Benjamin Clapper has committed his life to speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. His expertise in the pro-life movement ranges from the political and legislative realm to youth education and activism.

Benjamin serves as the Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. Louisiana Right to Life, established in 1970, works through education, activism, legislation, and service to restore the right to life in Louisiana. During his years with Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin has helped grow Louisiana Right to Life into a organization making an impact for life from the State Capitol to high school classrooms across the state. During his time working to advance pro-life legislation, Louisiana has been at or near the top of the list of most pro-life states in the nation.

In addition to Louisiana Right to Life, Benjamin serves the national pro-life movement in a number of capacities. Through his work with the National Right to Life Victory Fund, Benjamin has worked on the political side to elect pro-life leaders to office. He also helped start pro-life youth training programs in many states through the “Life and Leadership Youth Camp Initiative.”

Benjamin is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning short adoption documentary film  I Lived on Parker Avenue.

Benjamin’s dedication to the pro-life movement began in late high school in his hometown of Mobile, AL, but was stregthened in college as he actively worked with Students for Life of America and went on to found Louisiana Students for Life. In 2013, Benjamin was honored to receive a top award from SFLA.

Benjamin graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 2007 as the Ignatian Award winner for Outstanding Male Graduate. At Loyola, he was blessed to meet his future wife, Kristen, through their collaboration on pro-life activities. Kristen and Benjamin reside in Mandeville with their four beautiful daughters: Kate, Mary Rose, Julia, and Claire.

Email: bclapper@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

Tara Wicker is an activist and community leader in the fight for life, justice, and righteousness. Her conviction to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves has been a driving force that has fueled her passion for pro-life advocacy throughout her life. It is her fundamental belief that in the fight for justice we must first stand up for righteousness because it is righteousness that truly qualifies us to fight for justice. Tara brings a wealth of energy, excitement, and experience as she proudly takes on her new role as the State Director of Louisiana Black Advocates for Life.

She is a native of Baton Rouge and is the First Lady of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church, which she and her husband, Pastor Michael Wicker, founded in January 2014. Tara is a dedicated and passionate Christian who believes strongly in the value of the family unit. She has lived and worked throughout the capital city of Baton Rouge for most of her life and career.

Tara served for 12 years as an East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Councilwoman and also as Assistant Chief Administrative Officer in the Office of the Mayor-President for the City of Baton Rouge. She served as chair of the Metro Council Finance & Executive Committee and was chairman of the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging. Tara served as chairman of the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission and was a member of the Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC). She was an Executive Assistant for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, is a former United Way board member, and served as chairman for the Community Investment Cabinet and co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Council.

Tara holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy Analysis and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She is the President & CEO of The W Consulting Group.

Above and beyond political parties or racial boundaries, her internal drive to always do what is right fuels her passion to help save lives of the unborn by strategically working to reduce the number of abortions within the Black community, all while encouraging effective pro-life advocacy work and involvement in communities throughout Louisiana. Tara has shared her personal testimony at several pro-life events throughout the years and served as the keynote speaker for the 2019 Baton Rouge Right to Life March.

She has been married for 29 years to her high school sweetheart, best friend, Pastor, former Louisiana State Trooper, and business owner, Mike Wicker. Together they have given birth and are raising six amazing children, Tya, Trinity, Michael-Joel, Mya, Magnus, and Mailey-Grace.

Tara and her husband established several Life Academies, including Couple’s Academy International, Wealth Academy, Young Kings and Young Queen’s Academy, Transformations Health Academy, and the Rebuild Academy, which were designed for ministry to the total person. They have a dream to one day open the Caleb House for at risk, pregnant mothers and the Baby House for abandoned and neglected babies newborn to 5 years of age.

Email: tara@lablackadvocates.com

Sarah Zagorski Jones rejoined the Louisiana Right to Life staff in January 2018 after pro-life involvement in northern Colorado. There she served as the Director of Colorado Citizens for Life, the state affiliate of National Right to Life, and was a staff writer for LifeNews.com. In 2015, she began working as a lobbyist advancing pro-life legislation at the state Capitol for Colorado Family Action, a policy partner of Focus on the Family. She currently serves as Louisiana Right to Life’s Communications and Adoption Education Director.

Sarah’s dedication to the pro-life cause stems from her own personal story of being rescued from an induction abortion and spending nearly eight years in the Louisiana foster care system. She was adopted at the age of nine by a loving family dedicated to the pro-life movement.  In 2012, she graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Biblical Studies.

