Loyce Pierce Wright
Treasurer
The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation
Whether the issue is civil rights, women’s rights, quality education or accessible, affordable healthcare, Loyce Pierce Wright is committed to taking on the challenge.” Loyce Pierce Wright received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, majoring in French and Spanish Education. She received her Master’s degree from the University of New Orleans with a concentration in Educational Administration and Supervision and Urban Affairs.“A Champion of the Common Good”, Mrs. Wright has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights in the Office of the Governor for fourteen years.
She has the distinction of having been appointed by three Governors: Mike Foster, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Bobby Jindal. In her capacity as executive director, she is responsible for enforcing the state’s anti-discrimination laws in employment, banking and lending practices and public accommodations. She renders the final determination on complaints of discrimination filed with the Commission based on race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, pregnancy and disability.In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is actively engaged in rebuilding the YWCA of New Orleans, which was destroyed by hurricane Katrina, a nearly 100 year old institution whose mission is eliminating racism and empowering women.
As President of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Wright is at the helm of the rebuilding effort and spends a good deal of time negotiating with FEMA and navigating through the FEMA regulations to obtain funding to rebuild the physical structure, estimated to cost nearly 4 million dollars. She has issued a Clarion Call for help to raise the more than $600,000 gap needed to fully fund the construction of the new building. Yet, she is not daunted by the task, because she knows that in present day New Orleans, the hallmark programs of the YWCA which include daycare, domestic violence, and education initiatives are needed more than ever before and are necessary to supporting women and girls seeking to rebuild and restore their lives.
Mrs. Wright also holds leadership positions on several boards and commissions. She serves as a board member of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum Advisory Board, The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation, the Urban League Guild, AAWPP, and Centene Health Policy Advisory Council of Louisiana. She is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a member of the Crescent City Chapter of The Links, Inc.Mrs. Wright has received many awards and honors, including SCLC Rosa Parks Award, N.O. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award, N.O. Martin Luther King., Jr. Federal Holiday Commission Torch Bearer’ Award, Mayor’s Appreciation and Merit Awards, The United Way Outstanding Service Award, YWCA Role Model Award, Sigma Gamma Rho Exemplary Community Service Award, the City of Yonkers Commission on Human Rights Humanitarian Award, and the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion. She is listed in Who’s Who in Government and Who’s Who in Black America.
While public service, community and civic work provide an opportunity to be of service, which is her desire, it is time spent with her family and working with her church, which gives her the greatest joy. She is the treasurer of the St. Raymond community Development Corporation and a lector at the St. Raymond/St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. Mrs. Wright is the widow of Louis Clifton Wright, Jr. and the mother of Dr. Kiana Wright. Her motto is “There are Blessings in the midst of the storm and God is...
