Hometown Hero Honoree

Dr. Chelsi Clark is a nationally recognized mental health professional, speaker, and advocate with a Doctorate in School Psychology and over a decade of experience serving diverse families and communities. She is the Director of the We Connect Resource Hub at Training Grounds in New Orleans, where she leads initiatives that support neurodivergent youth and their caregivers.

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As a leading voice in equity-centered autism education, Dr. Clark has trained thousands of professionals and caregivers on understanding and addressing disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and access that persist in marginalized communities. Her work centers on dismantling stigma, increasing cultural responsiveness, and empowering diverse families. She believes that in a world of over 8 billion people, our differences are what make life meaningful—diversity should be celebrated, not merely tolerated.

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Her unwavering commitment to advocacy and service has earned her the 2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Service, the Louisiana Award for Service, and recognition in the Centennial Edition of Who’s Who Among American Mental Health Professionals.

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Dr. Clark also serves on the Board of Directors for The Beyjorettes, a dance and service organization, and Loyola University New Orleans’ Generative AI for Value Creation Program. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

She is the founder of The Transformative Living Collective, LLC, where she coaches high- achieving professionals on executive well-being and holistic success. Through every role, Dr. Clark continues to transform lives by championing equity, mental health, and the beauty of neurodiversity.