Kelsey Foster
Kelsey Foster
Award winning civic technologist, public policy advocate, and civic engagement consultant

Let’s build stronger, more economically just communities— together.

 
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Let’s Work Together

I believe that democracy works best when our communities have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Engaging residents in complex institutional processes isn’t easy. My experience as a moderator, speaker, and consultant can help reach underserved communities for broader participation, more informed input, and a resolution that works for all stakeholders.

  • Economic Development

    • Community Asset Analysis

    • Economic Master Planning

    • Incentives Audit

    • Small Business Policy Review

  • Civic Technology:

    • UX Content Strategy

    • Equity Strategy

  • Moderation Services

    • Land Use Stakeholder Groups

  • Non-Profit Management

    • Board Governance

    • Financial Consulting

    • Grant Writing

  • Civic Engagement Strategy

    • Process Analysis

    • Communications Strategy

    • Implementation

Resume

I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing organizations, elected officials, and communities for the past fifteen years. See what I’ve been up to!

 

Experience

Algiers Economic Development Foundation
Executive Director
2020-2025

Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority- West
Vice President
2020-2025

Committee for a Better New Orleans
Campaign Director
2013 to 2019

The Lens
Charter School Reporter
2011-2014

New Orleans Coalition on Open Government
Communications Director
2013

Beauregard-Keyes House
Trustee
2026- Present

Alliance for Affordable Energy
Board Member
2025- Present

University of Holy Cross
Presidents Advisory Board

University of Holy Cross
School of Business, Advisory Board

Westbank Business & Industry Association
Board Member 2023-2026

Algiers Point Association
President
2015 to 2020

Old Algiers Main Street
At-Large Board Member
2016 to 2025

 

Education

Masters of Public Service, Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas

B.S. Print and Multimedia Journalism

Minor: History
Emerson College
2010

Professional Certificate: Public Finance

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
2019

Professional Certificate: Cross Sector Leadership

Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
2024

 

Awards and Certifications

NationSwell Tech Impact AllStar
Comcast/NBC Universal     
2017

Millennial Award Finalist
Innovation
2016

Emerging Leaders Graduate
Greater New Orleans Foundation      
2015 Cohort

New Leaders Council Fellow
Louisiana Chapter    
2019

Millennial Award Finalist
Changemaker
2019

New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute Graduate
2021

Delta Leadership Institute Graduate
2022

Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum Graduate
Committee for a Better New Orleans
2015

Leadership Development Series Graduate
Young Leadership Council      
2016

 

Skills and Languages

Microsoft Office

Video Editing

Word Press

MailChimp

Basic HTML

Content Management Systems

CRM Systems

Non-Profit Management

Public Policy

Program Development and Management

Public Speaking

English

Spanish

 

Professional Memberships

NationSwell Council

Young Leadership Council

Bureau of Governmental Research: Young Professionals Member

 

Conference Presentations

Community solutions Program Summit
Bucharest, Romania
2023

Walk Bike Places
New Orleans
2018

Innovations in Participatory Democracy
Phoenix, AZ
2018

Open Government Partnership
Meeting of the Americas
Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017

New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council

Participatory Budgeting Project

 
 

Sunlight Foundation Transparency Camp
Cleveland, OH
2017

International Observatory on Participatory Democracy Montreal, Canada
2017

The 4th International Conference on Participatory Budgeting in North America
Harvard, MA
2016

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Examples of Work

 

Small Business study focused on current small business ecosystem, local and state policy, financing landscape, and racial and gender disparities, including qualitative and quantitative analysis.

2020 Strategic Plan for the Algiers Economic Development Foundation; Awarded the “Development Ready Communities” designation in 2021 by Louisiana Economic Development.

 

Special Report: Voter Approval Required

How the new Texas Property Tax Reform and Transparency Act of 2019 requires increased emphasis on budget engagement.


Mobile app helps bring election monitoring into real-time

Twenty-eight years ago, countries across Europe gathered in Denmark to determine and agree on a path towards fair, open election monitoring.


The People’s Budget Report 2019

How would residents of New Orleans choose to spend the city’s $1 billion budget? We asked. Here are their answers.

 

Contact

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