started Hike for Katreena with the goal of planting one tree in New Orleans for each of the 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail that she had hiked following the loss of her house and job from the storm. In five years, Hike for Katreena planted over 8,000 trees before Monique handed over the day-to-day leadership of the organization. Monique then went to work for All Hands Volunteers in January 2013 as a Team Leader, quickly working her way up to Field Coordinator, Project Director and Director of U.S. Recovery and Repair before her departure to become the Executive Director of the Louisiana Green Corps in the spring of 2015. Daniel Johnson Dan Johnson is a licensed contractor and owner of Greenman Dan, Inc. Dan has turned a lifelong passion for nature and design into a New Orleans landscape and stormwater management construction firm. With his seasoned skills in design and construction, project management, contracting and cost estimating, he is the driving force behind the firm’s high standards for efficiency and professionalism. Projects include: 2017 Neighborhood Initiative, Alternate Land Use Project, New Orleans, LA: Working with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, Greenman Dan renovated 5 vacant lots. Four of the lots had their soil cultivated and seeded with native wildflowers and Bald Cypress trees planted on the perimeter of each lot. Construction at each of these four lots also included wooden fencing and bollards to deter illegal dumping while still providing easy pedestrian access to the property. On the fifth lot, a rain garden was built surrounded by pervious paver pathways. The rain garden was planted with many native wetland plants and the site includes Oak trees and benches for seating. Aurora Rain Garden, New Orleans, LA: The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans hired Greenman Dan to construct a rain garden on the vacant land next to a neighborhood pumping station, to collect street runoff before it enters the storm drain. The rain gardens holds and filters the stormwater through deep infiltration pits constructed of a variety of sized gravels and sand. The rain garden was planted with native plants and trees to help with the filtration and absorption process while providing an attractive natural enhancement to the neighborhood. The construction included the installation of underdrains, deep within the rain garden, that are connected directly to the city’s storm water drainage system, as well as a standpipe drain to prevent the rain gardens from overflowing. N. Claiborne Avenue Rain Garden, New Orleans, LA: Greenman Dan implemented a rain garden on a vacant corner lot that was designed by Dana Brown & Associates as part of the NORA project to beautify vacant lots. This lot collects storm water runoff from the street curbs along the two streets that border it. The curbs were cut and the runoff directed into the rain garden. The project included the construction of two sidewalk bridges to allow the runoff passage under the sidewalk; also included a concrete filter box connected to the city storm drain system to prevent the rain garden from overflowing. Lake Carmel Community Park, New Orleans, LA: The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority commissioned Greenman Dan to construct the Lake Carmel Community Park. The installation included an asphalt walking path and the planting of more than one hundred trees; Bald Cypress and Live Oaks. Residential Installations, New Orleans, LA: Various homeowners from across the New Orleans region have contracted Greenman Dan to install a variety of rainwater management systems. Some of the solutions include french drains, infiltration columns, rain gardens and permeable pavers.

WhereWeGo provides high-quality college guidance software designed to support 9th through 12th graders in building college readiness habits, while supplementing and enhancing the college guidance process for students and counselors. WhereWeGo equips those who need it most with the information that they need in the path to colleges and careers. Ben Ifshin As an educator, Ben Ifshin believes that joy is both a classroom and learning imperative. By weaving in music, technology, games, and rigorous work, Ben ensured that his class was a unique place to learn. As an award-winning biology teacher for six years, Ben’s students consistently outperformed their peers on state exams. Equipped with the personal experience of implementing the first generation of edTech platforms in his classroom and the reality of his students’ experiences applying for and persisting in college, Ben founded WhereWeGo to tackle the injustices of college access for students and counselors across the country. Leah Lykins In the classroom, Leah Lykins positions student’s personal aspirations at the center of learning and provides opportunities to develop students’ career knowledge. Outside of the classroom, Leah was a member of Leading Educators of New Orleans and NSNO’s Personalized Learning Teacher Fellowship. She has also directed teacher coaching and training in multiple schools and with the City Year organization. From her 8 years working with high schoolers in New Orleans, Leah is driven to tackle the problem of college persistence and to help schools keep the promise of college graduation. As a founding member of WhereWeGo, Leah is now putting those lessons into crafting equitable, accessible EdTech solutions for college guidance counselors and first generation college students.

