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Asya Howlette is the Director of the Office of Youth and Families.  After graduating from Hampton University, Asya began her decade long journey as a math teacher in rural Louisiana and soon after earned a masters in education from Johns Hopkins University. With her continued love for educating students and her depth of knowledge about child development and academic expectations she took on the position of being the upper middle school principal and director of mathematics and science for a k-8 school here in New Orleans. Having context for teaching in schools, working directly with curricula, and leading teacher development within Orleans Parish and across the United States, Asya has been influenced to pursue her next phase of leadership. This has not only included running for public office, but now working to support the city of New Orleans in building and strengthening systems so that they can have the greatest impact and truly meet the needs of our young people and families.

Anamaria Villamarin-Lupin, LCSW-BACS is the Deputy Director for the Office of Youth and Families. In this role, Anamaria is charged with supporting the development and implementation of the office’s strategic direction, coordinating stakeholder engagement, pursuing policy initiatives, and developing projects to advance systems-change for youth and families across the city of New Orleans. She is also the supervisor for the Social Work internship program in partnership with Tulane School of Social Work, SUNO School of Social Work and LSU School of Social Work.  Prior to joining the City of New Orleans, Anamaria worked for 10 years at the Broadmoor Improvement Association as the Wellness Director and Clinical Supervisor. In that role, Anamaria developed and supervised the mental health internship program, wellness services, a food pantry and professional development workshops. Anamaria has continuously been a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion. She served as a bilingual social worker in Jefferson and Orleans Parish schools, obtained a certificate for Translation and Interpretation from Loyola University and currently serves on the boards of The Louisiana Children’s Museum, The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital, Puentes NOLA and Saul’s Light Foundation. Additionally, she worked closely with the Mayor’s Office of Human and Rights and Equity to establish New Orleans as a Welcoming City. In her current role, she also partners with community-based organizations that serve the Hispanic/Latin@ and immigrant/newcomer communities. In addition to speaking English and Spanish, Anamaria is also fluent in French. Colombian by birth, Anamaria has called New Orleans home since 1996. She has been happily married since 1998 and is the mother of two teenage boys.

Brittney Speed Waiters is our Operations Coordinator in The Office of Youth and Families. Born and raised in New Orleans, Brittney has developed a deep understanding of  the city's unique culture and the importance of providing exceptional service to diverse individuals and organizations.  She brings over 12 years of experience in various aspects  of contracts, customer service, administrative and clerical roles. She is eager and excited to be apart of the great work the Mayor's Office is doing with the Youth in the city.

Melissa Panks is the Strategic Initiatives Manager of the Office of Youth and Families. She brings with her over 13 years in the field of education as well as a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. In the classroom, she honed her skills in communication and problem-solving while also developing a deep understanding of diverse learner needs.

Using her wealth of knowledge and expertise in the areas of data analysis, leadership skills, and addressing the needs of diverse learners, she left the classroom after 9 years to become an interventionist and then an English Language Learner coach within public schools. In those roles, trained and coached teachers as well as designed and implemented programs for students with varying backgrounds and learning needs.

Her unique skillset and expertise also led her to lead professional development at school, district, and state levels as well as spearhead school and community events. She has been involved in the planning and execution of multiple school improvement plans and district-wide initiatives. The drive to create a lasting impact and strengthen our community here in New Orleans has led her to her current role within the Office of Youth and Families. She is excited to bring her experience working with diverse students and families and her knowledge of the school system to the programs of the Office of Youth and Families.

Austin Ezzard is the Social Work intern for the Office of Youth and Families (OYF). After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, with a Bachelor of Social Work, he began to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) at the Tulane University School of Social Work in January 2025. Throughout his undergraduate and post-undergraduate experience, Austin served in multiple leadership roles and held several internships aiming to improve the student experience at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary educational levels. As the OYF Social Work intern, Austin hopes to expand his knowledge on the needs of youth and learn valuable skills on how to be a change agent through local government to make sensible and direct advancements. After obtaining his MSW, Austin intends to explore youth development and community organizing through macro or mezzo social work practice, emphasizing civic engagement and democracy in a local context.

Wilneicha Videau, a political science graduate with a deep passion of fostering a sustainable living for youth within marginalized neighborhoods.  Growing up in a single-parent household with four siblings and now navigating motherhood, I have firsthand experience of the challenges faced by families. This background has instilled in me a profound understanding of the importance of investing in the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of our youth. 

Currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration, I leverage my expertise in politics and law to bridge the gap between youth and families and promote civic engagement. I believe that by empowering young individuals and their families, we can cultivate a brighter future for all. My passion lies in advocating for policies and programs that uplift communities and enhance opportunities for the next generation.