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Donna joined the Wider Opportunities for Women team in late 2008 as the National Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project Director.  This position follows an extensive career in community and economic development as well as public service and campaign politics. 

Appointed by Mayor C. Ray Nagin in August of 2006, Addkison served the city of New Orleans as its Chief Development Officer, guiding the newly created Mayor's Office of Planning and Development.  In his effort to reorganize city government to meet the needs of a community recovering from crises, Mayor Nagin assigned over 200+ employees and a budget encompassing more than $70 million in local and federal grant funding to Addkison's stewardship.  Economic development, workforce and talent development, housing and neighborhood services, environmental affairs plus a doze other offices, property management boards and commissions essential to the health of the city's economy came under her guidance. 

Addkison served as the President and CEO of the Chamber Southwest Louisiana and the Foundation Southwest Louisiana in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  Originally focused on strengthening regional development and expanding partner organization relationships, Addkison led the Chamber and Foundation to shift gears following the ravages of Hurricane Katrina in Southeast Louisiana businesses.  Her work in community and economic development included two full-time engagements with the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta/Hope Community Credit Union (CDFI/CDCU).

Addkison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Honors in Political Science from Mississippi University for Women and Masters Degrees in Political Science from Mississippi State University and Criminal Justice from Troy State University.  She began a doctoral program and the University of New Orleans with the intent of exploring creative community finance programs-an effort curtailed temporarily by the hurricane season of 2005.

Sessions with Donna Addkison:

• Self Sufficiency/Poverty in Other States
  Self-Sufficiency: Promising Signs and Possibilities in a New Economy
• Self Sufficiency/Poverty (Repeat)