New Orleans Airlift

As a member of the New Orleans Airlift Board of Directors since 2019, I've had the privilege to witness firsthand the transformative power of art in action.

At the heart of New Orleans Airlift's mission lies a commitment to forging connections—between people, ideas, and cultures—through groundbreaking public artworks. Born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, this nonprofit organization has a mission of nurturing the city's artistic landscape while fostering economic opportunities for its collaborators.

Its most notable project, Music Box Village, began as a prototype sculpture garden and has grown into an imaginative landscape of musical architecture, housed within a former metal fabrication shop spanning 13,000 square feet. At Music Box Village, each sculpture serves as both an instrument and a platform for performance.

As the world faced unprecedented challenges with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Orleans Airlift found itself in a period of transition. I played a pivotal role in guiding the organization through branding workshops and facilitating strategic planning efforts to ensure the continuity of the organization's mission.

In the spring of 2023, I assumed the role of interim executive director to support the organization during its founder-led transition and help achieve operational and financial sustainability. In this role, I completed a comprehensive cost analysis, implemented operational efficiencies, and collaborated with the organization's dedicated staff to explore multiple pathways to financial stability.

Through applying my skillset, I shared multiple viable pathways to fortify the organization as an institution of artistic experimentation, education, and economic generator for the city of New Orleans.