Palesa Principal & CDC Chairman

Serves as Lead Developer managing the development process. With residential portfolio management exceeding $5M+. Her role as a community developer extends her creative pursuits into directly harnessing construction work into job access for varied contractors that increase neighborhood housing options.

Since 2000, her work with public and private sectors leveraged capital to benefit small businesses, commercial developers, and diverse neighborhood capacity building organizations. Kimberly works for The First Bank and previously worked for Woodforest National Bank, the U.S. Peace Corps in Lesotho, Southern Africa, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, HRI Properties, the City of New Orleans Office of Community Development & Recovery Management, Orleans Parish Public Schools, and Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, which won an International Economic Development Council Honorable Mention Award for data analysis and application. Kimberly’s works have coordinated $100M+ in public-private, program and project management.

Palesa COO & CDC Secretary, providing business development and operational guidance.

Marcus is also co-owner of Calvin Braxton FORD in Lockport, Louisiana. With 20+ years of management experience in the Sales and Finance Departments. He was a Finance Director for 10 years and has been a General Manager for 4+ years. At peak performance, his skills guided 120+ employees with an annual sales goal of $30M+. His professionalism aims to anchor Palesa’s creativity with service delivery.

Palesa Business Development Executive for the Deer Park Housing Development.

Through Keystone Consulting Group, Keith leverages 10+ years of experience and expertise in housing and community development, finance, bond law, fair housing, and human resources to provide strategic guidance and solutions to public and private sector clients. A lawyer by trade, he has a proven track record of advancing housing stock and importantly, diversity and inclusion measures into the contractual and end-homebuyer and tenant processes in Louisiana during times of extreme adversity: natural disasters, economic downturns, and social unrest.

Previously, Keith served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, where he led a team of 200+ professionals and managed an annual budget of $50M+. Achieving this meant implementing systems and public policies that increased efficiency, accountability, and transparency across multiple programs and disciplines, while building stronger partnerships with local, state, and federal stakeholders to address the complex housing needs of Louisiana residents. His leadership strategies, high emotional intelligence, and passion for team development are recognized by a legacy of awards and honors, including the National Housing Conference's 2020 Housing Leader Award for demonstrating “lasting impact in communities served.”

Serves as Palesa Project Manager for the Deerk Park Housing Development with a focus on urban planning, public policy, and financial analysis.

As owner of REO, LLC, Steven provides real estate advisory, research, cash flow projections, development pro formas, civic engagement, deal structuring, and advisory in Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), Payment in Lieu of Taxes, and New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs). His legislative advocacy, policy and data analysis have assisted women and minority communities statewide in garnering increased access to government contracting opportunities.

Steven provides charitable, Board of Director services as the following:

City of New Orleans Industrial Development Board Member

City of New Orleans Business Alliance Board Member

Broadmoor Community Connections Board Member

French Market Corporation Finance Committee Board Member

Trapolin-Peer Architects is the Lead Deer Park Housing Development Architect.

As a Principal of Trapolin-Peer Architects, Paula Peer, applies her 33 years of practice to many of the firm’s new construction and renovation projects. Her experience with large, complex projects has allowed the firm’s work to expand regionally and solidify the firm’s reputation as a leader in sustainable, adaptive, re-use and new urban in-fill development.

Paula emerged as a leader among her peers in the architecture community, as well as a trusted advisor to city and business leaders. She is active in numerous committees and organizations with a focus on historic preservation, urban land use practices, and sustainable design.

A few notable projects of the firm’s portfolio include:

Sazerac House

University of New Orleans Master Plan

Emeril’s Delmonico

The Pearl Hotel - Rosemary Branch

Marriott Convention Center Hotel

Award-winning Arts professional with work promoted through Creatively Yours in public and private collections around the world including work permanently accessioned and on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. A proven track record of applying exceptional leadership, creativity, strategy and ingenuity in business and educational contexts. Experienced in setting and leading the creative vision and direction for programs across the USA, Europe and Africa.