Her professional writing and story have been published in the National Review, Washington Examiner, and by Focus on the Family. Sarah’s also been featured by Fox and Friends and Fox Digital. In 2022, she published her personal pro-life story through the Chicago Publishing House, Moody Publishers: Choose Life: Answering Key Claims of Abortion Defenders with Compassion.

Sarah’s expertise is in oral and written communication, which she utilizes regularly at Louisiana Right to Life. She has been interviewed by the New York Times, Politico, the Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News and many other media outlets, especially during the historic overturn of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

Her work at Louisiana Right to Life is also highlighted by her development and implementation of an infant-adoption education program for public high school students with the aim of providing an untapped audience with abortion alternatives.

Sarah resides in Greater New Orleans with her young son Jesse. Visit her online at SarahZagorski.com.

Email: sarah@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

Erica started with Louisiana Right to Life in 2023 as a legal intern after a law school course on slavery and racism ignited her passion for pro-life advocacy. Today, she serves as Louisiana Right to Life’s Policy Director. In this role, Erica works closely with elected officials and stakeholders to craft legislation and strategically plan pro-life policy implementation. Additionally, she oversees the Lawyers for Life division and promotes pro-life activities in the Acadiana region.

Like many in the pro-life movement, Erica’s path toward activism was hardly direct. She is the first to admit that she was once “personally pro-life” but not actively interested or involved. It was reflection upon her life experiences – including being the product of an unfortunate teen pregnancy, being blessed by the selfless gift of adoption, having children of her own, and experiencing devastating pregnancy losses – that moved her toward a more decidedly pro-life position. However, when studying the social, scientific, and legal justifications for other human rights injustices as a second-year law student, Erica drew the connection between them and modern pro-abortion arguments. Erica focused her academic research and writing on these parallels and has since studied and written about other abortion-related legal issues including the regulatory problems of abortion pre- and post-Dobbs and the use of private enforcement actions in the context of abortion laws. The combination of personal experiences and her legal education have compelled Erica to use her position and influence to speak for the most vulnerable among us and to work toward the reversal of what she considers the most grave human rights violation of our time.

Prior to pursuing a legal career, Erica taught middle and high school English and history and immensely enjoyed encouraging young people to make the world a better place. Outside of work, Erica volunteers in her community and with her church parish as the Pro-Life Coordinator and a baptism preparation facilitator.* One of her greatest joys outside of her family is encouraging women – especially her daughters and former students – to reject the notion that one cannot have a family and maintain a meaningful career.

A native of West Monroe, Louisiana, Erica has a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and a Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University. She and her husband, Blase, are residents of Lafayette where they raise their five children.

Email: erica@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

TJ Burgess joined the Louisiana Right to Life team in the summer of 2017, serving as a youth programs intern, and continued in that capacity until August 2019. In January 2021 he returned to the team as Special Projects Director, and now serves as our Director of Events. TJ leads the coordination of our annual Proudly Pro-Life Gala in New Orleans, Bowties for Babies Soiree in Baton Rouge, and Louisiana Life Marches across the state.

TJ was rooted with a passion for pro-life activism early on in life, starting his advocacy in his first year of high school, when he attended one of the Louisiana Right to Life’s PULSE pro-life youth retreats. He was so inspired to be a change-maker from PULSE that he devoted his life to making any human rights abuse unthinkable.

As a junior in high school, TJ launched Men for Life, a pro-life organization that advocates for the protection and expansion of human rights by encouraging men to be informed, active, and purposeful defenders of life. In just a few short years, Men for Life has grown to be internationally acclaimed, and TJ has spoken at protests, press conferences, and rallies across the country.

Email: TJ@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

Ashley Gilliam joined the Louisiana Right to Life team in 2021 as Youth Programs Co-Director and advanced to the role as Director of Education in 2024.

Ashley became involved with pro-life activism when she was a student at Tulane University and joined the pro-life organization on campus. She served on the executive board throughout college and led as president during her final year. Through workshops, volunteering, and conversations with students, Ashley gained knowledge and experience in pro-life advocacy and providing support to people in her community. She became passionate about educating and empowering young people to work to uphold the dignity of life. 

Ashley grew up in Arizona and enjoys exploring the beautiful outdoors with friends and family. In 2021, she graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. She lives in Metairie. 

