Micaiah Lugo, MS

Senior Program Manager

Enrichment 2 Empowerment, Center for Youth Equity


The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Tidewater Building, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 1510
Headshot of Michaiah Lugo

Education & Affiliations

  • Master of Science in Applied Social Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology, California State University, Bakersfield

Biography

Micaiah Lugo is the Senior Program Manager of the Enrichment 2 Empowerment Program for the Center for Youth Equity. Micaiah also manages the Center for Youth Equity’s Junior Civic Safety Council (JCSC).  Before Joining the VPI, Micaiah worked in education advocating for the rights of children with special needs while also providing program management and behavioral support.

Micaiah grew up in California and moved to London for her master's because she was interested in the Black experience across the world. Having spent a few years living in London, Micaiah gained valuable insights into diverse cultures, histories, and perspectives. Her time in the vibrant city instilled a deep appreciation for the power of embracing diversity and fostering a sense of unity among people from various backgrounds. It also made her aware of the common struggles of Black people throughout the world.

The opportunity to celebrate traditions while embracing progressive ideas, addressing the needs of underrepresented populations in the way of violence prevention, and enriching the lives of young individuals made New Orleans the perfect home for Micaiah. She is eager to leverage her unwavering passion for equity and empowerment to make a lasting difference in the lives of our youth, as well as the city of New Orleans.  

Interests

Racial stereotypes in academia, Mass Incarceration, Anti-racist research, Disability Justice, Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Positive Youth Development, Structural Racism, and Social Capital