The 2010/11 Fellows were chosen from a pool of over 80 application and recommendation from around New Orleans. They represent various neighborhoods from all sections of the City and range in age from 16 – 21 years. Each brings a strong commitment to improving New Orleans and unique insights into tackling the issues that youth and the community as a whole want to overcome.
Antoine Turner
I am Antoine Turner, I am from New Orleans, and I attend McDonogh #35 High School. In my free time I like to play football for my school. I try to give 100% of my soul to doing the right thing even when it is hard, and I enjoy working with others and love the City of New Orleans.
I am excited to be in this Fellowship because I have always wanted to be in a program that gives the youth of New Orleans a chance to speak out on things concerning our neighborhoods, schools and everyday life. I think it is important for youth to be involved in this change because they will have a better idea of what they would want to occupy their time.
Candace Gautreaux
I am Candace Gautreaux, and I am member of the Urban League College Track program. I’ve been in this program since my freshman year of high school. I attend McDonogh 35 Senior High School and I am in the 11th grade. I recently received a grant from “My Idea Grant” to mentor 8th grade girls. The name of the program that I am starting is Minnie Butterflies. I feel this program is going to be great.
Courtney Jacks
My name is Courtney Jacks and I am from uptown New Orleans. I am 18 years old and attend Xavier University of Louisiana. My mother’s family is from Selma, Alabama and my father’s family is from New Orleans, Louisiana. The hobbies I enjoy are reading, dancing, listening to music, shopping, relaxing and spending time with my friends. My mother, father, siblings, nieces and friends are the most important people in my life. My favorite foods are chicken, french fries, chocolate, fruits and ice cream, and I enjoy a lot of different genres of music. I have participated in the NO/AIDS Task Force AIDS Walk, and I have volunteered in many community service projects. In the future I want to graduate from college with a PH.D, and give back to my community. New Orleans can become a more “youth friendly” city if there was less crime and more things for the youth to do. I would like to build my communication and public speaking skills from the fellowship.
Darielle Trotter
My name is Darielle Trotter and I attend George Washington Carver High School. I am also a part of the Urban League College Track in New Orleans. When I am not in school I enjoy going to church and my church youth group. I also participated in the American Bar Associations Summer Law Camp in Chicago.I believe youth should be involved in their communities so they can set a greater example for future youth coming behind them. I would like to also see adults give youth as many chances as possible to make a difference in their community.
De’Shaun Prader
My name is De’Shaun Prader and I attend Thurgood Marshall Early College High School. I am also a member of the University of New Orleans Classic Upward Bound program where we recently went on a trip to New York City. I have participated in several community programs, including a number plays that I have helped with the production. I would like to see more opportunities for the youth people of New Orleans. This includes employment opportunities, and programs that get kids off the streets and getting them involved in the right type of play. The failure to involve young people in the process of change will create another generation of people that don’t get involved in their community. Young people should have the right to be involved with the development of their futures.
Dwon A. Jordana
My name is Dwon Jordana, I am from New Orleans, and I attend Eleanor McMain Secondary School. I am a junior and I really enjoy science as a subject. When I’m not in school I like to play football, weightlift, and travel so I can see new things. People that are important to me are my family, my teachers and coachs, and the people at my church. I listen to all kinds of music because my mother plays a lot of smooth jaz, R&B, soft rock, and even classical music. However, my favorite artist is Lil Wayne.
Over the past couple years I have given a speech at city wide youth rally during our mayoral elections, I am a member of the Urban League College Track afterschool program, and have volunteered in the community. As for my future, I would really like to pursue becoming a zoologist. However, I’ve also given thought to becoming a United States Congressman. In New Orleans, it is difficult to find employment as a youth. If I were to make this city more youth friendly I would create more employment opportunities to teenagers. I would also improve recreational facilities to give youth more fun activities to participate in. For example, I would re-open Six Flags or something like that because it was fun, and youth could also work there as well. I would also work with other states with excellent educational standards and bring those ideas and standards to New Orleans. I am interested in learning more about leaders in the city and what they do so that I can think of ideas to improve my local, state, and even federal government in the future.
Dywanye’ A. Washington
My name is Dywanye’ Washington and I attend St. Mary’s Academy where I enjoy math. My family is from New Orleans. I like to watch TV, read, and to write. My mother is important to me. I love all types of chicken, and I love all music. A positive thing that I’ve done recently is volunteer for a food drive at church. My future goals are to go to college to get a good job and eventually to visit Africa. New Orleans would be more “youth friendly” if it actually focused on the youth. I would like to be a better leader.
