Laura A. Mellem is the public engagement manager for the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. There, she manages NOLA Ready, the City of New Orleans emergency preparedness campaign. She specializes in community outreach, digital engagement, emergency alerting, and design. Laura previously served as the deputy director of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office, where she coordinated New Orleans’ Welcoming City Initiative for immigrant engagement and oversaw community engagement initiatives throughout New Orleans. She has also worked in the non-profit sector in post-Katrina New Orleans. Laura holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and a B.A. in Critical Theory and Social Justice from Occidental College. She is also a Certified Floodplain Manager.