Marcelle was born in Lafayette and raised in Metairie, Louisiana on the outskirts of New Orleans. Born to parents of Cajun and Cuban heritage, Marcelle received her PhD in Latin American Studies with a focus on Political Science and immigration policy from Tulane University.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Marcelle advocated for the immigrant community that came to rebuild New Orleans by teaching English as a Second Language and translating for lawyers providing pro bono assistance in immigration detention centers throughout Louisiana. As she made her way through graduate school, she interned at Migration Policy Institute in Washington DC, worked as a high school teacher, an adjunct professor, a waitress, and a bartender.
Once she received her doctorate, she opted to stay in New Orleans instead of entering the world of academia. She eventually began working as the Senior Policy Analyst to the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives and learned the ins and outs of state politics and governance. She took advantage of her access to and knowledge of a traditionally closed world and started a campaign of public education and political advocacy, resulting in the creation of Louisianahbrah and the Nah Brah Newsletter. Her work has been widely shared by hopeful citizens of Louisiana as a sign that anyone can make an impact and potentially make the world a better place.
Marcelle lives in New Orleans and Mexico where she is an avid gardener, enthusiastic drinker of banana daiquiris, and collector of seashells and sunrises.
Other Projects
Louisianahbrah
A community dedicated to Louisiana progressive politics, focusing on education, community, advocacy, and overall ridiculousness in the form of memes.
Nah Brah Newsletter
Exploring conversations that have been long ignored. A weekly series of personal and political essays, civic engagement guides, and current events analysis.
Chronic Female Thoughts
CFT is a repository of reclaimed narratives. It is about being a woman and being out in the world. It is about finding power, rage, joy, and peace at the intersection of the personal and the political.
Twenty Years Ago Today
A look back on the twentieth anniversary year of Hurricane Katrina. Published on the 29th of every month in remembrance of where we were twenty years ago today.