Nyree is committed to upholding the heritage, history, and culture of New Orleans.  Daughter of a Jamaican immigrant father and a Harlem-born activist-mom, Nyree calls upon these roots to ensure progress leaves no one behind.  Her work started early. As a youth, Nyree participated in the Ford Foundation’s national outreach campaign and was selected as Youth Commissioner on Urban Poverty, her cohort published, Healing the Heart of the Cities: Youth Voices Speak Out. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Human & Organizational Development (H&OD) and her master’s degree in Educational and Administrative Leadership at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was the recipient of the POSSE Leadership Scholarship. At Vanderbilt, she created inclusive programming such as, “Open Doors” and helped to institute the university’s minor in African American studies. She would later follow her artist heart to Tremé in New Orleans, where she immediately connected to her indigenous culture and music roots. Here, she served the City of New Orleans as Deputy Director of Community Affairs & Special Events and would later be promoted to Director of Arts and Tourism in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, the first African American to hold that position. In that role, she led the city’s Bicentennial celebrations of the Louisiana Purchase, highlighting the Haitian influence and presence, producing week-long events called “True Roots.” Click here to read entire bio