Our Staff
Ross R. Ross
DIRECTOR of Theater & Performance
Ross (they/them) is a 23 year old Black queer New Orleanian creative Sagittarius weirdo, performer, writer, poet, visual artist, and the newest Co-Director of LOUD Queer Youth Theater. They are an anarchist connoisseur of the arts and an active advocate for social justice and giving back to the community. They perform, create, and support art that pushes a catalyst of equality, liberation and freethinking.
Ross started with LOUD in 2019 as an apprentice and created their first solo piece entitled "Caricature of A Black Clown". They later returned in 2019 as apart of the ensemble and co-created "The Scarlett Rebellion", a full length play that aired virtually in 2020. Later on, in the fall of 2020 Ross became an Assistant Youth Co-Director where they led a group of younger folks through a semester, which led to the production of Chrysilis in early 2022. After the production ended Ross created, devised and produced "A Faces Facade" in the summer a reflection piece on the journey leading other young folks through the process they've done themselves. Ross was then offered to start professional development to transition into the Co-Director role, that their mentor Indee Mitchell decided was time to sunset out of. In that time, they've networked with their community in New Orleans and across the country, learned and honed skills through conferences and workshops, and co- created Phases- a seasonal recurring event. Through all of these experiences, Ross is now proud to hold the Co-Director title that has been passed on to them.
Mwende "FreeQuencY" Katwiwa
Director of Youth Leadership & Liberation
Mwende Katwiwa was hired as a co-director of LOUD in December 2020. Katwiwa has been working with youth since they were a youth themselves. In New Orleans, Katwiwa piloted and built the curriculum for the Young WWAV pilot program at Women With A Vision, worked as a Program Manager at 826 New Orleans (formerly Big Class), was a cofounder of the New Orleans Youth Open Mic (and director of the N.O. Youth Poetry Festival) and has worked as a teaching artist with Enriched Schools. A lifelong storyteller & artist, Katwiwa has mentored dozens of youth in New Orleans and beyond.
You can read more about their work and art at www.freequencyspeaks.com
Laura Ekua
Operations & Development Director
Laura (she/her) was hired as LOUD’s Operations Director in September 2023. Her work has largely focused on projects that directly benefit cash poor, working class Black folk in the South. She's organized labor campaigns with Fight for $15, coordinated the New Orleans Black Mama's Bailouts with SONG, led the field strategy against an anti-abortion amendment and currently fundraises & disperses mutual aid and emergency funds. Laura’s goal is to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed. Laura has a degree in Anthropology and is currently a member of BYP100.