Shawon Jackson Bernard is a founding member and President of the Lower 9th Ward Voter's Coalition, where she is committed to empowering residents through civic education, voter engagement, and community leadership. She believes that every citizen has both the right and the responsibility to actively participate in government through informed voting and meaningful civic involvement.

Professionally, Shawon is the owner and managing attorney of Bernard Law Firm, LLC, in New Orleans, where she advocates for individuals and families while promoting access to justice. Her passion for service extends beyond the courtroom through her leadership in education, mediation, and community development.

Shawon earned her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of New Orleans, a Master of Computer Information Systems from Southern University at New Orleans, and a Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Secondary Education.

A lifelong public servant, Shawon served as Vice President of the Family Justice Legal Center and is a member of the Louisiana Governor's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Advisory Board. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to strengthening communities through advocacy, education, and collaborative leadership.

Through the Lower 9th Ward Voter's Coalition, Shawon continues to champion informed civic participation, believing that engaged citizens are the foundation of strong neighborhoods, accountable government, and lasting change.

Arlene T. Madine is a lifelong New Orleanian, born in the Seventh Ward and raised in the Ninth Ward. Educated in the Lower Ninth Ward from elementary through high school, she later earned her GED from Eleanor Grace King High School. Like many residents of the Ninth Ward, Arlene experienced periods of redirection, but found purpose through 12 years of honorable service in the United States Army, including both Reserve and Active Duty roles.

After military service, Arlene lived in Colorado for 13 years before returning home to her family residence on Fats Domino Avenue. Since returning, she has been deeply engaged in community service and civic participation, volunteering with organizations such as 

Step Up Louisiana, the Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association, Sankofa Food Bank, Lower9.org, Bayou Crawler Jeepers, and the Lower 9th Ward Voters Coalition (L9THWVC). Her work reflects the coalition’s guiding principle: “We don’t care who you vote for — we just want you to vote.”

Arlene holds a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studiesand an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Science. Her professional experience includes personnel records management, payroll, accounting, asset tracking, aviation operations, quality control, training supervision, and combat medical service. She brings more than 10 years of leadership experience, strong analytical and operational skills, and a reputation for accuracy, organization, and effective communication.

Arlene is seeking the position of Vice President of the Lower 9th Ward Voters Coalition with the goal of strengthening the organization’s operations, supporting its leadership, and preparing for future executive service. She is committed to hard work, collaboration, and ensuring that the coalition continues to empower voters and serve the community with integrity and impact.

Sandra M. Jackson is a seasoned financial and program management professional with over 15 years of experience in fiscal oversight and administrative leadership. With a career defined by managing multi-million dollar grant portfolios for institutions such as the CDC, Emory University, and the Louisiana Department of Health, she brings a high level of precision to budget development and financial reporting.

Sandra currently serves as a Program Manager and Grants Coordinator, where she manages complex grant expenditures, monitors contract terms, and ensures rigorous compliance with federal and state regulations. Her technical expertise includes extensive work with PeopleSoft Financial Systems, cost analysis, and the reconciliation of award finances. Her background as a Research Administrator and Grants Manager has equipped her with a sharp ability to identify budget discrepancies and maintain transparent administrative records.

A resident of Slidell, Louisiana, Sandra is deeply committed to the local community. She has spent three consecutive years volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, assisting with fundraising and events, and has collaborated as a facilitator with organizations such as the NAACP.

Beyond her professional work in finance, Sandra is a digital marketing strategist and the creator of the website The Single Empty Nester. She is also the producer and host of the podcast Stirring the Gumbo Pot, a platform she uses to foster community dialogue. Sandra holds a Bachelor of Arts from Georgia State University and is eager to apply her technical 

Ricardo Fortune was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and lived in New Orleans for several years before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia. During his time in New Orleans, he became actively involved in community service, volunteering at numerous events and supporting initiatives focused on improving the quality of life for residents of the Lower Ninth Ward.

As Secretary of the Lower 9th Ward Voter's Coalition, Ricardo is committed to advancing the organization's mission of strengthening civic engagement, promoting voter participation, and empowering the community through education and advocacy. His dedication to public service and organizational excellence reflects his belief that sustainable community change is built through collaboration, accountability, and active citizen involvement.

Ricardo brings strong organizational, administrative, and leadership skills to the Coalition. In his role as Secretary, he works to ensure effective communication, accurate recordkeeping, and efficient coordination of the organization's activities while supporting the Coalition's continued growth and long-term success.

Although he now resides in Atlanta, Ricardo remains deeply connected to the Lower Ninth Ward and is proud to continue serving the community. He is committed to helping expand the Coalition's impact and supporting initiatives that benefit residents of the Lower Ninth Ward and the City of New Orleans for generations to come.

Rev. Willie L. Calhoun is a founding member of the Lower 9th Ward Voter's Coalition and a lifelong advocate for the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward. A longtime community leader whose family's roots in the neighborhood span generations, he has dedicated his life to strengthening the community through faith, civic engagement, education, and neighborhood revitalization.

An ordained and licensed minister, Rev. Calhoun is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force and retired from the Federal Aviation Administration after a distinguished career in public service. Throughout his life, he has combined servant leadership with an unwavering commitment to improving opportunities for families in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Following Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina, Rev. Calhoun became a leading voice in the community's recovery, working alongside residents and partners to rebuild neighborhoods, restore homeownership, and preserve the Lower Ninth Ward's unique history and culture. He played a key role in the community-led effort to establish Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter High School on the former Alfred Lawless High School campus and helped bring the American Institute of Architects' Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) program to the Lower Ninth Ward, ensuring residents had a voice in planning their community's future.

Rev. Calhoun's leadership extends across numerous community organizations. In addition to the Lower 9th Ward Voter's Coalition, he has served with the Renaissance Project, Step Up Louisiana, the Lower Ninth Ward School Advisory Group, the Lower Ninth Ward Coalition, the Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Association, the Ninth Ward Ministerial Alliance, and the Lower Ninth Ward Economic Development District. He is also a founder and leader of the Table Connect Group, a collaborative initiative that brings together community stakeholders to advance solutions in housing, infrastructure, economic development, and culture.

Rev. Calhoun believes that lasting change begins with informed, engaged residents working together to shape the future of their community. Through decades of service, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that the Lower Ninth Ward continues to rebuild, thrive, and preserve its rich legacy for future generations.