2024 Community Collaborative Cohort
Chris Adams
Lafayette, LA
Baton Rouge native, Chris Adams, earned both an undergraduate and master’s degree in sustainability, with a focus on community development and local food systems. With his knowledge, Adams has helped establish and operate Earthshare Garden and Acadiana Food Alliance and has provided capacity building for sustainability topics working for the Community Development and Planning Department in Lafayette’s city-parish government. He currently holds the position of Statewide Organic Agriculture for Louisiana Central, which supports the USDA Organics program for Louisiana and assists farmers in transitioning conventional production practices to organic methods.
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Paula Munera Belanger
New Orleans, LA
Paula Munera Belanger, Program Consultant for nonprofits and Hispanic bilingual professional, is deeply committed to advocating for social justice. Her skilled experience in recruitment and the workforce has allowed her to find a passion for integrating individuals into environments where they can thrive, particularly Hispanic professionals and their families. She also extends her efforts to an additional demographic, by empowering women looking to advance their professional journeys through coaching and mentoring.
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Dymonesha "Nesha" Brown
Baton Rouge, LA
Nesha Brown possesses a well-versed skill set in business, communication, marketing and project development. She has discovered a deep passion for innovation and has in turn participated in and launched projects that help those in underserved communities. Brown holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and is certified in Yellow Belt Lean Six Sigma.
Kristen Dufauchard
New Orleans, LA
Kristen Dufauchard is the Founder/CEO of aKrewe Consulting, a creative services firm that helps brands build their communities. aKrewe is also responsible for a networking ecosystem of 1500+ brands, enabling innovators to collaborate and exchange ideas. Dufauchard has over a decade of experience in marketing and communications, having worked with global brands such as Nielsen, Edible Arrangements, Yelp, NYU, and more. Originally from New Orleans, she holds a degree in journalism from LSU and an MPA from Southern University.
Brady Fields
Ferriday, LA
Brady Fields is a committed and active community member, previously purchasing the Doty Road Community to offer a variety of services: application assistance for Medicaid and Medicare, referral services, DCFS Snaps Partner, Social Security assistance and prevention and intervention programs. Additionally, he has served as a mentor, tutor and counselor to community youth during his time as a teacher. As an alum of Grambling State University, Fields is enthusiastic about improving the lives of others in his community.
Kristal Jones
New Orleans, LA
Chelsea Lynne Murry
Baton Rouge, LA
Chelsea Lynne Murry is a K-12th grade educator, co-owner of White & Murry’s Consultant Group, two-time Alumnus of Southern University and A&M College, and current Louisiana State University Department of Education Ph.D. candidate in Curriculum Studies with a concentration in Instructional Coaching and K-12 Educational Leadership. Her research focuses on the roles of Black women educators, sustainability in K-12 schools, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Critical Race Theory in K-12, and the Empowerment of Black girls. Chelsea is a poet, athletic coach, classically trained vocalist, songwriter, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Angela Myles
Shreveport, LA
Angela Myles possesses an immense dedication to influencing positive experiences to those around her. She stands as a skilled real estate agent, engaged alumni affairs leader and has graduated from both the Greater Shreveport Leadership Program, the She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship and Partners in Policymaking for disability, a national initiative with Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. Myles is a strong advocate for collaboration and believes in using her expertise to strengthen relationships and promote a sense of belonging within the community.
Ashli Ognelodh
Baton Rouge, LA
With a Bachelor’s degree in Arts from Georgia State University, Ashli Ognelodh has held many positions leaving a literal mark on the community. Throughout her journey, Ognelodh has worked as the Executive Director of Presence Fest, New York’s Future Fair project manager, Operations and Logistics Manager for Prizm Art Fair, Program Coordinator for the Arts Council of Baton Rouge and Interim Mural Arts Coordinator at The Walls Project. Murals she has created or managed can be found in spaces including the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, Atlanta City Hall and Baton Rouge Airports, as well as in featured publications in Heart and Soul Magazine, She Is Magazine, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Voyage Magazine.
John Schweitzer
Zachary, LA
After serving in the USAF as a Captain and Wing Civil Engineering Executive Support Officer, John Schweitzer received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and proceeded to establish a rehabilitation engineering service program at Louisiana Tech. From 2005 until 2022, he was responsible for the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology program statewide and remains a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of N. America, consulting in service delivery and R&D of mobility systems. For the past 15 years he has been an Adjunct Professor at Southern University, Baton Rouge, and continues to consult in research and development of a patented powered mobility system.
Sandra Smith
Baton Rouge, LA
Alonzo L. Williams
Zachary, LA
Alonzo Williams is an ambitious and self-motivated individual, currently serving as the Director of Community Outreach at Capital Area United Way and as the Executive Director of Southern Inspiration of Praise Performing Arts. Outside of work, Williams is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Turner Theological Seminary to enhance his role as a Senior Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His deep-rooted passion for social change and community empowerment is exemplified through his participation in volunteer roles including Habitat for Humanity, serving on the board of Coming Home to Clarke County and leading after-school feeding, tutoring and performance arts initiatives.