About Us

Dana Eness first came to New Orleans in 1987 to pursue a Master’s degree in Latin American studies at Tulane University where her work concentrated on the forced resettlement of indigenous populations in highland Guatemala. Although originally from Iowa, she spent the year prior to moving to New Orleans in Central America, so the transition to New Orleans’ climate, culture, and cockroaches was an easy one.

Over the past ten years, Dana has honed her non-profit administration, programming, and community development skills while developing and managing cross-cultural and literacy programs at Tulane University and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

Dana was a founding board member of Stay Local! in 2003, and lives in the Riverbend neighborhood with her husband and two children.