Loren Carriere | Executive Director

Loren Carriere’s role as the Executive Director of Hope for Opelousas exemplifies faith, service, and the strength of community. A graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Loren’s path was guided by meaningful relationships formed through Bible study and discipleship. In 2008, Loren found his calling in being asked to be the director of Hope for Opelousas, tasked with bringing a comprehensive vision and mission to life. With the support and participation of friends, mentors, and church members, HFO has transformed into a flourishing nonprofit focused on uplifting the youth and families of Opelousas.

Loren finds immense joy in observing the changes in those impacted by their mission. From the kids uncovering their God-given potential to families reinforced by love and encouragement, he sees the connections fostered at HFO as a manifestation of divine work. Whether it’s witnessing kids overcome obstacles during Adventure Crew or seeing graduates return to contribute to the program and community, Loren is constantly motivated by the strength and development of those he serves. These moments and the insights into parenting and unconditional love he has gained over the years have greatly influenced his and his family’s life and faith. In his spare time, Loren spends quality time with his wife, Tory, and their five children.

Above all else, Loren is thankful for God, who has ordained HFO’s journey. He envisions a future where the organization can thrive autonomously, nurturing more connections and spreading hope throughout the community. With unwavering faith and a passion for service, Loren remains committed to empowering the people of Opelousas and ensuring that HFO remains a beacon of light for future generations.

Awards:

2015 Our Lady of Lourdes Franciscan Medal of Honor Recipient
2016 Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Angel Award Recipient
2016 Top 20 Under 40 Honoree
2019 Father of the Year Honoree by 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette
2019 Louisiana Youth Seminar’s Life Achievement Award Recipient

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Kristina Anderson | Administrative Director

Kristina Anderson’s journey with Hope for Opelousas began in the spring of 2009 when she led a mission trip to Opelousas, Louisiana, as a resident director at Bryan College. Captivated by the City of Opelousas and HFO’s mission, she returned for a 10-week summer internship before moving to Louisiana and joining full-time in May 2010. Starting with tutoring and administrative tasks, she now serves as Administrative Director and has been deeply involved in Adventure Crew since its origins.

Over the years, Kristina has grown with Hope for Opelousas, witnessing the children overcoming challenges and forming lifelong bonds. She treasures the program’s role as a space of consistency, belonging, and growth for its students and has experienced her own growth in patience, compassion, and unconditional love.

With a bachelor’s in psychology from Northwestern College and a master’s in higher education from Geneva College, Kristina brings both expertise and heart to her work. A proud foster mom, she enjoys traveling, watching sports, especially the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs, and making memories with family and friends. She is grateful to now call Opelousas her home.

For Kristina, Hope for Opelousas is more than a job—it’s her “why,” a living ministry that continues to inspire hope and transformation.

Tevin Duhon | High School Director

Tevin Duhon’s journey to Hope for Opelousas was nothing short of divine alignment. A graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he spent a decade working in Lafayette before relocating to Opelousas with his wife for a fresh start. Through their church community, a conversation with Loren Carriere introduced him to HFO’s mission. Then, when a position opened up with the program in 2018, Tevin’s wife encouraged him to answer the call and become the High School Director, where he has since provided guidance and wisdom to the youth.

Tevin finds his greatest joy in building meaningful relationships with students and helping them navigate life’s challenges. Acting as a compass, he guides students to reframe their struggles and recognize their potential. Tevin remains rooted in the idea that his role is to plant seeds of growth, trusting God to nurture them in His time. Whether encouraging his students to break free from the molds of their environment or helping them have life-changing experiences through Adventure Crew trips, Tevin remains passionate about showing them a broader, more promising world.

Tevin and his wife have two daughters. In their free time, they enjoy hanging out at home, going out to watch the horse races, and doing community service projects.

Jonathan Fisher | Jr. High Director

Jonathan Fisher is a graduate of Opelousas Catholic and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After his longtime friend, Loren Carriere, started Hope for Opelousas, Jonathan honored his commitment to helping the community by volunteering for and supporting the program until Loren invited him to join the team full-time in 2012. Beginning as an intern and advancing to Junior High Director, Jonathan finds purpose in guiding middle school students during their crucial developmental stages.

