Get to know the IWES team!
Check out our spotlights to find out more about who we are and learn about the incredible work our team does every day. Click here to view!
Belinda joined IWES in September of 2021 as a Finance Assistant. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University at New Orleans. She has varied experience in several industries in the New Orleans area, which include city government, housing advisement, nonprofit, criminal and civil law. She is a native of Slidell, and has been a resident of New Orleans since 2004. She is a daughter, sister, aunt and a great aunt. She has a passion for helping others. She has volunteered as a mentor to teen girls and assisted in feeding the less fortunate. She loves giving back to the elders of her community, by preparing meals and making home visits. She eagerly brings experience in accounting, management, customer-service and her community awareness to IWES for continued success of the organization.
Email: bchism@iwesnola.org
Syd joined IWES in October 2023 as an Implementation Specialist. She holds two BAs: one in English and the other in Anthropology. Syd began her career as a teacher and soon encountered the many socioeconomic disparities entrenched in the public sector. Her experiences eventually led her to public health as a strategy to combat inequity and injustice. In May of 2023, Syd completed her Master of Public Health at Tulane University, specializing in social, behavioral, and population sciences. During her time as an MPH candidate, she conducted research on the impact of social media interventions for the sexual health of young Black queer New Orleanians. Syd joined the IWES team in hopes of continuing her career in health equity work, especially as it relates to the sexual health of young people.
Email: sclark@iwesnola.org
Leticia joined IWES in June 2020 after graduating with a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) concentrating in Health Education and Health Communication from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Currently, Leticia is leading projects designed to promote healing and emotional well-being for migrant and newcomer service providers and their service populations in New Mexico and beyond. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Global Affairs with a minor in Criminal Justice from George Mason University. During her academic training, she has had the opportunity to study and work in Hungary and Nepal on human rights, social behavior change, and research & evaluation initiatives. Through health education, transparency, and effective partnerships, she is committed to addressing injustices and increasing health equity and sustainability. She is a Virginia-raised Peruvian-American and is thrilled to work with and continue learning from mission-aligned thought leaders across the globe.
Email: ldelosrios@iwesnola.org
Amber joined IWES in February 2023 as a Research & Evaluation Coordinator. She earned her BS in Spanish and BA in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana as a third generation legacy. Since graduating she was one of the alumni granted the Xavier University of Louisiana 40 Under 40 Young Alumni Award. Amber also earned her MA in Anthropology and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of South Carolina (USC) where she is now a Doctoral Candidate in Linguistic Medical Anthropology. As a graduate student, she was awarded the Southern Regional Education Board State Doctoral Scholar Fellowship, the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Graduate Students Grant, and the USC Rhude M. Patterson Award. Amber has experience conducting research, presenting at conferences, and contributing to written reports and manuscripts. Her professional interests include research methods, reproductive justice, and racial equity while her personal interests include doing any activity that involves sunshine, watching rom-coms, and playing cards. She is excited to join the IWES team as a New Orleans native with a deep passion for the well-being of her community.
Email: adomingue@iwesnola.org
Meagan joined IWES in 2019 as a Public Health Associate for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Public Health Associate Program (PHAP). Currently Meagan is leading initiatives designed to enhance Black youth mental health and the lives of Black women living with HIV. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and Sociology and a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work, and she has also had the opportunity to study global health on an international landscape in Southern Europe. She explored health disparities and health communication in Italy, Greece, and Budapest. Meagan is invested in reducing health disparities and increasing equity in underserved communities of color. She is thrilled to be a part of the IWES family and hopes to continue the great work of the organization.
💡To find out more about Meagan and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Lean Into the Discomfort.