KNOW Card Games are interactive teaching tools that engage and entertain students while imparting key facts about the history and culture of New Orleans and of Louisiana. The games support students’ core curriculum, promote culturally responsive education, and are designed for school, home and on the go. Freddi W. Evans is a veteran arts educator, award-winning author of books for children and adults, independent scholar, cultural activist, and licensed tour guide. She is internationally recognized for her scholarship on historic Congo Square and is the author of Come Sunday, A Young Reader’s History of Congo Square and Congo Square: African Roots in New Orleans (the first comprehensive study of the location), and is the recipient of the 2012 Louisiana Humanities Book of the Year Award. Evans’s research and advocacy influenced the 2011 New Orleans City Council Ordinance that made the popular name “Congo Square,” the official name of the landmark. Her new venture, KNOW Card Games, combines her expertise in history, culture and education.

RePurpose Food Co. is a New Orleans-based business that uses reclaimed produce to make nutritious, affordable baby food at low or no cost to underserved communities. Combining her passion for food justice and knowledge of environmental sustainability, Shani Christopher launched RePurpose Food Company to increase the affordability of nutritious baby food and reduce food waste. Shani also serves as the National Director of Sales and Operations at EcoLogic Solutions, a manufacturer of green cleaning products and technology for commercial use. She is the curator of the New Orleans Hub of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. Shani is also a StartingBloc Social Innovation Fellow and has served as a UN Delegate through SustainUS, a youth environmental advocacy organization. Previously, she co-founded the Volunteer Center of Trinidad and Tobago and has participated in Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans.

Saul’s Light Foundation provides comfort and community to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to those who experience infant loss. Saul’s Light’s goal is to help meet the financial and emotional needs of parents during these traumatic times. Kimberly is an educator, advocate, doula, and the founder of Saul’s Light Foundation. For the last decade, she has a been a high school teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana and Brooklyn, New York. Kimberly has a proven track record of implementing successful programming and extensive experience in the health sector working with underserved communities.

The Split Second Foundation is a 501©3 nonprofit organization dedicated to finding advance treatments for spinal cord injury, funding research for new SCI treatments, and advocating for more progressive therapies. Hope Leblanc Hope LeBlanc has over eighteen years of service in the non-profit community as both a Program Manager and Accountant. She has primary experience with grants, financial management of small non-profits, as well as assisting small businesses to establish and maintain their financial records system. Hope enjoys working behind the scenes in order to ensure that the vision and purpose of nonprofits are fulfilled. Darryl Willis Darryl Willis serves as the Vice President of Oil, Gas & Energy at Google Cloud, where he is responsible for driving business across the Energy sector by developing products and solutions, building relationships with key leaders, and providing his business expertise to sales teams. Prior to joining Google, Willis was President and Chief Executive Officer for BP Angola. Willis holds a Master of Science in Management from Stanford University with concentrations in both Managing Global Businesses and Social Responsibility, A Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of New Orleans, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry & Literature from Northwestern State University. James E. Vinturella James E. Vinturella was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and is an attorney in the city. In 1991, he graduated from Loyola Law School. He has over 23 years of personal injury and medical malpractice trial experience and is a trial advocate who successfully tried and won numerous large dollar verdicts. Additionally, James E. Vinturella has more than 30 years experience in the medical field of occupational therapy, where he specialized in catastrophic neurologic injuries such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other complex orthopedic conditions. Mark Raymond Jr. Mark Raymond Jr., a native New Orleanian. Mark is a graduate of Brother Martin High School and Xavier University of Louisiana. On July 4, 2016, Mark became a C-5 quadriplegic after diving into shallow water while boating on Lake Pontchartrain with friends. After a long journey and clear understanding of the local challenges during recovery, Mark now strives to find advanced treatment and training for those with SCI. Prior to his accident, Mark worked in audio video production with a primary focus in audio engineering for large events. Mark has always been athletic and adventurous whether it is: running, weight lifting, biking, swimming, or playing tennis. His goal is to not only find ways to live in a wheelchair; but to work hard to get out of the wheelchair.

Water Block, LLC uses technology to provide a community planning tool for managing storm water, and other development projects, at the neighborhood block level. This culturally sensitive data-driven tool adds weight to community arguments for how open spaces should be used, while creating a process for community driven development. Atianna Cordova is a designer, researcher and educator that explores the role of art and culture in disaster recovery and community development initiatives. She is recognized as LSU School of Architecture’s first McNair Research Scholar and a 2016 UC Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence Travel Fellow for her participatory design research. This research examined the formal and informal sheltering strategies used by homeless communities in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, displaced communities following the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti, and the role of designers in addressing global issues of similar concern. Atianna is also a 2017 Salzburg Global Fellow and the co-winner of Propeller’s 2018 Water Challenge Pitch Competition for her commitment to building a new cohort of design and environmental leaders from black and brown communities and exposing black girls to design and environmental education at earlier ages. Atianna received her M. Sc. in Disaster Resilience Leadership from Tulane University, Bachelor of Architecture from Louisiana State University, and Certificate in Community Development Finance from the University of New Orleans.