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 vice-president of the Board for both the St. Bernard Community Recovery Committee and Unified Nonprofits of Greater New Orleans.

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 lead the Times-Picayune newspaper to name him one of its “Heroes of the Storm”. And in August, 2008 he received the "Footsteps to Growth" award from the St Bernard Parish Government for his role in the recovery effort. Click Here to Email IRAY.

Bethany Garfield, Mustard Seed Coordinator

Bethany recently returned from New York to aid in the revitalization of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish. Since arriving, she has volunteered with several organizations in the area. Bethany moved to New Orleans in 2002, but left three years later to complete her studies at SUNY Purchase College and the University of Oregon. She graduated with a master's degree in magazine journalism in 2007.

Bethany is thrilled to be back in Louisiana. Becoming a part of the Community Center and running the Mustard Seed Food Pantry have been amazing experiences for her. She looks forward to her time at the Center and hopes she can be a positive part of St. Bernard's rebirth and recovery.Click Here to Email BETHANY.

Sharon S. Ober PhD, Development Director

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. Click Here to Email SHARON.

Elaine Dominio, Distribution Assistant

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.