Braylon Harris has announced he is seeking the seat as Congressman for Louisiana’s Third District. Clay Higgins is the incumbent.
Harris’ experience includes:
2011-Current – He is the Senior Pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Lake Charles; Leads committees to develop and implement a comprehensive ministry revitalization plan: Organizational Constitution and Bylaws; Marketing Image and Identity; Financial Systems and Accountability; Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, and Continuous Improvement Objectives, Benchmarks, Timelines and Action Steps. He supervises 10 part-time employees and seven associate ministers; organized and implemented the SOAR Capital Campaign for the acquisition of 37 acre new location and future construction of a new ministry campus
2014-Current – He is the Project Director of McNeese State University – TRIO – Upward Bound serving as Principal Investigator and Grant writer of multi-million dollar federal grant with 72 active participants from two local high schools.
2017 – US Department of Education Upward Bound Grant Recipient – 5 years totaling $1.6 million Increased grant funding through successful application to the CPPJ Community Development Block Grant. Managing two full time employees and 10 part-time instructional leaders; Expanded program offerings academically and culturally to include: Speech & Debate, Psychology, ACT Prep Bootcamp, Teambuilding and Leadership.
2018-Current – Multi-Agency Positive Change Initiative of Calcasieu Parish Director of the Impact Agency Mentorship Program for Youth designed to curb negative statistics among adolescents through educational empowerment, community engagement, college and career exploration, leadership and teamwork experiences, along with governmental and cultural exposure throughout the region. Over 100 youth grades 6-12 are cur- rently involved representing schools from across the parish.
2008-2014 – McNeese State University Lake Charles Admissions Counselor – Under-represented Populations. Engaged in market area recruiting and networking to include local, Shreveport, and New Orleans areas; Organized office minority publications and outreach programs. Served as an enrollment specialist and first year mentor.
Harris’ education includes:
2005-08 – McNeese State University, Lake Charles Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management.
Summer 2009 Regent University Virginia Beach, Va. Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (incomplete).
His community involvement includes: City of Lake Charles, Community Advisor/ Liaison; Burton Coliseum, Board of Advisors Regional Growth and Opportunity Group, Education and Health Care Committee Member; Business and Career Solutions Committee Member, 2016 Youth Summit – Keynote Speaker Calcasieu Parish Recidivism Task Force Member; Lake Charles North Redevelopment Commission – Education Advisor; McNeese State University Black Faculty Staff Task Force – Co-Organizer.
Harris is married to Jasmine Baker of Crowley He is the father of Sydni Grace, Zion, Israel, and Aubri Joy. He is also the son of Rev. James and Linda Harris of DeQuincy.
He is the current Director of the multi-Agency Positive Change Initiative of SWLA. He is the former director of the TRIO-Upward Bound at McNeese State University; former Admissions Counselor at McNeese State University; Current Pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church of Lake Charles, Inc.; Senior Consult- ant at Solutionist of SWLA, LLP.
He is a graduate of DeQuincy High School, the class of 2004, graduate of McNeese State University with Business Administration Management, class of 2008; Good Friday at Sunlight Manor – Anti-Violence Rally, Chair; Labor Day of Love Hurricane Relief, Chair; Sober Society of SWLA Conference, Chair; Growth and Opportunity Group – Education Task Force Member; Lake Charles Department Pastors on Patrol.
