Cleveland newcomer Hannah Chauvin relocated from balmy New Orleans, Louisiana to tackle the role of Manager of Alumni Leadership and Community Partnerships at Teach for America (TFA), an organization that places a diverse group of leaders in low-income communities to teach for two years. Hannah says, “Being raised in the south, I had no concept of what a real winter would be like. Everyone made it seem like it was going to be a scene out of Day After Tomorrow where if you are outside you freeze to death. Luckily for me, it was not the case, and I safely made it through my first Midwestern winter.
After graduating from Louisiana State University, Hannah joined the Greater New Orleans corps of Teach for America. The organization addresses educational inequality and economic disadvantage by providing high quality education to students living in at-risk communities. Hannah was a special education teacher for two years in rural Louisiana, and after her stint as a TFA corps member she, “wanted to work in a city that was community-orientated and dedicated to working together to make transformational change for children”, Hannah says, adding, “After learning more about educational scene in Cleveland, I accepted a job at Teach For America here in Cleveland to be their manager of Alumni Leadership and Community Partnerships.”
When asked what she loves most about Cleveland, Hannah says she has found the city to be extremely friendly and full of opportunities for leadership growth – and she loves our Midwestern charm! Although Hannah misses Louisiana beignets and wishes Cleveland coffee shops stayed open later, she has settled nicely into her new role at TFA. “After our corps members finish their initial commitment of two years, they become alumni. As Manager of Alumni Leadership and Community Partnerships, my work centers on supporting our local alumni’s development and keeping them engaged in our continued shared work even after they may have left their corps experience. I also work to connect alumni from across the country to leadership opportunities here in our community.”
Welcome to Cleveland, Hannah!