Zahara Almouzani

Esperanza Foundational

About Coming Soon.

Corey Williams

Plessy – 7th Ward

Corey Williams: Artist, Educator, Musician has been with Community Works as a site leader for 3 years. Embarked on his leadership journey as an educator with Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom Schools, modeling curriculums in programs to boost children’s motivation to read and generate positive attitudes towards learning, while connecting the needs of children and families to the resources. The training he received there inspired his path as an educator to work in communities and use art as a tool to connect children to learning and finding greatness within themselves. That experience molded his teaching style of what he describes “make learning fun for youth without them realizing they’ve learned so much”. This journey led him with Urban Arts Alliance facilitating a journalism-based writing program that challenges students to excel at writing and produce published media content. From 2011 to 2015, he launched his own organization Freedom Arts and Education Center in St.Louis, Missouri. Providing a program for youth to be creative, developing leadership through training, and academic enrichment programs. After transitioning to New Orleans in 2016, Corey has worked in education led programs facilitating music and creative writing workshops. Corey is also currently an on-air radio host for WWOZ 90.7 FM. His latest collaborative effort as an artist featured in the cast of “Living Like Kings”  an immersive multimedia film colliding chess and hip hop culture. Through the work as an educator he finds his passion through making a difference in his community, family and himself.

Nessa Wheatley

ISL – Olivier St. Campus

Nessa Wheatley is a musician, educator, and audio engineer from San José, California. She relocated to Louisiana in 2014 and volunteered with the inaugural session of Girls Rock New Orleans, later becoming a GRNO organizer. In 2016 Community Works hired her as a substitute, then a regular instructor teaching music theory and songwriting. As Community Leader at ISL Westbank she continues her work of empowering youth to creatively express themselves, collaborate, and counteract all forms of marginalization.

Todd Shaffer

ISL – Camp St. Campus

Todd Shaffer is a 25 year veteran Teaching Artist and has been with Community Works since they began. He is a specialist in early education working in multiple schools, museums, and Head Start programs throughout New Orleans when not running the Enrichment program at ISL sites. His background is in visual and preforming arts. He is trained to work with students from 6 months to college freshman (Tulane University) and spent a year working at the ARC of New Orleans . In his free time he enjoys theater, art, family and his dog Daisy!

Brooke Paulus

ISL – St. Roch Campus

Brooke Paulus is an interdisciplinary artist and educator from San Diego, California who graduated Magna Cum Laude from UNO in Cultural and Environmental Studies. She landed in New Orleans with Americorps in 2008 and moved here permanently in 2012 after three years of working in the national park system and doing disaster relief work abroad. She is a Louisana Master Naturalist and has worked with a range of arts and outdoor education non-profits such as the Music Box Village, Edible Schoolyard, Big Class, Girls Rock New Orleans, and Art Camp 504. Brooke is also an avid reader and musician who is driven by her love of radical artistic expression and joyful exploration of the world and seeks to instill those principles of creativity, curiosity, and compassion into her young people.

Dylan Davidson

Kenner Discovery – DJOD Campus

Dylan Davidson is an interdisciplinary artist and recent graduate of the University of New Orleans with a degree in Psychology. He is passionate about introducing young people to the arts and fostering curiosity and ambition to explore one’s creative outlets. Beginning his Community Works journey as a Photography Instructor, Dylan understands that keeping students engaged and tailoring to their learning styles are the basis of successful teaching in the arts. “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain one once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

Pamlynn Hardy

Kenner Discovery – KDHS Campus

Pam Hardy, Ph.D, has over 37 years of education experience and Community Works Leader since 2021. She is a specialist in Special Education and Healthcare Services. Dr. Pam has a wealth of information, experience in the school system, and years of experience leading schools, after-school programs, and camps. She enjoys spending her free time with her grandkids, family, and friends.

Tyler Hebert

Plessy Treme