Iesha Bourgeois
My name is Ieshsa “Eloquence” Bourgeois. I attend Walter L. Cohen Senior High School, and the subject I most enjoy the most is Math. During my childhood I was raised by my mother, Glenda Bourgeois, and a wonderful father, Isaac Cyres. My mother has 5 kids, and every one of us was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Growing up for me was a good learning experience for me and I’ve learned how to explore new things every day. During my spare time, I love to listen to music (Drake is my favorite musician) and like dancing. People who are important to me are my brother Isaac and my father Isaac. My favorite food is sesame Chinese chicken.
During the past 2 years I have been involved in many positive things. I have become a Student Ambassador for my school, I have been involved in many youth programs, and have been involved in several community service projects with different groups. My future goals are to keep my GPA at a 4.0, to learn everything I need to know before I step into the big world, and to be able to walk across the graduation stage. New Orleans can be a more youth friendly city if there was no crime, no bullying, and people worked on getting along. During this fellowship, I would like to learn more about both leadership and how youth can work with the city government more.
Ireian Roberts
My name is Ireian Roberts. I attend Joseph S. Clark Senior High School. My family and I are from New Orleans, Louisiana where we grew up in the lower 9th ward. I like to hang out with friends in my free time and get on Facebook. The people who are the most important in my life are my dad, my mom, and my sisters. My favorite food is spaghetti, and I love to listen to Tynisha Keli. Before I came to the Youth Leadership Fellowship, I was in an organization called the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP). My future goals are to go to Spelman College and gain a master’s degree. Then I plan to go to Loyola University in New Orleans and earn a law degree. New Orleans could be more youth friendly by giving young people more activities to participate in. I would like to learn more leadership skills from this fellowship.
Jare’ Henderson
My name is Jare’ Henderson, I attend Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. My family is from New Orleans where I was born and raised. I’ve participated in rebuilding Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church. My will to make New Orleans a more “youth friendly” city is to keep our youth off the streets, to teach them what’s going on in life, and to show them that you don’t have to be older to make a difference in life.
Jazmine Wilson
My name is Jazmine Wilson. I am a 17 year old senior attending New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School. In my free time I enjoy dancing, shopping, and hanging with friends. I also enjoy accomplishing my goals. I joined the Youth Leadership Fellowship because I would like to give the youth population a voice. I would also like to better my leadership skills and help the city become a more safe and friendly place.
In the future, I plan to attend Howard University, majoring in the sciences and minoring in dance. After completing my undergraduate years, I plan to attend medical school at Louisiana State University. After completing graduate school, I plan to start work in the pediatric field.
When not enjoying my hobbies, I am involved in Student Council, my school Senior Committee, the Tulane-Newcomb Summer Transition Program, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, volunteer work, Advanced Placement classes, and Honor classes.
Kiona Williams
My name is Kiona Williams and I attend Algiers Technology Academy. The subjects I enjoy are science and math. My family is from New Orleans, and the things I like to do in my free time are singing, drawing, and writing poems. The people important to me are my family and friends. My favorite foods are vegetables and fruits, and I enjoy all different types of music. I enjoy getting involved and helping at a local animal shelter. My future goals are to go to college, become a veterinarian and work in Florida. New Orleans can be a more “youth friendly” city by having more activities for youth to do, like hang out spots for so we can meet other young people. I would like to gain knowledge of how to become a leader out of this program.
Lenika Stalbert
I attend Dillard University and the subjects I enjoy are English and Sociology. My family is from New Orleans, Louisiana. I like to study, sing, dance, and text in my free time. My family, children and the elderly are all very important people to me. My enjoy eating spaghetti, ice cream, Chinese and seafood. My favorite music artists are Beyonce, The Fray, Alicia Keys and Chrisette Michelle.
Some positive things I’ve been involved in over the last two years are being a member of the National Honor Society and a member of both my school and church choirs. My future goals are to graduate college with honors with the eventual goal of managing a hospital. New Orleans could be a more “youth friendly” city by keeping our youth informed about social problems in society and encouraging then to get involved. I would like to become a great leader, and continue to take advice on how to reach my highest potential. In addition, I would like to learn more about the community I live in.