Email: mdunham@iwesnola.org
Lydia joined IWES in 2022 as a Program Associate with the Collective for Healthy Communities, after previously serving as a CHC Intern. She has a Bachelor's Degree from the Honors Program at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she studied Public Health, Sociology, and Homeland Security. She is currently pursuing her Master's in Public Health at Tulane, with a concentration in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences. Lydia's research has focused on substance use disorder and disparities in access to mental health care among undocumented Latina migrants, as well as the relationship between immigration status and being a victim of domestic violence. Lydia’s passion for public health has driven her to pursue a diverse background in research, social services, and advocacy work for the most vulnerable populations. In the Boston area where she grew up, and now in her new home of New Orleans, Lydia has been dedicated to working with underserved communities and is incredibly grateful to IWES for the invaluable opportunity to pursue her passions while continuing her formal education.
Email: lgarrett-metz@iwesnola.org
Christina is a CHamoru-Ilocano social worker born and raised on Guahan, the US Territory of Guam, where inafa’maolek, or making harmony through social support and reciprocity, is the cornerstone of the culture. After completing her MSW program at Wheelock College in Boston, MA, in 2011, Christina moved to New Orleans and has since worked in local substance abuse residential programs as a Child Development Specialist, Family Therapist, and Admissions Counselor, as well as a volunteer facilitator for a women’s support group for survivors of sexual assault. She joined IWES in June 2018 to explore the ways IWES can become involved in using a trauma-informed lens to support local youth and women with substance use disorders. Her dedication to community service also extends to mentoring others new to the social work field; emphasizing the importance of dismantling stigma and other barriers that prevent women and youth from accessing quality care. For the last several years, she has been a core volunteer with the Trans Queer Youth Group at the New Orleans LGBT Center. In 2021, Christina was selected to be among Louisiana Public Health Institute’s first Racial Justice & Health Equity Cohort, where she was placed in a multidisciplinary team of professionals across Louisiana. In May 2022, Christina received the 2022 Volunteer of the Year from Bridge House/Grace House at the Annual Women of Substance Luncheon in recognition of her service to women receiving treatment for substance use disorders. Her other special interests include decolonization, indigenous sovereignty, and the demilitarization of Oceania.
💡To find out more about Christina and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Community and Connection.
Email: cillarmo@iwesnola.org
Mari joined IWES in May 2023 as the Communications Manager. Prior to IWES, she coordinated health promotional campaigns for the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health STD/HIV/Hepatitis Program (SHHP). This included statewide and social media campaign project management, social marketing research and analysis, as well as social media content management, research, development and monitoring. Mari's professional background also includes coordinating outreach and events at YAYA (Young Artists/Young Aspirations, Inc.), where she designed and produced marketing and communications materials, managed the organization’s social media platforms, and made public appearances to promote YAYA’s work to local groups and on local media outlets. Preceding YAYA, she coordinated AXIS (Arts Experience in Schools) professional development trainings/events at KID smART. Mari earned a bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. She has also served in a volunteer capacity on various committees including the Arts Council of New Orleans’ Community Arts Grants Committee for three funding cycles and was featured in 504ward’s 2020 young professionals profile. In her spare time, Mari enjoys traveling and exploring the cultural heritage of each place she visits.
Email: mjarreau@iwesnola.org
Jen joined IWES in July 2018. A native Texan, she moved to New Orleans in 2009 having completed her Bachelor of Science at Santa Clara University in Biomedical Sciences, committing focus to International Wellness and Community Action. Following a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in support of people living with HIV/AIDS, she enrolled with Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. Jen earned her Masters Summa Cum Laude as well as the Elizabeth A. Bennett Award for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health in 2012. Upon completion of her schooling, she remained at Tulane a Field Research Analyst with a federally-funded randomized control trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of an Internet-based pregnancy prevention intervention. Prior to joining IWES, Jen worked as a full time public health practitioner with ReNEW Accelerated High School, applying a holistic lens to student wellness through direct instruction, targeted case management, and full student population interventions. Her professional interests include reproductive and sexual health justice, supporting adolescent development-especially of critical consciousness, and pursuing equity across education, health, and wellness spaces. Her personal passions include dance, exploring culture and cuisine, and being a dog mom.
💡To find out more about Jen and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Flip the Script on Sex Ed!.
