MEET NAKITA

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Nakita Shavers, founder and executive director of the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund (DSEF), is a lifelong advocate for youth, culture, and education in New Orleans. A graduate of Florida A&M University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Executive Education, she has created impactful programs such as the GIRLS NOLA Initiative and the Music and Cultural Education Program. 

Her leadership has gained international recognition. In 2014, Nakita was named a Youth Champion by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, joining a global cohort of changemakers from around the world. Through this role, she launched GIRLS NOLA (Girls Initiative for Reproducing Leaders in Society), an arts-integrated sexual and reproductive health program. She has since traveled to Indonesia, Denmark, Germany, and the United Nations, amplifying the voices and experiences of African American women in the global conversation on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Beyond her advocacy, Nakita is a cultural ambassador. Her work and voice have been featured in CBS’s Emmy-nominated 48 Hours Mystery, CNN, Spike Lee’s documentary If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, and HBO’s Treme. She is also a published writer, with pieces in Huffington Post and Ms. Magazine addressing justice, equity, and the experiences of women of color.

Resilient, visionary, and deeply rooted in her city, Nakita embodies humanitarianism and philanthropy in action. With every initiative, she works toward a safer, stronger New Orleans—one where every young person has the chance to thrive.

MEET KEISHELL

MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR

Keishell McCollum is a New Orleans native and youth advocate with extensive experience in community service and mentorship. She currently serves as Student Support Manager at New Orleans Job Corps and has been a longtime volunteer with DSEF, where she helped lead the Music and Cultural Education Program and the GIRLS NOLA Initiative. A wife, mother of three, and Psychology student at Walden University, Keishell is passionate about empowering youth and leading by example in her community.

MEET JASMINE

DIGITAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Jasmine Moore leads DSEF’s digital media strategy, creating content and campaigns that celebrate youth and amplify community impact. With a background in event management, marketing, and youth development, she has produced viral campaigns and coordinated large-scale initiatives that uplift families and empower the next generation. A former cheerleader and coach with degrees in social work and psychology, from Xavier University, Jasmine blends creativity and purpose to ensure New Orleans’ culture and youth shine online and beyond.

MEET QUINETTE

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INSTRUCTOR

 

Quinette Collins, MPH, is a New Orleans native and passionate health advocate who empowers youth through DSEF’s GIRLS NOLA Initiative. With experience in clinical research, outreach, and health education, she specializes in preventative and behavioral health. Quinette holds a Bachelor of Science from Xavier University and a Master of Public Health, and she is committed to equipping individuals of all ages with the tools to make safe, informed, and healthy choices.