Contact:
Community Center of St. Bernard
1111 Lebeau St.
Arabi, LA 70032
Phone: 504-281-2512
Fax: 916-675-7827
Email: info@ccstb.org
Staff:
R.M. "Iray" Nabatoff, Executive Director
Iray Nabatoff arrived as a volunteer in New Orleans from Acworth NH during January 2006, expecting to stay only about 3 weeks. After working at the Made With Love Cafe and seeing first-hand the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Iray made a long-term commitment to helping with the recovery effort. He has been the volunteer Executive Director of the Community Center since its inception in April, 2006 and was named to the St. Bernard Parish Citizens Recovery Committee by the St Bernard Parish Council. Iray serves as Chair of St. Bernard Community Recovery and Vice-Chair of Unified Nonprofits of Greater New Orleans. And he is the Co-Chair of the Greater New Orleans Covering Kids & Families Coalition Representing St Bernard Parish.
During March 2007, Iray participated in a forum on Crisis Leadership at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC and in January 2009 he was invited to attend the RAND Gulf States Policy Forum. Iray's ongoing dedication to assisting the hurricane survivors in New Orleans has led the Times-Picayune newspaper to name him one of its “Heroes of the Storm”. In August, 2008 he received the "Footsteps to Growth" award from the St Bernard Parish Government for his role in the recovery effort, and in August 2009 he was named a "Hunger All-Star" by Tyson Foods for his work with the Community Center's Mustard Seed Food Pantry.
Iray also received a NFL Community Quarterback Award from the New Orleans Saints in December 2009 and was honored with a Louisiana Volunteer Service Award from Lt Governor Mitch Landrieu in February 2010. In April 2010 he was also named an Honored Citizen of St Bernard Parish by the Parish Council. Click Here to Email IRAY.
Dr. Sharon Ober, Development Director
A retired volunteer from Pennsylvania, Sharon has been in the New Orleans area since January 2007. After 8 months with the Steven Spring Foundation in the Bywater, she began working at the Community Center in September 2007 and received an Honored Citizen Award from St Bernard Parish in April 2010. Click Here to Email SHARON.
Krystle Johnson, Mustard Seed Coordinator
Krystle is our new Mustard Seed Distribution Manager. She's a graduate of Georgia State University and reeived her Master of Science through Capella University. Krystle has recently worked with Catholic Charities, Metropolitan Center for Women & Children, and the St Bernard Battered Women's Program, and we're glad to welcome her to the Community Center! Click Here to Email KRYSTLE.
David Thompson, Food Pantry Assistant
A trainee in the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program, Mr Dave helps the food pantry distribute about 6,000 lbs of food every week. Click Here to Email DAVID.
Salvador "Sal" Lara-Rico, Administrative Assistant
Sal was born in Italy and raised in Mexico City, where he earned a BA in International Relations and Affairs at the University of Mexico. After 30 years working and studying in Chicago and Milwaukee, Sal came to southeast Louisiana and has been enjoying the warmer weather ever since. Click Here to Email SAL.
Ashley Beach, Administrative Assistant
Ashley Beach was born in Metairie and now resides uptown. She earned a BA in metalsmithing at The Savannah College of Art and Design, and has been a self supported artist for four years. She is also a musician and a songwriter who plays guitar, bass, and sings. Click Here to Email ASHLEY.
Elaine Domino, Clothing Bank
I am a St Bernard Parish resident of 50 years. I love this place, and hope to be here another 50 years. I am now working at the Community Center. I enjoy meeting people from the Parish and from other states. This is a great place to work! Click Here to Email ELAINE.
Alyssa Beck, Volunteer Coordinator
Alyssa is originally from Minneapolis, MN, and graduated from Seton Hall University with a degree in Biology. Alyssa was a work/study student for Seton Hall's Division of Volunteer Efforts where she was involved in many volunteer programs and activities, and she participated in service trips to El Salvador and Haiti. Click Here to Email ALYSSA.
Ben Trussell, Volunteer Coordinator
Ben joins us from Portland, OR, and graduated with a B.S. in Economics from the University of Oregon in Eugene. As a student he served as a peer advisor, and this experience led him to pursue an opportunity with AmeriCorps after graduation. Click Here to Email BEN.
Ben Brubaker, Americorps VISTA
Ben recently graduated from Tulane University with a BA in Philosophy and African-Diaspora Studies. For the last 4 years, Ben has been the director of a New Orleans based organization called "Hip-Hop for Hope", which has helped raise over $21,000 for local educational programming. As an AmeriCorps Vista, Ben hopes to contribute as much as possible to the Community Center through his work with social media and fundraising campaigns. Click Here to Email BEN.
Cecilia Young, Security Gaurd
Cecilia joins us through the AARP Senior Community Service Employment Program and is helping to keep things running smoothly here at the Center. Click Here to Email CECILIA.
