R.M. "Iray" Nabatoff, Executive Director

Iray Nabatoff arrived as a volunteer in New Orleans from Acworth NH during January 2006, expecting to stay only about 3 weeks. After working at the Made With Love Cafe and seeing first-hand the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Iray made a long-term commitment to helping with the recovery effort. He has been the volunteer Executive Director of the Community Center since its inception in April, 2006 and was named to the St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee by the St Bernard Parish Council. Iray serves as Chair of St. Bernard Community Recovery and Vice-Chair of Unified Nonprofits of Greater New Orleans and is a member of the Executive Board of the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership. And he is a former Co-Chair of the Greater New Orleans Covering Kids & Families Coalition Representing St Bernard Parish.

During March 2007, Iray participated in a forum on Crisis Leadership at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC and in January 2009 he was invited to attend the RAND Gulf States Policy Forum. Iray's ongoing dedication to assisting the hurricane survivors in New Orleans has led the Times-Picayune newspaper to name him one of its “Heroes of the Storm”. In August, 2008 he received the "Footsteps to Growth" award from the St Bernard Parish Government for his role in the recovery effort, and in August 2009 he was named a "Hunger All-Star" by Tyson Foods for his work with the Community Center's Mustard Seed Food Pantry.

Iray also received a NFL Community Quarterback Award from the New Orleans Saints in December 2009 and was honored with a Louisiana Volunteer Service Award from Lt Governor Mitch Landrieu in February 2010. In April 2010 he was also named an Honored Citizen of St Bernard Parish by the Parish Council. In August 2011 Iray was named one of five national semi-finalists for the AARP's National Hunger Hero Award, and in November 2011 Iray was chosen to serve as part of the Opportunity Nation Leaders and Scholars Program, a national network of experts with personal experience facing barriers to opportunity and a track record of making meaningful change in their respective communities.Click Here to Email IRAY.

A retired volunteer from Pennsylvania, Sharon has been in the New Orleans area since January 2007. After 8 months with the Steven Spring Foundation in the Bywater, she began working at the Community Center in September 2007 and received an Honored Citizen Award from St Bernard Parish in April 2010. Click Here to Email SHARON.

Je'Nae is a New Orleans native who graduated from Warren Easton High School. She went on to receive her BA from Lane College in Jackson, TN and is now completing course work in both Mass Communications and Criminal Justice. Click Here to Email JE'NAE.

Jeffery joins us from Florida and is looking forward to a rewarding and challenging time helping in the Mustard Seed Distribution Program and working with the many volunteer groups who come to help here at the Community Center. Click Here to Email JEFFERY.

St Bernard residents Mr Joe and Mr Dave help the food pantry distribute about 6,000 lbs of food every week. Click Here to Email JOE or DAVE.

Clara joins us from her work at Emerald Property Group, the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, and Build Now Foundation. She's looking forward to helping clients with information, referrals, copying and faxing and other services in the office. Click Here to Email CLARA..

I am a St Bernard Parish resident of 50 years. I love this place, and hope to be here another 50 years. I am now working at the Community Center. I enjoy meeting people from the Parish and from other states. This is a great place to work! Click Here to Email ELAINE.

Barbara joins us through the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program and is helping to keep things running smoothly here at the Center. Click Here to Email BARBARA .