Kisha Edwards joined LCCR as a Youth Advocate in October 2024. This is the first article in our Staff Spotlight series, where we will interview staff to learn more about their background, skills, and motivation to do this essential work for kids in Louisiana. Below we share more about Kisha’s work and how her unique lived experience fuels her advocacy for our kids.
On Kisha’s background, and what brought her to LCCR…
I was born and raised in New Orleans in the 7th ward, then moved to the East. I am a mother of three, and a grandmother of seven. I am a formerly incarcerated woman. I’ve worked for the First 72+, VOTE, Step Up Louisiana, and now LCCR. What brought me to LCCR was the fact that I have helped incarcerated adults, done policy work, done organizing work. I know what it’s all like. I had never worked with youth, and investing in our youth is also investing in our future. It was important for me to work with youth because I am a formerly incarcerated adult. That carries a lot of weight with kids. My background allows me to help the youth that will become our future leaders.
On what makes her successful as a youth advocate…
I don’t have a vast educational background in any one thing, but my lived experience is where my skillset comes from. My background allows me to connect with youth and to do my job well.
On the most challenging aspects of the work she does…
The most challenging part of this work is navigating the complicated, and often slow, parts of the juvenile justice system. Many families don’t understand the courts, how long they can take, and we find a way through those things together. It’s part of my job to explain how these systems work while guiding clients and families through it. It’s challenging because there are things I can’t fix on my own that still affect my clients.
On what keeps her motivated…
I stay motivated because our kids need us. I was lucky growing up that I never was in a lot of these situations that some of these kids have gone through. I never had to go through the court system as a child. There are youth who don’t have a voice or can’t use their voice. As their advocate, I can be their voice and allow their voices to be heard.
On what she’s most proud of…
I am proud that I can connect with clients naturally. I don’t have to force a connection and a relationship with my clients and their families.
On what she likes most about working at LCCR…
I love LCCR. I love the people I work with. I feel valued and included working here, not every job shows appreciation like that.
On what she wishes more people knew about her youth clients…
I wish people knew about the trauma that many system-involved kids have already lived through and are still experiencing. A lot of these kids don’t choose this lifestyle; a lot of the time they are forced into it by poverty, addiction, struggles with mental health, and separation from family. People need to know that these kids are suffering. These are kids who have watched loved ones die in front of them and are struggling with real grief. If adults can’t handle that kind of trauma, what makes you think a child could? People need to have grace with these kids.
