Dr. James Dabney
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

james@noya.org
(he/him/his)

Dr. Dabney, a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in the field of youth development, brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for cultivating environments where young people can thrive.

A proud native of New Orleans and a product of the Orleans Parish School System, Dr. Dabney is an alumnus of Oliver Perry Walker Senior High School. His academic journey includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy & Leadership from The Ohio State University, a Master of Science in Higher Education from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Southern University and A&M College.

Dr. Dabney's diverse professional background encompasses roles as a teacher, student affairs practitioner, adjunct professor of education, and leadership positions in educational nonprofits focused on college access, success, and leadership development. His commitment to the educational landscape of New Orleans is further demonstrated through his service on the InspireNOLA Charter Schools Board.

Michele Seymour
REENGAGEMENT CENTER DIRECTOR

michele@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Michele Seymour is an educator and educational justice advocate with over ten years of experience in Postsecondary Access and Youth Development. She is a life-long resident and learner of New Orleans. She is a proud native of New Orleans East and an alumna of Loyola University New Orleans where she earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice. After completing a service year with Literacy*AmeriCorps, she worked as a Transition Services Coordinator establishing an early framework for postsecondary bridging for over 300 adult learners in the greater New Orleans region and facilitating collaboration with community partners and post-secondary institutions to secure equitable access for non-traditional students. Michele is a champion of adult literacy as a longstanding member of the Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans and a selection committee member of One Book, One New Orleans. Michele is a former board member of LAPCAE (2018-2020) where she served as regional representative for six parishes. Michele possesses a passion for student-centered and student-powered engagement. She has presented her work establishing post-secondary readiness programs at several education conferences including the National Partnership for Educational Access and SXSW Education. She is the Associate Director of Project Butterfly New Orleans, an evidence-based, African-centered girls rites of passage program. She is an Afrofuturist-based costume artist and member of the AfroFuturist Krewe NOLA.

Kathy Grote
DIRECTOR OF LEARNING

kathy@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Kathy is a youth worker, facilitator, strategic thought partner, and a little bit of a data nerd who has almost 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations. She has served as senior leadership in youth-facing organizations, and has acted as a strategic coach to 40+ organizations during the pandemic. She loves to get into the weeds on details, and ask questions that push a high standard of equity and quality-of-service for young people. She believes in the transformational potential of high-quality professional development for youth workers, and works hard to maintain the standard of quality already firmly established by NOYA. She believes in a culture of continuous improvement, and that feedback is only relevant as it relates to better serving young people and strengthening teams. Kathy’s areas of expertise are in youth and youth workforce development, strategic program design and re-design, coaching nonprofit teams to raise the quality of service for young people, facilitating professional developments and centering gratitude in personal and professional spaces.

Kathy holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary English Education with Teacher Licensure, a Masters in Nonprofit Management, and a Post-Masters Certificate in Organizational Development. Since 2016 she has also served as a certified YPQI External Assessor, Coach and a YPQI Methods Trainer.

Dominique Butler
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

dominique@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Dominique Butler is an artist and a community builder. She received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Alabama, where she studied film and television, sociology, and business. Dominique currently spearheads NOYA’s communications and outreach, develops multimedia content, manages the NOLA Youth Programs Directory, and serves as an external assessor for NOLA-YPQI. She formerly led and coordinated the NOYA Youth Leadership Fellowship for its first three years. She joined the NOYA team through the inaugural cohort of Public Allies New Orleans. Dominique serves as the board chair for Electric Girls, a local nonprofit organization that provides innovative and meaningful opportunities for young girls to engage in STEM.

Faith Robinson
FELLOWSHIP COORDINATOR

faith@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Faith Robinson is a New Orleans native and community advocate. She has earned a Associate's in Information Technology and is a Certified Designer. Faith was one of several young people who informed NOYA Fellowship before its inception. She formerly worked as the Admin Program Coordinator at the Cowen Institute's EMPLOY Collaborative for 3 years and is a Earn & Learn Alumni 2016. While completing her apprenticeship, Faith co founded EMPLOY'S Youth Action Team which was a youth leadership group that addresses issues impacting the community and coordinate events to support NOLA youth. She co planned the 100k Opportunities Youth Forum in 2017. Faith has always been a champion for youth experiencing systemic inequities by advocating and engaging disconnected youth who have skills that often go unrecognized or unsupported and want decisions that impact opportunity youth to be made with them rather than for them.

Sierra Gaines
OY AMBASSADOR

sierra@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Sierra Gaines is a community advocate and future Psychologist. She attends Dillard University studying Child Psychology and Sociology. Sierra is an OY Ambassador with the Reengagement Center where she works on improving community engagement and fostering relationships with youth participants. Sierra has engaged as a youth advisor with partners such as the Jobs for the Future Young Adult Talent Development and the Youth Voice Working Group with NOLA’s Children and Youth Planning Board. Sierra believes young people are the key and inspiration for growth in our communities and that adult investment is necessary to support young people as future change makers.

Donica Carter
OY AMBASSADOR

donica@noya.org
(she/her/hers)

Donica Carter is an OY Ambassador and NOYA Youth Leadership Fellowship Alumni. She is a proud graduate of The Net Charter. Donica is a former Legislative Intern with the Louisiana Institute for Children and Families where she drove policy change initiatives and spoke on behalf of women and children to the Senate Select Committee. Donica served as a Board Member with the Louisiana Elite Advocacy Force and was recently selected to the Youth Voice Working Group with NOLA’s Children and Youth Planning Board. Donica believes in the power of youth voice to drive change in our communities and beyond. Her future aspiration is to create accessible and holistic childcare for young parents in New Orleans.