I've had the privilege of working with Greta Gladney in a few different contexts. In 2018, we worked together as co-creators to develop the pilot curriculum for the Water Leaders Institute, a new initiative to build the capacity of leaders working at the intersection of policy, practice, and place, and to establish new frameworks for community-driven climate adaptation. Greta's perspective and leadership were critical throughout the four month process. She helped us navigate challenging social dynamics within the co-creation team, while ensuring that we stayed on track in delivering a high-quality and welcoming experience for our first cohort of community leaders.
We've worked together on leading a seminar for the 2019 Anthropocene River Campus, during which Greta connected the academic themes we were exploring -- delta management, climate change, urban planning, and engineering -- to the lived experiences of her family and other Black Louisianans. In 2020, Greta played a critical advisory role to a design team I was a part of that had been tasked by the Louisiana State Museum with reimagining the "Living with Hurricanes" exhibition located in Jackson Square. She was the thought partner we needed to help us reframe our research and design processes in service of the Louisianans most directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, and to use that focus as the basis for thinking about our responses to climate change in the years ahead.
In all of our collaborations and conversations, I've always appreciated and benefited from Greta's holistic approach -- her ability to see relationships between issue areas ranging from community development to public health to environment, and to articulate the connections between individual experiences and the systems and policies that shape all of our lives. Aron Chang
I have known Greta for nearly 20 years. We met in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Her deep passion for equity, justice and community dominated my first impression. Over the years, Greta has expressed her passion as a talented community developer, organizational development practitioner, community activist and writer. Greta has cleverly combined her lived experience with extensive scholarly work to understand the strategies and tactics that are most effective for communities to achieve their goals and aspirations. She has developed a reputation for being a trusted ally and problem-solver to leaders, organizations and agencies serving marginalized communities. Lastly, Greta embraces the importance of skills building and knowledge transfer in every consultation. Her goal is to not only provide the promised deliverables but to also expand the competence and capacity of every client. This explains why much of her practice has expanded directly from referrals. Jennifer Henderson, Co-Founder, Strategic Decisions LLC
After a competitive bidding process, Greta Gladney was selected as evaluator for our new InvestNOLA business accelerator program. With an engaging style Ms. Gladney was able to elicit frank dialogue from the participants in our program. Furthermore, her effective evaluation framework led to clear, raw data collection which helped us to make our program stronger for future cohorts. Lynnette Colin, SVP Small Business Growth, New Orleans Business Alliance
I have had a wonderful experience collaborating with Greta and have discovered her to be an invaluable member of her community. She possesses qualities of honesty, reliability, and exceptional diligence. Moreover, she exhibits remarkable problem-solving skills, tackling intricate issues with a strategic and confident approach. Greta thrives on challenges and is never daunted by them. Harvey Reed, LA Association of Cooperatives
It has been my privilege to work with, watch and learn from Greta Gladney. She is a dynamic doer: a listener, a thinker and a visionary. Not only does she think outside the box, but she is someone who can build or guide you to build a better box. Greta immediately sees what’s not good enough and has a vision for how it can be improved. She is a fighter and a smart one with drive and determination. In the instance that you need an advocate, consult with Greta Gladney. She could be the ace up your sleeve. Shannon Sanders, Educator, Special Needs
Greta and I have worked together many times over the course of a decade in many capacities including fundraising and community engagement. I have found her to be nothing short of extraordinary at her work and also as a human being. I consider her not only a dear friend but a role model when it comes to doing impactful work that directly helps those in need of help. She’s an excellent community leader and I have sought her advice and assistance many times for my own community efforts. Amanda Toups, Owner, Toups Meatery; Gala Co-Chair, Tate Etienne Prevost Center
I first became acquainted with Greta Gladney through her work with a local nonprofit during its early expansion phase. Her expertise, integrity, and unique ability to source and harness resources for the organization was incredibly impressive. She was able to successfully identify and secure funding, recruit and retain community support, as well as plan and execute the organization’s inaugural gala in their new building. Greta is a consummate professional and I look forward to my next opportunity to work with her. Charlotte Jarreau, Gala Co-Chair, Tate Etienne Prevost Center
As Director of Operations at the Renaissance Project, I was inspired by Greta’s vision for the organization and her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. She created a Summer Youth Employment Program for children between the ages of 14 and 21, which proved to be immensely valuable for the participating individuals. The program not only provided employment opportunities, but it also offered a week-long boot camp at New Orleans Museum of Art that focused on instilling essential skills like job effectiveness, character-building, and proper behavior in the workplace. As a result, some of the participants from years ago are now employed in the companies where we initially placed them. Martaz Lynch, Social Studies Teacher, Phyllis Wheatley