Malcolm DiBartolo
My name is Malcolm DiBartolo, and I attend University of New Orleans. My family is from New Orleans, Louisiana. In my free time I like to read, write and play football. My entire family is important to me. My favorite food is pizza, and I don’t really have a favorite musician. Over the past two years, I have been involved with undergraduate and graduate school, and recently became a FBI profiler. New Orleans can become more youth friendly city by listening to its youth. I would like to obtain skills to further my leadership abilities.
Meosha K. Wilkus
I am Meosha Wilkus and am from New Orleans where I attend New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School. In my free time I enjoy reading, especially about science because it is the subject that interests me the most. I listen to all types of music, and my favorite band at the moment would have to be Maydar parade. I like to eat pizza, turkey sandwiches, strawberries, and lettuce.
Over the past couple years I have been an active in service projects with both my school and my community. I enjoy helping others, and feel like it was something I was born to do. My future goals are to go to college and major in chemical engineering and chemistry. I really would like to live internationally in both Asia and Latin America. I would really like to get a better understanding of how decisions are made, and understand what I can do to be a part of making change. New Orleans could become a more youth friendly city is would simply LISTEN to the YOUTH.
Montrell Bogan
My name is Montrell Bogan, I attend New Orleans College Prep and I am from New Orleans. My mother and my sister are two of the most important people to me in my life. In my free time I really like to play chess and sports, especially football and basketball.
As for my future I would really like to graduate and go to college, preferably The Ohio State University if possible. After graduating I would also like to own my own business. New Orleans could be a more youth friendly city if it had more jobs for high school youth. The city also needs more things to do, such as playgrounds, pools, sports leagues, and sports camps. While in the fellowship I hope to learn how to be a better public speaker, and would also like the opportunity to teach other youth how to be good leaders.
Nia D. Benn
My name is Nia Deonna Benn. I am 17 years old and I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana in the Algiers neighborhood where my parents are also from. My hobbies are dancing, singing, acting, playing sports, hanging with friends, and going to church. The most important people to me are first and foremost God, then my mom, dad, brothers, extended family, church members, and last but not least my best friends. My favorite food is seafood, and my favorite music is gospel, rap and r&b. My favorite artists are Nu Era and D. Montrell. I have been in involved in all kinds of church activities and at the YOUTHanasia Foundation. My future goals are to go to college and major in business management and minor in performing arts. New Orleans could be more youth friendly by having more activities for youth to participate in around getting involved with the city and becoming more united. At the end of this program I would like to become a much better leader, be more involved in my own community, and leave with new friends.
Oscar Garcia
My name is Oscar Garcia. I am 16 years old. I go to International High School of Louisiana. My family is from Honduras and New Orleans. I like playing video games, spending time with my friends and exercise. The people who are important to me are my grandparents, my godfather, my cousins, my uncle Oscar and my aunt Dolores. My favorite foods are Chinese and Mexican. My favorite music is rock and rap. In the past two years, I’ve been in Morehouse College for a program called “Project Identity” and I went to Chicago for the Young Planners Network National Conference. My goals include graduating from college and changing the world.
Shanay Howard
Shanay Howard was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Gentilly Terrace, St. Paul Lutheran and High School at St. Mary’s Academy. She was displaced to Mobile, Alabama after Hurricane Katrina and attended McGill-Toolen CHS. After graduating in May 2008, she then joined the US Army National Guard where she did Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training in Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. After finishing training, she then returned to her hometown of New Orleans where she began as a full-time student at Southern University of New Orleans, majoring in Criminal Justice.
Shanay Howard is excited to be a part of the Partnership for Youth Development’s Fellowship to develop her leadership skills. She hopes to become a greater leader and one day open her own business helping out the youth in her community.
Yashonda Lee
My name is Yashonda Lee and I attend Walter L. Cohen High School. My family is from New Orleans and maintains a talented musical background. I like to sing, play sports and be a majorette on my free time. The most important things to me are my family and my best friend.
My favorite food is ham and bacon pizza. Also, my favorite musician to listen to is Nicki Minaj. I have been involved with the Baobab Leadership Initiative, through which we raised money to go on a service trip to the Dominican Republic. My future goal is to become a successful doctor. One way New Orleans can be a more youth friendly city is creating ways for the youth to have its own voice heard. The thing I would like to get out of this fellowship is to become fully aware of leadership skills I have.