Keynote Speaker:

ULM President, Carrie L. Castille, Ph.D.

Jean Toth, Executive Director

Jean has served as the Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana since September, 2015. She has worked in hunger relief for almost 20 years, and believes that everybody should have access to enough healthy food in order to live their best life. Jean is proud to serve Northeast Louisiana alongside the community, ensuring the Food Bank is responsive to evolving needs and operates with compassion, dignity, transparency and efficiency. Jean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Sociology from Northern Arizona University.

Elizabeth Griffon

Monroe native and mother of two, is a high school educator at St. Frederick High School, an International Baccalaureate World School. There she teaches Biology I for the Middle Years Program, Biology II for the Diploma Program, Anatomy and Physiology, and the Yearbook Publication class. She is also the sponsor of the school’s Horticulture and Garden Club, a service club that allows students to gain a better understanding of native pollinators and ecosystems, growing their own food, and beekeeping. The students’ goal is to donate any produce harvested from the school garden to local organizations like St. Vincent de Paul, keeping the focus on supporting those in need in our community.

Conrad Cable

Conrad is a first generation farmer and ULM alumni. He and his brother have owned and operated Current Farms in Marion, LA for the past decade. Current Farms grows produce during all four seasons of the year. They specialize in salad mixes, leafy greens, root crops, and many other seasonal favorites. Current Farms was the first farm in NELA to offer community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions.

Conrad became a farmer to make his community a better place. He believes locally grown food makes folks healthier, leads to a higher quality of life, a cleaner environment, and a more sustainable economy.

Judy Babb

Judy is the creator and owner of Kelsey Klean LLC and co-owner of Double BB Farms. As the founder and former president of Twin Cities Krewe de Rivière, a nonprofit organization, Judy is committed to making a positive impact in her community.

In addition to her professional endeavors, she is a landlord, a devoted mother to her daughter Nova, and a loving wife to Bryan. With a wealth of experience, Judy has served on several boards over the years, including the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Historic Board, and the Northeast Louisiana Music Awards Board.

Judy is passionate about her animals and treasures time spent with family and friends. She enjoys music, traveling, cooking, and continually learning new things.

Dr. Anita Sharma, LCSW

Dr. Anita Sharma, LCSW, Professor and Joseph A. Biedenharn Endowed Chair in Gerontology is the Founding Director of the Gerontology Education, Research, and Outreach (GERO) Institute at the University of Louisiana Monroe. She earned two master’s degrees and a doctorate in Clinical Social Work (with emphasis in Gerontology) from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 35 years of professional experience in mental health and psychotherapy.

Dr. Sharma is an avid grant-writer and has obtained about 25 funded grants in the last 20 years. She also obtained funding from the Louisiana Board of Regents to create two scholarship programs to recruit students in the field of Gerontology. Dr. Sharma currently serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including the West Ouachita Senior Center, the Louisiana Geriatric Society, the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Coalition, and the RAIB Board of the Louisiana Department of Health. She is also the founding coordinator of the Louisiana Disability Advocacy Network. She was recently appointed to the NASW National Specialty Practice Section on Aging. Dr. Sharma is also co-chairing the 2025 Alzheimer’s Walk in Northeast Louisiana. She has created, produced, and hosted two radio programs on the regional affiliate of the National Public Radio (NPR). She currently produces and hosts “Life Transitions,” a program that focuses on issues relating to aging. Dr. Sharma has served on the editorial board of several professional journals and two regional newspapers. For about ten years, she wrote a weekly column for the News-Star, a regional newspaper published by Gannett Inc. In 2022, she created a journal for students to have them write about their service learning and field experiences. Dr. Sharma has numerous publications in the fields of Gerontology, family violence, and disabilities. She has made more than 300 professional presentations at various conferences on topics relating to Gerontology and Social Work in the last 30 years. Dr. Sharma is passionately committed to Gerontology education, research, and community outreach initiatives.

LaTina (Tina) Williams, M.A., SHRM-SCP

She is the Chief Health Equity Officer at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. She has over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience with a focus on connecting health equity initiatives to business outcomes. Tina has worked across various operational functions and has experience in change management and strategy execution.

She holds a Master’s degree in Adult Learning and a senior certification from SHRM. Her professional affiliations include National SHRM, Greater Baton Rouge SHRM, ASHHRA, NAHSE, Leadership Baton Rouge, and the Baton Rouge Business Report Executive Leadership Academy.

Her recent recognition includes the 2021 GBR SHRM HR Executive of the Year and being named a DEI Champion by the LA Chapter of ACHE in 2022. Tina participates in community service as a Vizient DEI panelist, Equity in Care Panelist for HAN, board member of Dream Day Foundation and River Parish Community College Foundation, and as part of the LA Chapter AHA Circle of Red.

A Louisiana native, Tina is involved in community work and advocacy for underserved populations. Outside of her professional role, she is a mother, participates in church activities, and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Anna Belle Issac

Nursing Student, Kitty DeGree School of Nursing

University of Louisaina Monroe

Jennifer Kimball, RN

Jenniferhas been working in healthcare for over 37 years. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in psychology from LSU Shreveport, a Master of Education in Psychological Services at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, and her degree as a registered nurse at FCCJ in Jacksonville, Florida. Jennifer earned her nursing certification in Gerontology in 2010 and has maintained this for the past 15 years while working privately, providing Senior Care Management Services in the Shreveport area. She currently also serves the mental health community at two psychiatric hospitals in Shreveport/Bossier City, as well as providing hospice inpatient care at a facility in that area. With a focus on the geriatric population as well as those with mental health needs, chronic disease, and the causes and predispositions, it becomes a daily concern and point of education for clients. In 2020, Jennifer founded Proactive Partners, a nonprofit organization providing free dementia education to caregivers and first responders. In her “off” time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, working outside in her yard, and working on many different crafts.

Alycia Williams

Louisiana Key Academy, Consultatn, Educator

Dr. Cheyrl Ensley

Interim Chair, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Grambling State University

Mrs. Bridgett Clark

Clark Entities, LLC, Monroe, LA

Dr. Laura Cassidy, M.D.

Co Founder, Louisaina Key Academy

Julie L. Cappo

Assistant Professor, Deptartment of Curriculum and Instruction

Louisaina Tech University

Christopher Youth Center

The Wellspring Alliance

Northeast Louisaina Food Bank

The Children's Coalition

The Renewal Center

St. Francis Medical Center

Centric Credit Union

ULM Marriage and Family Clinic

LSU Ag Center Ouachita Parish

About Let Us Dream

The Let Us Dream organization is a global initiative that empowers communities by fostering inclusive dialogue, promoting social innovation, and encouraging collaborative efforts to solve local and global challenges. With a focus on sustainability, education, and community building, Let Us Dream connects leaders, educators, students, and community members to share best practices and implement transformative solutions. Through its annual conferences held around the world, the organization provides a platform for individuals and institutions to dream together and drive meaningful change.

Learn more at letusdream.org