As a collaborative leader who has successfully delivered large projects by working with diverse artists, collectors and stakeholders, Myesha aims to strengthen the resources and exposure opportunities made available to “creatives.” Artist, curator, gallery and former studio owner with a passion for creating and sharing powerful, soul-centered art.

AWARDS

-Outstanding Arts Organization Award- Asante Awards Organization

- Essence and Madam CJ Walker Award for Entrepreneurship Excellence in the Arts

- Selected as a Romare Bearden fellow of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

- Recipient of $25k Grant for a One Year Artist Sabbatical - Exodus Summit

- Star Entrepreneur Award from B.A.S.E.

- Honorary Arts Chair 2011- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

- Margaret Burroughs Wright Fellowship, Association of African American Museums

- Dr. Leeta Allen Haynes’ Award for Academic Excellence

- Contributor to The Oprah Bracelet Project, a Fairwinds Trading initiative, enabling women artists from New Orleans and Rwanda to heal from trauma through art. Ms. Winfrey successfully sold the bracelets in Macy’s.

- Studied art in Florence, Italy and surveyed visual artists in East and West Africa.

Owner of Successful Endeavors, a five-plex retail store front on S. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA. with annual lease and sales revenue of $1.3M+.

Ronn not only employs 20+ people in the food/beverage industry, which at a peak height operated 3 Chicken-n-Watermelon Restaurants and Jazz Daiquiris, his firm leases retail space to two organizations with cultural significance: Operation Restoration “The Closet,” which provides services to formerly incarcerated women.

Since 2016, through a true partnership in leadership with his management team, the company’s non-profit arm, Help Me Help You, has mentored countless neighborhood youth and donated $70K+ to youth and service non-profit organizations through book sack and toy drives, and essay writing monetary award contests.

Help Me Help You Partners

-YWCA

-Eleanor McMain Secondary School

-Esperanza Academy Charter School

-Frederick Douglas Highschool

-Broadmoor Improvement Association Night Out Against Crime

Director of Engagement & Partnership at the Music & Cultural Coalition of New Orleans (MaCCNO), Bettis advocates for the rights and well-being of musicians and cultural practitioners across the City of New Orleans.

As past St. Augustine Highschool Head Drum Major for the renowned Marching 100, he now leads Bettis + 3rd Degree, a R&B Funk, Hip Hop, Brass Band performing every Friday night at Bamboula’s from 10pm to close. You may learn more about the band at www.B3DLive.com.

His insights in cultural preservation and community engagement are invaluable to growing investment in the City of New Orleans from within. Through his consulting firm, “Bettis Presents,” he works to draw interest, create value, and source resources to shape an arts-driven community.

Bettis’ dedication was evident in his instrumental role in the passage of the Musician Pay Ordinance #34715, setting a landmark minimum pay rate for musicians performing under public contracts. This ordinance represents a significant step towards economic vitality for local artists.

A thriving, inclusive, and culturally rich New Orleans is the vision that Bettis drives toward.

Co-founder of Detangled and Founder of Citizen SHE and Citizen SHE United.

Nia Weeks is a celebrated civic strategist and thought leader, renowned for her innovative approaches to voter engagement and community mobilization. Raised in New Orleans, her family's philanthropic values and the city’s rich culture deeply influenced her commitment to social justice.

As the co-founder of Detangled, Nia uses storytelling to empower marginalized communities and drive societal change. Under her leadership, Detangled has spearheaded campaigns such as nearly doubling voter turnout in Louisiana’s 2020 election and securing the passage of the CROWN Act. Additionally, through Citizen SHE United, Nia advocates for Black women's rights in Louisiana, mobilizing grassroots efforts for systemic change. Her global impact extends to Ghana with Bridging Borders, a program empowering girls through education and entrepreneurship.

Nia's television show "SHE Shows Up" and her films "Free to Be Free" and "Detangling the South" highlight her commitment to addressing critical social issues through compelling narratives, fostering inclusivity and positive change.