Work With Us
Ebony Starks serves as Founder & Principal of Aspire Neighborhoods and has over 16 years of experience in philanthropy, community development, and nonprofit leadership. She most recently served as Vice President of Place-Based Initiatives for a private family foundation where she led the deployment of over $11 million in grant funding to support housing, education, and community wellness programs. Since 2022, she has also incubated the work of EnvisioNBR, providing strategic operational support to the Executive Director.
A native of Colorado, Ebony earned her BA in Political Science from Howard University and an MS in Urban Policy Studies from Georgia State University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is passionate about social justice and economic empowerment. Since relocating to Baton Rouge from Atlanta four years ago, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, watching football, and eating jambalaya.
My Story
Growing up, I thought a lot about place. I remember leaving my neighborhood in rural Colorado, defined by the fact that most of the families on the surrounding blocks lived in public housing, and driving across town to my best friend’s house, one she could call her own. It never failed to amaze me how different this neighborhood felt, only a few miles away. I was much older when I realized this short distance can make a world of difference for families-it can mean a 20-year difference in life span; a $20,000 difference in income; or a $200,000 difference in home value.
As a direct result of these early experiences, issues surrounding wealth inequality, housing affordability, and access to educational opportunities have shaped the lens with which I view the world and, ultimately, shaped my career. These issues led me to study political science in Washington, DC; they brought me to Atlanta, Georgia to study firsthand the effects of gentrification on the city center; and finally, to Baton Rouge Louisiana, where the lingering effects of desegregation, the U.S. highway boom, and other barriers to access have devastated neighborhoods across the northern part of the city.
This work is not just about new buildings, streetlights, or trees. It is a story of collaboration and community building. It’s about sharing the belief that all neighborhoods matter, as do the people who live there.
Projects
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Summerour Playground and Park Development - Norcross, Georgia
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Buddy Stewart Music Foundation Rehab - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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N. 28th Street Critical Housing Repair - Baton Rouge, Louisiana