Zakenya P. Neely, MAOM
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Market Solutions
Zakenya Perry Neely, MAOM, is a seasoned nonprofit executive, community educator, and visionary strategist with more than 25 years of leadership experience across local, state, and national platforms. A native of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina survivor, Zakenya has dedicated her career to designing and implementing bold initiatives that respond to urgent community needs, elevate under-resourced families, and build sustainable systems of support.
Her leadership spans a wide range of organizations, including the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, the Orleans Public Education Network, Communities In Schools, Operation REACH, and Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation. At NAFCC, where she currently serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships & Market Solutions, Zakenya has launched innovative programs such as the EmpowerHER Business Accelerator and Leaders Shaping Leaders, while generating over $500,000 in revenue through strategic alliances. She also spearheaded the first-ever Home-Based Child Care Global Convening (2024), connecting providers worldwide to shape a collective vision for advocacy and sustainability.
Earlier in her career, she co-created the Gulf South Youth Action Corps (2007), a youth-led initiative born out of post-Katrina recovery, and the Orleans Public Education Awards (2013–2017), the first citywide celebration honoring educators’ resilience and excellence. With Kellogg Foundation support, she directed the Parent Leadership Training Institute in Louisiana (2014–2017), equipping hundreds of parents as civic leaders and advocates. She also led implementation of the Early Development Index (2013–2015), a groundbreaking kindergarten readiness tool still in use by United Way of Greater New Orleans.
Throughout her career, Zakenya has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, led teams of up to 15, secured millions in funding, and forged cross-sector partnerships that have expanded educational access, advanced family economic mobility, and strengthened community well-being. Recognized as a dynamic change agent and culture bearer, she is deeply committed to equity, innovation, and systems transformation.
Zakenya’s career trajectory reflects her unwavering dedication to ensuring that every child and family has access to opportunity, resilience, and the promise of a thriving future.