Lacomba's Youth Village

Our Team

COO and Director of STEM Programs

LaVurn Nolen III is an accomplished IT Security Executive and a 23-year military veteran, having served in both the United States Army and Air Force. His military career includes earning several combat medals, notably the Army’s Meritorious Service Medal during his service in Iraq. For the past eight years, LaVurn has been a Senior Security Program Manager and the owner of LJ3 Consulting Group Inc. and The Orleans 1811 Group LLC. In addition to his professional pursuits, he is passionate about music, playing the saxophone, and inspiring youth in STEM education. A lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, LaVurn has also served on the local chapter's board of directors, with a commitment to guiding the next generation in understanding the importance of STEM for their future.

Volunteer Manager

Derek Mumford has been an educator since 2008 working with Alternative SPED and teaching middle school, 2nd and 3rd grade math. He attended the University of New Orleans, majoring in Education with a minor in History. His passion is mentoring the youth to achieve their full potential through coaching sports and life skills. He is also a Prince Hall Freemason.

Senior Mental Health Professional

Robin Parker is a lifelong resident of neighboring Plaquemines Parish. She received her undergrad degree in Psychology. She has an MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and earned an MS in Applied Psychology. She has worked in the mental health field for over twenty years as a Mental Health Professional. She also gained extensive formal training and experience while completing field training in the practicum (750 hours) in northwest Louisiana mostly with students in the Autism Spectrum Disorder range. This experience allowed her to work with individuals clinically diagnosed with defiant behavior disorders, children with physical impairment from drug abuse before birth, grief counseling, and individual & group therapy. Personal interests include lots of rest, spending time with friends and family, shopping spending, plenty of time with the grandkids, and fellowship with the local church.

Education and Career Manager

Brittany Dorsey has been an Educator in the city of New Orleans since 2012. She has served in a variety of roles throughout these years. Currently she is a Special Education resource teacher on the high school level. Ms. Dorsey graduated from the University of Holy Cross, with a bachelors Social Counseling concentration Juvenile counseling also she has a post bachelors in Applied behavioral sciences. Ms. Dorsey is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Ms. Dorsey's passion is working and inspiring the youth.

Community Engagement Manager

Rudy Brown is a passionate Community Engagement Manager with over 2 years of experience in building and nurturing relationships within diverse communities. Mr. Brown holds a BS in Psychology, an AA degree in Recreational Therapy from Southern University A&M College, and an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Industrial Technology from Nunez Community College. His career has been marked by a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration, working with a range of organizations from non-profits to tech startups. Mr. Brown’s expertise lies in designing and executing community programs, managing volunteer initiatives, and creating impactful communication campaigns with his Organization Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Outside of work, Rudy is an avid traveler and enjoys coaching baseball. He also volunteers with local mentoring programs and is an advocate for environmental sustainability.

CEO and Director of Youth Engagement

Jermaine R. Bennett is a native of New Orleans and a graduate of both Southern University and Southern University at New Orleans. He has been an educator for 18 years, primarily as a Special Education Teacher/Case Manager. As a special education teacher, he provided inclusive and small-group instruction to elementary students with special needs. Individualized learning is always crucial to student success, and he enjoyed helping students reach their full potential through their individual goals. Before teaching, he worked for Hands On New Orleans as the Youth Engagement Coordinator and at Trinity Christian Community as an AmeriCorps team member. His hobbies include traveling, playing video games, and hanging out with his son.