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ANSEL AUGUSTINE, 37
ANDREA ARMSTRONG, 39 Associate Professor of Law, Loyola University New Orleans
Director, Office of Black Catholic Ministries for the Archdiocese of New Orleans @PREACH504
Andrea Armstrong created a new certificate in Social Justice at Loyola Law that aims to distinguish to potential employers and fellowships, the exceptional students who have focused their training on serving the poor and marginalized.
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Born and raised in New Orleans, Armstrong left the city to enroll at New York University. She later earned a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University and a law degree from Yale. Armstrong, the first African-American woman to serve in the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan, has been an advocate for international human rights, prisoners’ rights and abolition of the death penalty. She has been a member of Loyola University’s law faculty since 2010. “As an academic, I have the freedom to think and write about deeper structural issues that may be politically unpopular but also helpful towards accomplishing change over the long term,” she says. To that end, Armstrong has done extensive research on penal plantation slavery and has published articles calling for prison reform. She currently is working on an article about racial bias and findings from implicit association testing. Armstrong sees the certificate in social justice as just the first step in supporting a new crop of socially conscious attorneys and advocates. “As a Loyola faculty member I can help build the next movement of activists for social justice through teaching, advising, and fostering a space for students to embrace their role as future advocates. In addition to the new certificate, we are building a public service concentration in our skills curriculum, fostering an ongoing community of activism through hosting speakers and events, as well as building a Loyola Social Justice website that will host materials and videos to support social justice advocacy more broadly.” — APRIL ISAACS
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Book currently reading: Punished: Policing Lives of Black and Latino Boys by Victor Rios Favorite new album/CD: Lee Fields and the Expressions’ Emma Jean Favorite Twitter account to follow: @TalibKweli Favorite local bands: John Boutte, Brass-A-Holics, Charmaine Neville and Herlin Riley Favorite restaurants: Cafe Reconcile, Liberty’s Kitchen, Il Posto What do you do in your off time? “Dance and music. I have two small daughters that I adore. I’m with them quite a bit. Then it’s really music.” Dancing or karaoke? “Dancing by far, though I’ve been known to rock ‘Brick House.’ Dance is a really important part of my life.”
Ansel Augustine has spent his career rebuilding the community, advocating for social justice and equality and nurturing a new generation of black Catholics.
Favorite new album/CD: He began working in ministry Anomaly by LeCrae 15 years ago at St. Peter Claver Favorite Twitter account to Catholic Church in his home follow: @KermitRuffins parish. After Hurricane Katrina, Favorite local band: Rebirth he helped rebuild his church Brass Band and the neighborhood that surrounds it, and continues Favorite restaurant: Dooky to be an influential force in Chase’s Restaurant the community, advocating What do you do in your off for equality in education and time? “I like to read and go to the social justice. gym and lift weights.” He is director of the Office of Dancing or karaoke? “Dancing, Black Catholic Ministries for the because I can’t sing worth a lick.” Archdiocese of New Orleans, which identifies and fosters the rich diversity of black Catholics. Previously he served as associate director and coordinator of the Catholic Youth Office’s Black Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Augustine, who also is a member of The Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indian tribe, says one of his favorite things about his job is that it enables him to inspire new generations of New Orleanians. “I do what I do because our youth are our future,” he says. — DELLA HASSELLE
BRIDGEJA’ BAKER, 17
ROBIN BARNES, 27
At age 10, Bridgeja’ Baker launched her own jewelry line, which has won national accolades and is sold on QVC.com.
After a life-threatening health crisis, jazz singer Robin Barnes created fitness apparel with a local spin on wellness.
Owner, Creative Jewelry by Bridgeja’ www.creativejewelrybybridgeja.com, @cjbybridgeja; www.facebook.com/ JewelryByBridgeja
When 10-year-old Baker’s new braces broke after hours, her father drove her to an orthodontist’s office in Mandeville, which was located next to a bead shop. Smitten with the art of creating fashion accessories, Baker took 30 jewelry-making classes at the shop. “I loved the classes, and the owner was really impressed,” Baker says. A friend’s parent threw Currently reading: King Lear a party featuring her jewelry, and Baker sold by William Shakespeare $1,107 worth of items. “I was like, ‘I have to make Favorite musician: this a business.’” Kanye West Now 17, Baker has sold her jewelry at Essence Favorite subject in school: Market Place Arts Expo, the New Orleans Jazz & History Heritage Foundation and www.qvc.com. She has been recognized by first lady Michelle Obama’s Favorite local band: Rebirth chief of staff. She regularly donates jewelry to Brass Band silent auctions for nonprofit organizations, and a percentage of her earnings is donated to the LA/ SCPA, Children’s Hospital and Unity for the Homeless. A senior at Isidore Newman School, Baker hopes to attend Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in fashion. “My ultimate goal is to become a great fashion designer,” Baker says. “As long as you have some drive, pretty much anything is possible.” — MISSY WILKINSON
Singer/songwriter; founder and CEO, Fit By You www.fitbyyou.co, @RobinMBarnes, www.facebook.com/robinbarnesmusic
Robin Barnes is a musician, so she knows New Orleanians like to move. What’s missing, she believes, is awareness of what it means to live healthfully. Her realization came two years ago, when the singer contracted a sudden illness. She thought it was jet lag, but it turned out to be a rare kidney infection. Her doctor was upbeat; it wasn’t until after her recovery that she found out she was lucky to be alive. The close call convinced her that a positive mindset is essential to wellness. It also inspired her to create Fit By You, a line of fitness gear emblazoned with Carnival-themed motivational slogans. These days, she starts her morning with a 5 a.m. workout, spends the day managing her businesses and wraps up the week with regular music gigs. As a mentor to local high school and college students, Barnes is determined to spread a message of achievement through positivity. — ANNA GACA
Book currently reading: The Power by Rhonda Byrne Favorite new album/CD: Sam Smith’s In the Lonely Hour Favorite Twitter account to follow: @Women_Fit Favorite local band: “I can’t put me, huh?” Favorite restaurant: Mint Modern Vietnamese What do you do in your off time? Play golf
Dancing or karaoke? Dancing!