LaToria W. Thomas President & CEO of United Way of Northwest Louisiana, leading equity-focused initiatives after prior roles with GNOF, AARP Foundation, Dress for Success New Orleans, and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Founder of Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans, she holds degrees from Northwestern State University (BS, Mathematics) and LSUS (MS, Nonprofit Administration) and was a 2021 ATHENA Honoree and AFP North Louisiana’s 2023 Outstanding Fundraising Executive.

Lee A. Jeter, Sr. Executive Director of the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana and Pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church, with 25+ years in nonprofit administration and a prior career in the U.S. Marine Corps. His recognitions include the Presidential Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), and he holds numerous civic leadership roles including Chair of the Bossier Parish Democratic Party Executive Committee and President of the Kiwanis Club of Shreveport. Airs March 9, 2026

Barbara Joseph Executive Director of the North Louisiana Jewish Federation with 20+ years in education and nonprofit leadership. She oversees educational, social, and cultural programs, strengthens community relations, and guides social service initiatives across the region.

Join us for a conversation with Brian Patchett, President/CEO of the Louisiana Association for the Blind. He’ll share how L.A.B. supports people who are blind or visually impaired through programs and services that promote independence and opportunity.

: Tracy McComic, Executive Director of Noel Community Arts Program in Shreveport, leads a vibrant nonprofit dedicated to making arts education—whether visual, musical, or pottery—accessible to all ages across the Historic Highland neighborhood. With a heart for outreach and equity, she champions scholarships, community art projects, and partnerships that lift voices, foster creativity, and build connections through the transformative power of the arts.

Morgan Canfield Taylor serves on the board of North Louisiana Farm Fresh, where she helps lead growth efforts for the Ruston Farmers Market and Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen. With a background in marketing and public administration, she supports strategies that have helped the market achieve record vendor sales of over $400,000 in 2024.

Rae Phillips, Director of HARK, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the history of the Ark-La-Tex through dynamic and inclusive programming. An award-winning writer and media producer, Rae blends storytelling and education to preserve community voices and histories through film, radio, and oral history projects.

Jenifer Hill, Executive Director of the Strand Theatre, brings three decades of experience in nonprofit and arts management to one of Shreveport’s most beloved cultural landmarks. With a deep passion for the performing arts and a fearless dedication to historic preservation, Jenifer leads with heart, humor, and a lifelong love for the theatre she once mischievously explored as a child.

Matt Henry, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, has led arts advocacy and cultural development across an eight-parish region since 2003. A passionate leader and vocal performance graduate of The Ohio State University, Matt oversees major venues like the Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center and champions the arts statewide through leadership roles in key cultural organizations.

Airs Mon., Nov. 24, 6:30 p.m. Community Connections has a conversation with Anabelinda “Ana” Ford, founder of Parents United Against Youth Violence. Parents United Against Youth Violence is a grassroots movement in El Dorado, Arkansas, dedicated to transforming young lives and preventing youth violence through testimony, outreach, and faith. Inspired by her own family’s struggles, Ana leads marches, support groups, and scholarship efforts to bring hope, healing, and opportunity to her community.