Renell Gibbs

Renell was born in New Orleans, LA and spent most of his childhood and teenage years living in the Calliope Housing Project. Growing up, Renell valued the important role that male family members played in his life and as he got older he felt a sense of responsibility to help other young men in his community, providing them with guidance and support they may not be getting at home. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Renell joined a New Orleans-based non-profit organization that mentored youth and he spent several years connecting displaced youth and their families living in Texas to school and community-based resources. Renell continued his work as a youth advocate upon his return to New Orleans and he helped under-served young people and their families to transition back home.