Rev. Lois Dejean
Reverend Lois Dejean, at 70 years old, remains ready to tackle life's challenges. Reverend Dejean, leader of the Zion Harmonizers, has performed with Gospel great Mahalia Jackson. The native New Orleanian, great grandmother and community activist fought for Gert Town residents even before Hurricane Katrina, demanding the removal of contaminated soil from a neighboring chemical company. Without any government assistance and retired for five years, Dejean found a part-time job to supplement her Social Security income so she could pay increased rent. It would have been easy for her to leave - no mortgage, no job, no family - but Dejean believes her purpose is to fight for the rights of poor African-American residents in New Orleans and to help people, including her family, return home.