FBI New Orleans
Craig C. Betbeze
(504) 816-3274
April 15, 2016

New Orleans Community Leader Recognized by FBIHQ for His Significant Contributions to the Metropolitan Area

The FBI recognizes Ethan Ashley, Director of Community Engagement, Urban League of New Orleans, as the recipient of the FBI New Orleans Division’s 2015 Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). He is a resident of the Gentilly New Orleans neighborhood community and a member of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. Mr. Ashley was honored for his outstanding work and contributions with African-American youth and communities throughout the New Orleans area.

Since 1938, the Urban League of Greater New Orleans (ULGNO) has been an architect of change. They are experts effecting change on both economic and educational issues that adversely affect African-Americans and others living in the Greater New Orleans area. Mr. Ashley is responsible for the ULGNO’s Urban Leaders for Equity and Diversity (ULEAD) program, which teaches leadership and advocacy within the K-12 education system.

During his studies at Howard University and since 2006, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Ethan Ashley has dedicated over a week’s worth of service each year to assist minority communities and youth in New Orleans. Mr. Ashley then worked as a first-year staff attorney and project director at the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, where he was tasked with spearheading the initiative to end juvenile life sentences in the state of Louisiana. In this position, Mr. Ashley utilized his employment in the legal field to render aid and make a difference. Mr. Ashley’s passion to change the infamous school-to-prison-pipeline is what motivated his career change into the field of education. He is a proud member and mentor for the Son of a Saint program, a non-profit organization focused on enhancing the lives of fatherless young males. In addition, Mr. Ashley also serves as a strong advocate for youth justice, civil rights and servant leadership.

In June of 2014, working in his capacity as the Director of Community Engagement for the ULGNO, Mr. Ashley became a collaborative partner with the FBI New Orleans Division, when a community engagement campaign was formed to educate African-American, LGBT and Hispanic communities throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area on the issues of equality and civil rights. Also serving as a member of W.K. Kellogg’s Fellowship program, Mr. Ashley became a key adviser to the FBI New Orleans Division and an active participant when the FBI New Orleans Division held its first Community Relations Executive Seminar Training program (CREST) entitled “Civil Rights Racial Healing Seminar.” In January 2015, Ethan Ashley collaborated with the FBI New Orleans Field Office and the FBI New Orleans Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBINOCAAA), to develop a training program geared towards community education, understanding, and a dialogue for open communication in matters affecting minority communities. To date, Mr. Ashley continues to be a valuable partner and active participant in the Greater New Orleans Civil Rights Working Group (GNOCRWG). The mission of the GNOCRWG is to help foster a collaborative law enforcement presence, assist in building community partnerships and address police and community relations throughout the Eastern District of Louisiana.

On Friday, April 15, 2016, Ethan Ashley, along with his family and friends, traveled to FBI Headquarters, where FBI Director James Comey formally presented all 56 field office recipients with their 2015 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Awards for their tremendous efforts and work within their communities.