I am Masters student in the Tulane School of Social Work, having completed my MSW in December 2016 and finishing up my MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership in May of 2017. My academic interests are rooted in understanding how existing social services can become increasingly relevant to the people they aim to serve, and how this can support the voices of the community members gaining recognition as experts of their own experiences. Being awarded the Alvarez Spark Innovation award has given me the opportunity to work with the New Orleans Public Library- Main branch, in creating intentional space for meaningful conversations relevant to members of the New Orleans, with the goal of creating increased community cohesion in a neighborhood in the city that has a rapidly changing landscape.