NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — At a young age, Rashain Carriere-Williams knew she wanted to work with children. After graduating from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana, and earning two master’s degrees at Tulane University, it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream.
As someone born and raised in the Big Easy, she knew exactly where she wanted to do it.
“In 2004, I saw a big ad for Boys Town,” said Carriere-Williams. “I was familiar with the organization, I knew they worked with kids, and I knew that I could probably get the experience because I was newly graduated.”
But first, she had to go over 1,000 miles away to learn the Boys Town motto in Nebraska.
“I spent six months in Omaha and after I graduated from the program I came back to New Orleans and I was able to work here back in my hometown,” she said.
2024 marks Carriere-Williams’ 20th year serving her hometown. In that time, her organization has helped about 10,000 kids.
“We have three group homes and we serve boys and girls,” explained Carriere-Williams. “That’s where we serve kids that are in the state’s custody. A lot of our kids have experienced a lot of disruption, and a lot of trauma. They have bounced around from place to place so we offer that stability. We work with some of the most vulnerable families in the city and if we weren’t here I’d worry about that population.”
She pours love into all the children as though they are her own.
“I go in the home, have dinner with the children, have conversation, they give me a tour, I’ve toured a thousand times – I’ve been here 20 years,” said Carriere-Williams. “But we have new groups of kids that come in and I want to see their space and they are so proud, and I learn about them, that is one of my favorite parts of the job.”
Her goal is to give them a voice.
“I think sometimes our kids are labeled and blamed for problems that are truly adults and my goal is to tell the narrative of these kids of these families – put a face to it, let them understand we are all human,” explained Carriere-Williams.
Carriere-Williams considers every day a gift, attributing her nurturing nature to women she believes define remarkable.
“I know so many remarkable women, I come from remarkable women. They poured the children into family life – they were intentional when they raised us and they groomed us so if I am remarkable it’s because of them.”
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