New Orleans is blessed to have a community of people who care, who want to give back to the city as much as it has given them. Their energy, ideas and compassion shape the programs and nonprofits that help the city — and the region — day-to-day and for the future. The 2025 Avenue Activists of the Year embody that spirit. They don’t just champion causes — they build them, guide them and give their time with intention. The honorees are Marv Ammari, Sonny Lee, Keith Liederman, Simone Maloz and Soraya Verjee. (Some answers edited for clarity.)
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Keith Liederman, Ph.D.
For Keith Liederman, Ph.D., the CEO of Clover New Orleans, giving back to the community is a family tradition. “When I think about where I initially got my inspiration to…
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Simone Maloz
Simone Maloz didn’t start her career in coastal restoration, but it is the one that has shaped her life. “I was fortunate to be approached about applying to a regional…
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Bivian “Sonny” Lee III
Bivian Lee III, better known as Sonny, is one of the busiest men in New Orleans — and in some ways, he could be called a father figure for the…
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Marviani “Marv” Ammari
From a daiquiri shop in 1989 to today’s Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, CEO and President Marviani “Marv” Ammari has forged a path in an industry that can be unforgiving. But…
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Soraya Verjee
Education — and how it can transform children’s lives — is always on the mind of Soyara Verjee. As chief talent and advancement officer of Collegiate Academies, she is right…
