Carol Bebelle
Carol Bebelle (a.k.a. Akua Wambui) is a native New Orleanian and a proud product of the New Orleans Public School System. She received her undergraduate degree (BA) from Loyola University in Sociology and her Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) from Tulane University in Education Administration. She spent nearly 20 years in the public sector as an administrator and planner of education, social and health programs. In 1990, Carol embarked on her path of independence which started with establishing Master Plan Development Associates (MPDA), a private consulting firm that offered planning, development, and grant writing services to human service programs and initiatives. Her clients were non-profits, health, social, education, arts, cultural, religious programs, entrepreneurs and artists.
Carol is a published poet whose work has appeared in several anthologies and journals over the years. In, 1995, she published a volume of her work entitled “In a Manner of Speaking”. Her work appears in the anthology “From a Bend in the River” edited by Kalamu Ya Salaam and “Sisters Together” edited by Nancy Manson and Debra Gould. In 1998, Carol Bebelle and Douglas Redd founded Ashe’ Cultural Arts Center, a pivotal strategy and force for the revitalization and transformation of Oretha Castle-Haley Boulevard, formerly known as Dryades Street. On this boulevard in Central City, the community has created a vision for a cultural corridor with African and Caribbean culture as the theme. Bebelle is an active member of the Central City community and the organizations at work to develop that community and its vision.