Posse Alumni Community Grows in NOLA
In recent years, New Orleans has seen a tremendous influx of young professionals eager to contribute to the revitalization of the city. Unsurprisingly, among these young professionals are Posse alumni.
After two years as a Teach For America corps member in the Mississippi Delta Region, Posse New York Middlebury College alumnus Brandon Hawkins is now a second grade teacher at KIPP Leadership Primary in New Orleans.
“I know education has opened a lot of doors for me, so I feel the need to give back and be a visible African-American male mentor to my students,” says Brandon. “I love teaching. I plan to apply to Columbia University’s Summer Principals Academy in New Orleans, set down roots here and make New Orleans my home.”
Amberine Huda, a Posse Los Angeles alumna of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, moved to New Orleans as a Teach For America corps member. She is in the final year of her two-year commitment as a special education and English teacher for sixth and eighth graders at N.P. Trist Middle School in St. Bernard Parish.
“Posse was an insanely positive experience for me, and I really wanted to bring it into the classroom somehow,” says Amberine, who frequently uses Posse warm-ups to engage her students and even refers to them as scholars.
The most recent alumna to call New Orleans home is Barbara Reynolds, a member of Bard College’s first graduating class of Posse Scholars from Atlanta. She works for Bard Early College, researching employment and internship opportunities for students. Barbara is no stranger to New Orleans, having interned during her junior year at Andrew H. Wilson Elementary in the Broadmoor neighborhood through Bard’s Trustee Leader-Scholar Program.
“Posse exposed me to different cultures,” says Barbara. “I am used to immersing myself in new things so that I can continue to grow and learn.”
Posse New Orleans is thrilled that Posse alumni from across the country are establishing a network in the city. They are role models to current Posse New Orleans Scholars who look forward to joining the alumni community.
