Meet the Youth Advisory Board Members

Blair A.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

The feel of having a purpose.

What have you learned from your time with the Youth Advisory Board?

There is always something that can change.

Cloud/Lauren B.

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

That we are not the stereotypes put on us. We are more than that and deserve a lot of recognition for what we do. We are New Orleans and we are the future.

What can adults learn from New Orleans youth?

What adults can learn from NOLA youth is that we have courage and heart. We listen to each other and adults need to see how we work together so they can work with us and not against us.

John D.

What are your hopes for the Youth Master Plan?

I hope that it can bring a more positive view for New Orleans youth and help increase the value of New Orleans youth experiences and opinions.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

Advocating for youth voices and feeling like I'm able to help make the part of the world I'm in better in a way.

Durund E.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The culture, food, and sports.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

The community.

What are your hopes for the Youth Master Plan?

I hope that it can reach many people.

Anne-Marie F.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans? 

It is hard to pinpoint one thing I love about New Orleans because I love it all, from the cultural and historical significance to New Orleanians' undying devotion to Drew Brees and the Saints. Between the street dancing and musicians, and the echos of second lines, it is hard not to love everything New Orleans has to offer. 

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

New Orleans youth deserve your attention, guidance, and time. The first simple step is to empower children of all ages to voice their opinions, create space for them to be acknowledged, and listen to their valuable personal experiences.

Kimani H.

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

I want people to know that New Orleans youth are not nonchalant and lazy. They just need someone to motivate them. 

What have you learned from your time with the Youth Advisory Board?

I have learned to be a listening ear and the type of person who will execute a plan, not just come up with an idea. The real change doesn’t come until you listen and develop a plan of action.

Noelle H.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The history.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

I get to hear so many great ideas from other members.

What can adults learn from New Orleans youth?

That we keep pushing no matter the setback.

Madison H.

What are your hopes for the Youth Master Plan?

My hopes for the Youth Master Plan are that it will improve the lives of the young people who live in this city and it will set them up for success and give them all equal access to their inalienable rights such as safe places to play, access to healthcare, and quality education.

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

I want people to know that we are incredible individuals with so many amazing and revolutionary ideas to share with the world; that we are not dangerous or careless or rude or any other negative stereotype. I want people to know that what you put into New Orleans' young people (money, education, internships, etc.), you will get out threefold because we are dedicated and passionate and hard workers.

Abigail H.

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

New Orleans youth are truly some of the most brilliant, creative, and fantastical children in the nation. Our influences from culture to community are a part of our overflowing potential and unbreakable dreams. Sometimes, we just need the right amount of support from our communities and government to unlock that potential.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

Being a YAB member has allowed me to work with not only other brilliant, young minds, but also very driven stakeholders and partner organizations whose collaboration is essential to inciting change for New Orleans. I feel honored to be a part of that conversation and honored that YAB serves as an outlet for me to do so.

Kaleb H.

What have you learned from your time with the Youth Advisory Board?

I learned that the youth in this city are very driven and powerful.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

I love being a voice for the youth in the city who feel like they don’t have a voice.

What are your hopes for the Youth Master Plan?

I hope that we inspire other kids and show them that their voices matter.

Dominique N.

What are your hopes for the Youth Master Plan?

My hopes for the Youth Master Plan is to reach as many people as possible and hopefully it helps open more doors for youth voices in the state, country and eventually the world.

What have you learned from your time with the Youth Advisory Board?

I’ve learned personally that being a youth in New Orleans makes you stronger. Battling COVID-19, several hurricanes and my family issues have taught me that it takes a certain amount of resilience to keep pushing through to make the world a better place.

Miya S.

What is your favorite thing about New Orleans?

The food is the best part as well as the general sense of community everyone has throughout the city. Compared to larger cities across the United States, New Orleanians have a friendlier nature about themselves that is not found in many other places around the country. Overall though, I don’t think the saying about New Orleans being “unlike any other place” is true.

What do you want people to know about New Orleans’ youth?

Our voice is stronger than most adults would expect. If adults actually took the time to open up their ears and listen to us, they might discover that we are actually very intelligent in our own rights.

Gerren S.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

That I get to share my input and be a part of the positive change in the city I’m from.

What have you learned from your time with the Youth Advisory Board?

I’ve learned that the city is thirsty to enhance the quality of life for all citizens, but we have a lot of work to do in order to get all of the city eager and engaged with innovative change.

Christiana W.

What do you most like about being a Youth Advisory Board member?

The diversity of thought amongst other members allows room for growth and true collaboration. It's much better than being around people who are feeding your ego and agreeing with every opinion you have.

What can adults learn from New Orleans youth?

A lot of systems have changed and, with an open-ear, many adults can learn the best methods of maneuvering through today's society from youth.