Email: jlatimer@iwesnola.org
Angela joined IWES in June 2023 as a Senior Program Manager of Community Engagement. Angela’s career spans over 20 years as an educator in numerous roles from paraprofessional to teacher to Director of Culture for a network of four schools in New Orleans. After her daughter was diagnosed with Autism she entered the schools in an effort to discover ways in which she could support and advocate for students who learn differently. Angela has partnered with organizations that provide mental health and trauma-informed support to students and school communities in an effort to bring healing and resilience through relationships. Angela’s work at IWES provides her with a partnership with the Coalition for Compassionate Schools. This work is grounded in a broad scope of support offered to school communities as it relates to Trauma Informed Awareness and Practices. Her passion for recognizing and developing holistic systems of support for children who have been exposed to trauma has led her to further her research on the impact of trauma on the brain and overall health of a child.
Email: alockley@iwesnola.org
Fay Love joined IWES in August 2017 as the Administrative Manager. Faye studied Business Administration at Southern University at New Orleans and has over 25 years of experience in the field of Human Resources and Administration. Prior to coming to IWES, she worked in the legal field and is looking forward to working in the non-profit sector. Fay is a native New Orleanian and is excited about joining and working with the IWES team.
Email: flove@iwesnola.org
Lisa Richardson rejoined the IWES staff in July 2013. Prior to this, she served as the National Director of Southern Access Project for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, a consultant, program director, and evaluator for a variety of organizations including Emory University, the Carter Presidential Center, and the New Orleans-based education program, Students at the Center. Lisa was a Visiting Professor at Florida State University in the Urban and Regional Planning department, and an Assistant Professor at California State University Northridge in the Urban Studies and Pan-African Studies Departments. She received her Ph.D. in 2002 at the University of New Orleans as a Board of Regents Fellow, and her Master of Science in 1996 from Georgia State University. Her interests include community development, analyzing social determinants of health, sexual health education and advocacy (particularly for women of color and youth), and participatory action research. After leaving New Orleans for academia, Lisa returned to her adopted home in 2005 to serve as the Interim Executive Director of IWES in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Email: lrich@iwesnola.org
Mary joined IWES in June 2021 as a Communications Coordinator. She is excited to bring her experience in graphic design, marketing, and communications to support IWES’ work in mental, emotional and physical health education, and advocacy. Before joining IWES, Mary worked as a marketing associate for Liberty’s Kitchen, a local non-profit organization that supports youth workforce development. She is also a freelance graphic designer, and previously provided graphic design support as a staff member of The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. She has a passion for creating and collaborating with others, and looks forward to using her skills to support IWES. Mary is also deeply interested in mental health and excited to engage with the field of public health advocacy on a systemic level. Outside the office, she enjoys riding her bike, dancing, and walking around the bayou with her partner and their dog Butta Bean.
💡 To find out more about Mary and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Finding Inspiration In Others.
Email: mrockwell@iwesnola.org
Gabriella joined IWES in February 2015 as an Administrative Assistant. Gabby’s academic training is in Social Anthropology, in which she completed a B.A. with a minor in Global Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University. Gabby has extensive international experience, volunteering in Haiti with the Rotary Club of the Upper Keys, COHEF (Children of Haiti Enhancement Foundation) and Zanmi Beni. In addition, throughout her undergraduate career Gabby participated in short semester programs to Brazil, Guatemala and the Galapagos, all experiences where she conducted community level social research, which has assuredly heightened her interests in non-profit work. Prior to moving to New Orleans, Gabby completed a postgraduate diploma in Social Science Methodology at Stellenbosch University as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Stellenbosch, South Africa. While abroad and with hopes to apply the methods she was learning at university, Gabby interned at a local nonprofit, Women on Farms Project, where she helped collect personal narratives on the topic of household food security as experienced in the farming communities. Her professional values are collaboration, the importance of a holistic approach and ultimately, utilizing data to improve the lives of individuals in the application of social research. Her passions are: anthropology of development, the relationship between NGOs and the State, program evaluation and research methodology.
