Ethan Ellestad
Executive Director
Director@Maccno.com

 Ethan Ellestad has been involved in community work for two decades, beginning as a coach and youth mentor, then developing and running after school programs and supervising adjudicated youth.  His work includes a 3 year stint in the Peace Corps, where he developed and ran a community center in Ewarton, Jamaica.  He relocated to New Orleans in 2009, where he attended the University of New Orleans, receiving a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Community Development.  Upon graduation, Ethan joined the staff of the Foundation For Louisiana, as a member of the Neighborhood Organizing and Planning Fund, where he worked until the end of 2013.  He is a founding member of the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans (MaCCNO), and has served as its executive director since 2014.

danovan calhoun-Bettis
director of engagement and partnerships
bettis@Maccno.com

Danovan Calhoun-Bettis, affectionately known as "Bettis," is a dynamic force in the vibrant cultural landscape of New Orleans. A native of the city and a proud alumnus of St. Augustine High School—where he served as the Head Drum Major for the renowned Marching 100—Bettis has dedicated his career to celebrating and preserving the unique heritage of his hometown.

 With a background in music performance and a passion for community engagement, Bettis has become a well-known figure in various artistic circles throughout the city. As a musician, you can catch him performing with T-Ray the Violinist, The Andre Lovett Band, and Big Fun Brass Band, bringing his signature energy and talent to stages across New Orleans. Additionally, Bettis leads his own band, Bettis + 3rd Degree, "The Hot Boys of Frenchmen", comprised of some of the city's hottest musicians, delivering electrifying performances that capture the essence of New Orleans' music scene.

 As the Director of Engagement and Partnerships at the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans (MaCCNO), Bettis is poised to make a significant impact on the local arts scene with a clear vision: to champion the voices of local artists, promote cultural equity, and strengthen community connections.

 Bettis's commitment to excellence and his deep-rooted passion for the city's cultural traditions make him an invaluable asset to MaCCNO and the broader New Orleans community. With his infectious energy and innovative spirit, Bettis is poised to play a vital role in shaping the future of New Orleans' cultural ecosystem. As a cultural ambassador for the city, he looks forward to continuing to build bridges, foster collaboration, and making meaningful differences in the lives of artists and residents alike.

Hannah Kreiger-Benson
director of programs and research
programs@maccno.com

Hannah Kreiger-Benson, Coordinator of Research and Programs, has been involved in MaCCNO from the very first meeting. Her areas of focus and research include the cultural economy, the ways the cultural landscape is shaped by legal and power structures, and the history of Frenchmen Street. She is also a full-time working musician, on piano, trumpet, and vocals, as well as a music-director for the all-female supergroup N.O.B.A.B.E. She is a Board member for the Musicians' Council on Fair Wages, a Camel Toe Lady Stepper, and the cultural-sector representative on the Regional Sustainability Council.

arsène delay
program director, makin’ gardens and groceries
makingardens@maccno.com

Arsène DeLay, Program Director of Makin’ Gardens, & Makin’ Groceries, has been circling in MACCNO’s orbit for over a decade, collaborating as a trusted community advocate, bringing her deep knowledge of local history, expansive communal network, and unique on-the-ground perspective shaped by her life as a working musician, culture bearer, and multi-generational New Orleanian. Her work centers on community organizing, engagement, crisis response, and enviromentally sustainable systems that strengthen connection, and are the building blocks of resilience.

A vibrant cultural leader & artist, DeLay is a singer/songwriter, actor, bandleader, as well as Vice President of the Black Seminole Baby Dolls, and a certified Master Gardener. She holds a BFA from Marquette University, an MFA from California Institute of the Arts, and currently serves as a Board member of the Water Wise Gulf South Collective.