“Those years shaped me. I continue to do the work of supporting young people and local nonprofits to this day largely because of how those years framed my perspective on the many challenges facing South Louisiana.”
Bernie January, Jr.Co-Founder, Creative Director and DeveloperHeartsleeve
Only a few weeks into his teaching assignment in New Orleans, Bernie witnessed how Hurricanes Katrina and Rita impacted the lives of students and families in his community. Those years shaped his life trajectory and his passion for combining his love for art and teaching. After the corps, Bernie co-founded Heartsleeve, a social-impact design studio. In addition to working full-time as a creative director and web developer, Bernie partners with local youth orgs to offer paid internships and career development opportunities for youth pursuing work in the design field. Read more about Bernie.