Jessica Shahien- Executive Director - Jessica Shahien lives to put the "elation" in "relationship" between you and the Big Easy, acting as the Go-To Guru and Answer Ninja for all questions beginning "how?" and ending "in New Orleans?" When not playing sand volleyball at Coconut Beach or getting Albert Einstein in the kitchen, she's found performing acts of human kindness, which include letting random strangers puddle drool on Gumbo, the Official World's Cutest Puppy, whom she and her husband, Amir, own, but do not carry around in a handbag.

Sara Hudson - Creative Director - Sara Hudson serves a variety of purposes, but the most important is to write your funny emails, a job she never expected to find back at age nine, when her llama-raising aunt told her she got the storytelling genes from her mama's family. When not freelancing writing gigs, Sara's found bopping around town, often carrying a baggie of homemade cookies (in case you are hungry) and wearing a hat (because she is always cold).  The first one out on the dance floor, she's never met a stranger, and she subscribes to the life plan of helping people and having adventures.

Katheryn Schindler - Events Coordinator - Planning 504ward events requires a delight for color-coding, a pirate-like derring-do for follow-up and occasionally a fairy godmother that specializes in finding parking in the CBD. Luckily for everyone who attends 504ward events, Katheryn Schindler, the new 504ward Event Coordinator offers all these things and more. A New Orleanian, she returns home after living in Chicago for six years, bringing her Chicagoan boyfriend, Adam, along with entrepreneurial skill and drive that led her to become the owner of Piece’a’Work, an art gallery and studio on Magazine Street. 

Mary Clements - Director of 504connect -  You know her from your bedtime stories: she is the fairy godmother, the kindly patron, the ball of string, Excalibur. In her current incarnation, she is Mary Clements, Director of 504Connect. Like all good New Orleans transplants, Mary moved young, stayed forever, and did good, volunteering for for Longue Vue House and Gardens and Newman School while working and raising her New Orleans family. At 504ward Mary brings fairy tales to life as she makes our mentoring magic happen.

Leslie Jacobs - Founder -  Leslie is our founder, our patron, our muse, and the North Star we hope we can be when we grow up, guiding people down new paths to shining futures. She has touched the lives of thousands of New Orleans children with her work in education reform, and as a leader of the business community, wears the job title of "venture philanthropist," which is as cool as it sounds. Leslie's generosity is only exceeded by her intellect and her determination, which we here at 504ward admire greatly.

Our Partners - None of the work of 504ward would be possible without the diverse and devoted collaboration of people and partners who are dedicated to improving the life of New Orleans for future generations.  Please click here to learn more about our partner organizations and all the good they have to offer.