Community STATS:

• Xavier University of Louisiana alumnus 

• Sarah T. Reed Olympian & East Beast

• K-12/Undergrad/Grad STEM Educator

• Former Youth Basketball Coach, Joe Brown Park (NORDC)

She's a published Researcher who recalls "As a young, black girl growing up in New Orleans East, I loved science and discovery. I also enjoyed drawing and creative writing! But, we didn't have a place to go for STEM recreation! If I'd had a fun place to go for fun science exploration or a mentor to hold my hand and guide me to a career in Science, I could have better strategized a successful career path earlier on in my professional journey. And there are many minorities echoing those sentiments. So, I want STEM Heads to be that hand for my community to hold. STEM Heads is growing into a community of mentors to help young people along their journey."

As recent as 2019, statistics show that this story of underrepresentation in essential science fields is geared to repeat itself for young men and women of color. Bishop founded STEM Heads to address this recurring problem for the sake of our youth growing up in New Orleans East and in hopes of reversing the deterioration of our community.

Just as Kimberly Bryant of Black Girls Code "used the skills she had gained as an engineer to spot an issue in the world that she wanted to solve and then harnessed an ever growing community and movement to solve it," Bishop seeks to use the skills she has gained as a Research Biochemist, Engineer, and Youth Coach to change the trajectory of the people with whom she shares a community. She believes our future depends on us, so we must:

• Inspire minority involvement in STEM fields

• Empower the community of New Orleans East that has been struggling to self-resuscitate

• Nurture accountability for community

• Nurture the future of Science

• & nurture self-accountability

Mr. Deidrick Vallet is well versed in management and team building in corporate America as well as at home. He is the parent of two college-age daughters, is highly invested in his daughters' future, and is committed to providing them with a means to attain success. He extends the same level of commitment to the young people in our community.

Dr. Angela Holmes

BOARD DIRECTOR, STEM Heads

Dr. Angela Holmes, a trained Neuroscientist, enjoys her role as Diversity and Disparities Program Officer (Health Science Administrator) at The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) . She:

• is an Agile and flexible business consultant with more than 10 years of experience supporting the education, government, and healthcare industries

• has strong project and programmatic management skills with expertise in the study of human behavior and science administration

• is a strategic and analytical thinker with a proven track record of designing, developing and implementing programs

• has exceptional internal and external relationship building skills to effectively communicate across diverse sets of stakeholders, and

• is a passionate collaborator who offers creative solutions and is able to adapt to changing environments and be a positive influence on organization culture

Dr. Yacara Jackson is a long-time physician, caregiver, and entrepreneur. She is the mother of a middle-schooler who loves STEM, playing music, and learning new things. Dr. Jackson encourages her daughter to pursue her interests in STEAM, and supports activities that help luminate her path to success. As a mother, she desires a bright future for her daughter and girls like her.

Charles Allen is the Community Engagement Director for the Gulf Coast at the National Audubon Society where the entire focus of his work on diversity, equity and inclusion by enhancing Audubon’s reach to underrepresented communities in the Gulf Coast region. He is also a devoted member and church minister in the Lower 9th ward community of New Orleans.