Having grown up in the same community that HFO serves, Jonathan has personally witnessed the obstacles the children encounter. He believes the program’s most precious tool is offering their students unwavering parental care—love, support, and guidance.

For Jonathan, family transcends biological ties; it’s about the connections established through unconditional love and shared moments. His son and the kids he has nurtured have merged into one family, illustrating the enduring relationships cultivated in the program.

Jonathan cherishes witnessing children flourish, former students returning to contribute to their community, and transformative change taking hold through the strength of hope. A true “fisher” of peace, he finds solace in nature through fishing and hunting in his free time.

Kelly Babineaux-Leday | Lower Elementary Director

Kelly Babineaux is an Opelousas native through and through. She’s been a vibrant part of the Hope for Opelousas team since 2018. As the Lower Elementary Director, she sprinkles her passion for education and deep-rooted love for her community into everything she does. A proud graduate of Opelousas Senior High, she continued her studies at the Aveda Institute, honing her creative skills and becoming a licensed esthetician and makeup artist, later earning a psychology degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

For Kelly, this is more than just a program—it’s a true family and an essential lifeline for the community.

Witnessing her students’ growth, especially in their small but monumental breakthroughs, brings her the greatest joy. Also functioning as the Art Director, Kelly thrives during their annual art show season, where her students use their creativity to make inspiring and colorful works of art. Beyond the classroom, the students travel to Kids Across America camp each summer with HFO staff members, allowing them to form a stronger relationship with God while meeting new people. These experiences, rooted in community and faith, offer Kelly as much fulfillment as they do for the children.

Hope for Opelousas represents hope and renewal for Kelly—a space where children feel safe to grow and thrive academically, artistically, and personally. Outside of work, Kelly values time with her family and enjoys swing out dancing and resting at home.

Kelsey Smith | Upper Elementary Director

Kelsey Smith’s time with Hope for Opelousas is a full-circle tale of transformation, love, and purpose. At the age of 14, after losing her mother, Kelsey became part of HFO as a student, where she discovered guidance, unwavering support, and stability through the care of leaders like Loren and Kristina. As time passed, Kelsey evolved from a student to a tutor and continued to move up, now holding the position of Upper Elementary Director, in which she invests the same love and mentorship into her students that she once received. She feels called to foster a safe, nurturing environment filled with unconditional love for her students to develop and thrive.

Kelsey enjoys being present for her students outside of HFO, cheering them on at their extracurricular events and celebrating their achievements. She has witnessed firsthand how HFO cultivates lifelong friendships and stability for the students in the program—a mission she advances with deep respect and appreciation.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys being with her family, actively supporting her community, and engaging in outdoor activities like fishing and crabbing.

Loren Carriere | Executive Director

Loren has been a part of the Hope for Opelousas family since 2008, and considers HFO to be his joy and calling. He enjoys the many varying roles of Executive Director, which include leading and encouraging the staff, pouring into the lives of the students, and sharing about the good work HFO is doing.

Loren believes deeply that the real change for our students’ lives will only come from knowing God, “whose love is the thing we search for in so many places but we will only find in His arms. Sharing and living this good news is the only song my life can sing!”

Loren is a self-proclaimed optimist, and his passion and fervor for life is evident in all that he does. Outside of HFO, Loren can be found spending quality time with his wife, Tory, and their four children. A graduate of the University of Louisiana, Loren’s interests bounce from hiking and canoeing to meeting new people, and enjoying great coffee.

Loren has channeled his work at HFO to include community-wide development efforts. He has served in local churches and is a past chair of the St. Landry Parish Chamber of Commerce. He has been recognized statewide as a 2016 Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Angel for his work with Opelousas youth, was awarded the Our Lady of Lourdes Franciscan Medal of Honor in 2015, and in 2019 received Father of the Year Honoree by 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette and the Louisiana Youth Seminar’s Life Achievement Award.

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