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The �첥���� is well represented on Gambit’s annual list released this week. The list is composed of 40 people under the age of 40 who are “making a difference in the New Orleans area.”

The public was invited to nominate their favorite “overachiever, do-gooder or mover and shaker” for the award.

Of the 40 people selected, eight of them, or 20% of the entire list, are UNO graduates. They are:

Renard Bridgewater – 2010, B.A. Studio Art. Bridgewater is the musician and community engagement coordinator for the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans. He develops partnerships for the organization.

Erica Chomsky-Adelson – 2017, B.S. Urban Studies & Planning. Founder and executive director of Culture Aid NOLA. The nonprofit distributes meals and groceries twice a week, delivers food to homes and helps connect people with other needed services.

Michael Gulotta – 1999, B.A. Studio Art. Executive chef and co-owner, Mopho and Maypop restaurants in New Orleans.

Kristin Malone Johnson – 2009, B.S. Management. Owner and creative director, Home Malone. The Mid-City retail shop specializes in selling work from local artists, including artwork, clothing and home décor.

Kyley Pulphus – 2003, B.A. Communications. Director of 826 New Orleans, a national writing program. Pulphus works with young children writers to publish books.    

Vivek Shah – 2012. M.S. Urban & Regional Planning. Shah is the director of transit planning for the RTA. He is currently working on a network redesign of the New Orleans transit system.

Paul Thibodeaux – 2010, B.A. Music. Coordinator, Feed the Second Line. Thibodeaux, a musician, helps support elderly “cultural bearers,” with food deliveries and other services during the pandemic.

Todd Wackerman – 2014, Master’s in secondary education general science. Director and co-founder, STEM Library Lab. The lab provides school access to special equipment, lesson plans and training via annual memberships.