meet our team
staff, volunteers, and neighbors working side by side to bring families home
our staff
laura paul
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.
meg gonzalez
Meg began volunteering with lowernine.org in the spring of 2025, and enjoys a dual role supporting both home rebuilding projects and administrative and development work. Her previous experience involved post-conviction relief law, and agricultural and business development on several farms throughout Louisiana and Maryland.
darren mckinney
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
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
Jess Armstrong joined lowernine.org in October 2022 as Volunteer Director after spending a month in New Orleans volunteering. Hailing from New Zealand, Jess does most volunteer coordination online but has made several (long) flights to New Orleans to get some hands-on experience with the rest of the team. While she’s in New Orleans, Jess loves to explore the city and eat at as many different places as possible!
brett halstead
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
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
The first interaction Mark Matsusaki had with lowernine.org occurred after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Lake Charles in 2020, as a contract chef with World Central Kitchen, while lowernine.org provided mutual aid to the communities of Southwestern Louisiana. Since then, Mark has volunteered in keeping the lowernine.org website and social media active and engaging. Additionally, Mark has assisted in various roles, from the technical buildout of the Volunteer House, operational volunteer guidance, and sweat equity.
berlin williams
Berlin Williams comes from the ballroom scenes of New York City where they worked with unhoused youth and medically disadvantaged LGBTQ+ peoples for 8+ years. After falling in love with New Orleans they have continued fighting for unhoused youth for Start Corp located in the historic French Quarters. Berlin also serves as a Mentor for the Pearl Milling Food Security Apprenticeship Program where 5 young Black women explore their professional development and the causes of food insecurity and ways to fight it in their own neighborhoods.
you
Whether you’re a skilled builder, a student on break, or just someone who cares, we’d love to work with you.
our board
beverly nichols
CPA and retired Tax Director and partner with the New Orleans Firm of Bourgeois Bennett, LLC. Bev has also specialized in pension planning and consulting. She has always volunteered with several non-profit organizations and continues to do so in retirement, severing on several boards. Bev is very active in the community and supports and mentors many organizations and individuals. During her long, successful career, she also contributed to her chosen professional organizations by teaching and serving on committees. She was awarded the 2008 LA Society of CPA and the National AICPA Public Service Awards. In 2010, the Young Leadership Council selected her as one of their Role Models.
calvin alexander
Calvin is a Historic District Landmarks Commissioner, board President of the Lower 9th Ward Center of Sustainable Engagement and Development, and President of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association. Calvin is also a lifelong resident of the Lower Ninth Ward, and one of lowernine.org’s early rebuild clients.
jarrod broussar
Jarrod has served as a Managing Member of Hotel Furniture Liquidators, LLC and HFL Gallery NOLA since 2007. Broussard is also a member of Red Sauce Properties, LLC, 1818 Magazine Street, LLC, and East Monterey Properties, LLC. Broussard has also worked as an independent real estate investor as well as president of @Site Computer Services, LLC. Jarrod received a bachelor’s degree in political economy and economics from Tulane University. He has also completed several leadership seminars and programs, including the highly competitive Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. Jarrod is an ordained minister.
lizzy caston
Lizzy Caston works as a project manager with an expertise in urban and community development, nonprofit management and affordable housing. She believes in the power of grassroots efforts helping empower communities to manifest real change in ways that make sense for their own voices and experiences. She has been involved with lowernine.org as a volunteer since 2010.
michael hickerson
Michael is a retired social worker after 25 years who also taught social work at Southern University at New Orleans Millie Charles School of Social Work. A native New Orleanian who currently resides in Slidell, he has served on local, state, and national boards and committees including the Louisiana Association Board of Social Work Examiners.