💡 To find out more about Gabriella and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, More than Good Intentions.
Email: groude@iwesnola.org
Iman joined IWES in 2008 as a Media Consultant, became a Program Coordinator in 2009, the Director of Media & Social Marketing in 2010 and is now the Director of Media & Communications. She received her BA from the University of Southern California in International Relations (2005) and her Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from Columbia University (2010) with a concentration in Directing and Screenwriting. Through IWES, Iman utilizes her script development, cinematography, directing, producing, and editing skills and has created over 50 short films and PSAs, a web-series, a feature-length documentary, two feature-length narrative films and an award-winning podcast. These films have been screened at numerous local, national and international film festivals, and she presents regularly at conferences to showcase her work. Iman was a Program Coordinator for IWES’ Media Advocates for Prevention (MAP) program and Social marketing Technology Outreach Program (STOP). In 2016, Iman was chosen as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader in their inaugural cohort to promote a culture of health in her community. That year she also received the award for Changemaker in the New Orleans-based Millennial Awards and received executive training through Spitfire’s Executive Leadership Program. Through her training in social marketing, Iman led the development of two social marketing campaigns and most recently, a public will campaign to advocate for more Trauma Informed Care services for youth in New Orleans, In That Number. Iman has also been trained in multiple teen pregnancy prevention interventions and implemented EBIs such as Making Proud Choices with youth in local schools. In leading the Communications Team, Iman oversees IWES’ social media presence and all external organizational communications. Iman has further experience in graphic design, photography, curriculum development, focus group facilitation, positive youth development, participatory action research, and media literacy.
💡 To find out more about Iman and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Woman On The Verge of a Creative Breakthrough.
Email: iman@iwesnola.org
Loi Tran joined IWES in June of 2020 as our Finance Director. Loi studied Accounting at the University of New Orleans and has 10 years of experience working for the City of New Orleans. During his tenure, he has gained various grant and budgetary experience with the Office of Community Development, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center. He is excited about joining the IWES family and working with the IWES team. He is a proud native of New Orleans, a diehard Saints fan, and a proud father of four!
Email: ltran@iwesnola.org
Brittany T. Williams joined IWES in March 2023 as the Maternal & Child Health Coalition Coordinator, bringing experience in client-centered birth work and administrative assistance. After earning a Bachelor's degree in General Studies (BGS) in Economics from the University of Kansas in 2010, she trained with Sista Midwife Productions in 2018 and earned the title of Community Birth Sister/doula. In 2021 she worked with the Birthmark Doula Collective as a perinatal health advocate, childbirth educator, doula, and lactation education resources certified breastfeeding specialist. A New Orleanian, born and raised, Brittany is eager to bring together changemakers to improve health outcomes for parents and children in the greater New Orleans area.
Email: btwilliams@iwesnola.org
Tylar joined IWES in April 2019. She earned her BS in Health Education from Howard University in 2016 and her MPH in 2019 from Tulane University in Maternal and Child Health. Additionally, she is the 2019 recipient of the Elizabeth A. Bennett Award for Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. She is passionate about reproductive justice, birth justice, and health education. She was born and raised in Chicago, but New Orleans has her heart. She is excited to join the IWES team and get to work in her new community.
💡 To find out more about Tylar and their work at IWES, check out their Staff Spotlight, Filling in the Blanks.
Email: twilliams@iwesnola.org
Jemila joined IWES in early 2021 to work with the Collective for Healthy Communities team. As a New Orleans native, she grew up surrounded by the arts and went on to graduate from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Music in 2013. Since then, Jemila has played bass professionally with chart-topping artists on multiple domestic and international tours. She is also an organizing member and instructor at Girls Rock New Orleans, a non-profit youth-focused music education program that encourages creative expression and fosters social consciousness. Understanding the therapeutic role music plays in the human experience, Jemila joined IWES in the hopes of using her skills and knowledge to help heal her community.
Email: jdunham@iwesnola.org