Dominique Wilkerson

Dominique Wilkerson specializes in mental health, criminal justice, children, and rehabilitation advocacy. She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in criminal justice and holds a master's in Criminology and Justice as well as a master's in psychology. She is currently a doctoral student in psychology with a focus on mental health and public health. Her professional experience spans more than a decade mentoring children, including seven years working in juvenile rehabilitation at a detention center in roles such as case manager, supervisor, detention officer, and advocate. She also spent five years in the K-12 education system as a teacher and coordinator at an alternative school for high-behavior students and five years as a child care investigator addressing child abuse cases. Certified to intervene in gang violence, she works directly in the community to prevent retaliation and support youth reentry. Recently, she joined a social justice group focused on changing laws in Louisiana. Wilkerson attributes her drive to her background as a public servant, her understanding of issues like domestic violence, poverty, and lack of resources, and her desire to create equitable opportunities and better systems for the community.