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Giayana was born and raised in New Orleans. She graduated from Edna Karr High School and then received her Bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. Upon graduation from Xavier, Giayana spent a year working with NOPLAY as a Literacy AmeriCorps member in 2007 before she came on as a full-time instructor with the program in 2008.
70 percent of YEP’s staff members are born and raised in New Orleans and the vast majority grew up in the same neighborhoods that our youth live in. Our staff members’ personal understanding of the challenges that our young people face make them uniquely qualified to provide support to YEP youth.