Lowery Crews
Celebrate this Youth Champion and 2025 Role Model— Lowrey Crews
Lowrey, Founder and CEO, launched the 18th Ward in 2019 with a simple, but powerful goal to develop a space where kids from all 17 wards could play, grow, and lead together.
The 18th Ward, a powerhouse New Orleans nonprofit that started with 40 kids and 4 teens, now generates:
- 10,000+ youth opportunities each year (ages 3–13)
- 500+ paid leadership jobs for young people (ages 14–24)
- A full-time team of 12 and a growing $2M+ annual budget
The 18th Ward has been featured by the Today Show, Prime Time Sports, and The Advocate, and honored by the New Orleans Pelicans, US Soccer, MLS, Ochsner, and Major League Baseball, just to name a few.
Lowrey’s leadership is rooted in years as an educator, coach, and advocate. After teaching for 15 years with Teach for America, he brought his passion for equity and youth development to life through sport, mentorship, and workforce opportunities.
Recently named one of the Top 50 Under 50 by Southern Business and Development, Lowrey continues to build a future where every kid in New Orleans has a place to belong.
Join us in celebrating Lowrey Crews and the other fantastic 2025 Role Models at the Awards Evening on October 24, 2025. Learn more at bit.ly/YLCrolemodel.