Vicki Weeks
Executive Director

As a former member of Belle Reve’s Board of Directors, Vicki has served as Executive Director since 1999. Responsible for Belle Reve’s vision and direction, Vicki has taken Belle Reve out of thousands of dollars of debt and dramatically increased Belle Reve’s available funding. Vicki has a Master’s Degree, and has used her training to run Belle Reve as responsible nonprofit. Under her direction, Belle Reve consistently has received superior ratings from its monitoring agencies, and has been honored with a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Service from the City of New Orleans. Recently, Belle Reve received a special commendation from the United States Department of State for serving as a model for visiting African and Russian HIV/AIDS research groups. Additionally, the Forum for Equality honored Vicki last summer with an Acclaim Award for her work in the HIV/AIDS community. Vicki is on the ground floor of a lobbying organization, Louisiana AIDS Action Network (LAAN), founded to unite and protect the interests of persons with AIDS across the state. Additionally, Vicki represents Belle Reve as the only AIDS assisted living facility that is a member of the Louisiana Assisted Living Association (LALA). It is Vicki’s vision that all AIDS service organizations work together to create coordinated efforts to serve the HIV/AIDS community, each organization providing different services and strengths. Vicki is completely committed to Belle Reve’s Mission. As the increased longevity of HIV/AIDS-infected persons is changing the needs of the HIV/AIDS population, Vicki plans to keep Belle Reve current throughout any and all changes. Those who know her rightly say that it is impossible to keep her down. Her endless optimism, action, and faith are noteworthy and contagious.

Michele D’Aquin
Program Coordinator

Michele evacuated with Belle Reve during hurricane Katrina in 2005 as a volunteer, and has worked at Belle Reve since 2006. Michele is the primary administrative staff for Belle Reve. She is responsible for all of the background jobs required for Belle Reve to function efficiently on a day to day basis. Among her responsibilities are monitoring contract reports, completing bookkeeping and payroll, and ensuring compliance with all federal, state and city work codes. She takes an active part in coordinating Belle Reve’s efforts to comply with contracts, adhere to grant regulations, monitor maintenance and supply issues and working with the HIV/AIDS community as a whole. Everyone can attest to Michele’s kindness, warmness and uplifting spirit. She is an integral and invaluable member of the Belle Reve staff.

Charlotte Degree
Psychosocial Coordinator

Charlotte has been with Belle Reve since January 2008. As the Psychosocial Coordinator, Charlotte connects Belle Reve’s clients to the appropriate services and coordinates the utilization of those services. Charlotte assists clients with their transition from living in the group-based environment to an individual one. Charlotte graduated from the Southern University at New Orleans with a MSW in Social Work. She has a great deal of experience in the field of social work, having previously worked as a therapist, case manager and medical assistant.

Steve Loria
Director of Social Services

Steve joined Belle Reve in 2002 and is currently the Director of Social Services. He has a Master of Social Work degree and many years of experience in working with people living with HIV/AIDS, illnesses and disabilities. As Social Services Director he provides mental health counseling for the residents, conducts their regular meetings and arranges regular support groups for the residents, staff and volunteers. Steve also oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of the agencies programs and supervises  staff and interns. In addition, the Social Services Director assists the Executive Director with networking within the wider community and attends Board of Director Meetings. All those who know Steve know of his good nature, determination, kindness and optimism.

Sophia Hyde
PCA Supervisor

Sophia’s started at Belle Reve in 1998 and is now the head Personal Care Attendant (PCA). She oversees the care services provided to clients on a day to day basis. These services include necessities such as bathing, grooming, dressing, dining, toileting, ambulation/transfer, and assistance with self-medication. She is responsible for a large portion of the PCA training, as well as relation between PCAs and patients.