Adrinda Kelly is the Founding CEO of BE NOLA (Black Education for New Orleans) whose mission is to support Black educators and Black-led schools to provide a quality education to New Orleans children. Under her leadership, BE NOLA has delivered high-impact programs to more than 1,000 Black educators, quadrupled its base of supporters, and grown its budget and impact. Adrinda’s past work included several years at Teach For America where she launched the organization’s first National Advisory Board of Alumni of Color and grew its annual School Leaders of Color Conference and Staff Diversity Practitioners Conference into flagship events.

Adrinda’s leadership has been recognized locally and nationally including as a 2019 Pahara NextGen, a 2021 Loyola Institute of Politics fellow, and as a Top Woman Nonprofit Leader by New Orleans City Business. Adrinda holds a diploma from McDonogh #35, a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master's degree from New York University.

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