Meet our team of Staff, Interns, and Volunteers!
laura paul
executive director
lowernine.org’s Executive Director, Laura Paul, volunteered from 2006-2007 in disaster recovery following Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Orleans Parishes. She became a founding board member of lowernine.org in 2007 and joined as staff in 2008. As a resident of the Lower 9th Ward, she has first-hand knowledge of the issues facing the community, and a passion for meeting the needs of her neighbors. Laura has been the Executive Director of lowernine.org since 2011.
darren mckinney
field operations director
Darren McKinney is a lifelong Lower 9th Ward resident and has worked as a stipend-supported volunteer since the founding of lowernine.org in 2007. As a lifelong Lower Ninth Ward resident, Darren is a well-known member of the community and continuously refers clients to lowernine.org by way of his countless personal connections. As Field Operations Director, Darren works on individual rebuilding projects with the support of volunteer labor. His extensive construction expertise combined with his vitality and unique presence in the community makes Darren an invaluable member of the lowernine.org team.
Naish williams
food security director
Naish Williams is a resident of the Lower 9th Ward and is Director for our weekly food pantry. Naish began working with lowernine.org when his passion for growing food in a designated food desert intercepted with lowernine.org’s weekly pantry needs. In his free time his interests are rooted in sustainable agriculture with a focus on educating his neighbors on how to start their own gardens and grow their own produce.
jess armstrong
volunteer director
brett halstead
director of projects
Brett Halstead was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon and joined the US Marine Corps straight out of high school. He came home after serving 8 years overseas. He relocated to New Orleans in 2021 after a decade in the construction industry. Wanting to serve his community, Brett joined lowernine.org as a volunteer in August 2023 and is now Director of Projects. In his position, Brett oversees and schedules current and upcoming projects.
mae liZama
crew leader
Mae LiZama came to New Orleans in 1975 to pursue a career in photography. In the early 1980’s, she began renovating her historic carriage house. As friends witnessed her renovations, she began getting offers to do the same for their homes. Mae’s work has always been in historic homes in the Uptown, Mid City, Marigny and French Quarter areas. After a thirty year career as a photographer, she returned to working on historic homes of New Orleans. In March 2024, Mae joined the lowernine.org team helping the people of the area to repair and rebuild their homes destroyed by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
mark matsusaki
webmaster / chef de cusine
Mark Matsusaki first interaction with lowernine occurred after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Lake Charles in 2020, as a contract chef with World Central Kitchen, as lowernine provided mutual aid to the communties of Southwestern Louisana. Since then, Mark has volunteered in keeping the lowernine website and social media active and engaging. Additionally, Mark has assisted in various roles, from the technical buildout of the Volunteer House, operational volunteer guidaance, and sweat equity.