Email: ashley@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

Harlee Barbier became involved with Louisiana RIght to Life in 2015 when she attended her first PULSE camp. Over the years, she has stayed involved in any way she can: staffing at PULSE camps, volunteering at events, and volunteering in the office whenever it was needed. Harlee also served as the Summer intern in 2022. She was very involved with her high school’s pro-life organization where she volunteered with many pregnancy centers. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University where she is the founder of their oncampus pro-life organization, Southeastern’s Students for Life. Harlee served as their president during her time at the university. Her goal is to change hearts and minds, one college student at a time.

In her free time you can find Harlee volunteering in her community or focusing on her community organization she runs, Live to Love for Life. Harlee also enjoys traveling, hiking, dancing on her dance team and creating pro-life social media content.

Email: harlee@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org 

Trinity Wicker joined the Louisiana Right to Life team in 2023 as the Youth Programs Director for Baton Rouge.  Trinity’s pro-life activism quickly started after hearing her parent’s story about their impact of abortion. She currently serves as the Youth Director for Louisiana Right to Life and Louisiana Black Advocates for Life, empowering young high school and college students to stand for the culture of life, and assisting young moms and babies who are in crisis situations.

In addition, Trinity is active and is often seen at the La. State Capitol assisting with legislation to ensure that Louisiana lawmakers uphold and promote pro-life laws and family values.  Trinity loves to serve her church by singing on the Praise Team. As the former 2019 Miss Southern High, she uses her compassion and influence to host weekly high school and college “Girls Connect Clubs”.

Trinity’s hobbies include singing, reading, exercising, horseback riding, and posting on Social Media where she uses her platform to promote pro-life messages and videos to encourage the younger generation to grow their relationship with Christ. Trinity is a graduating Senior at Louisiana State University, majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Photography.

Hannah Guilliam is a dedicated advocate for the pro-life movement, serving with a passion rooted in a lifelong commitment to defending the sanctity of life. Since high school, Hannah has been deeply involved in advancing the pro-life cause, channeling her enthusiasm into various
roles in Acadiana such as Fundraising Campaign Director and Social Media Coordinator for A Pregnancy Center & Clinic in Lafayette, LA.

With a robust background in organizing and executing successful campaigns, she has demonstrated a talent for rallying support and resources to further the mission of promoting a culture of life. Her strategic use of social media has expanded outreach and engagement,
effectively connecting with youth and mobilizing them towards advocacy and action.

Hannah is a firm believer in servant leadership and views her work through a servanthood above all. She firmly believes that true education provokes action and hopes to carry that initiative in igniting a spark in her generation.

As the Acadiana Youth Programs Director, Hannah continues to inspire and empower the next generation of pro-life leaders through innovative programming and educational initiatives. She is committed to nurturing a generation that values and protects every human life from conception
to natural death.

Email: hannah@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org 

Nicky Orozco joined the Louisiana Right to Life team in August of 2024 as the Youth Programs Director for the Southeast region.

Nicky grew up going to youth group, and it was there where her passion for the preborn began. She was shown a video about the effects of abortion, and it led her to attend her first March for Life. Nicky went to college in Ohio, where she joined and, later led, a women’s household that dedicated themselves to the pro-life cause.

As a part of this group, she regularly prayed outside of abortion facilities and served in ministry. After college, Nicky was a missionary and team leader in Philadelphia for the Culture Project where she gave presentations about human dignity in schools.  

Nicky was born in Puerto Rico, but grew up in New Hampshire before she moved to Louisiana. In 2022, she graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in Social Work. She loves to read books, latin dance, and spend time with friends.

Email: nicky@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org 

Kim Banks has served in the pro-life movement for many years, beginning in 1998 as a volunteer advocate (counselor) at Maranatha Pregnancy Center (First Choice PRC) in her hometown of Texarkana, Texas. The following year after the director stepped down, she was appointed director of First Choice PRC and served for 13 years.

In 2013, after moving to Shreveport, LA to join the church that she now serves as Member Services Director of, she worked at Care Pregnancy Center (formerly Ark-La-Tex PRC) for 3 years as Advancement Director in charge of fundraising. For several years, she and her husband Greg have served as lead coordinators for LA Black Advocates For Life in Shreveport/Bossier.

She has also been an active volunteer at events for LA Right to Life for several years. Kim and Greg have been married for 33 years with 3 grown children: Greg, Cameron and Natalie, daughter-in-law: Dyamond, 2 grandchildren: Braelyn and Riley and 2 adopted children: Christina (15 y/o) and Christian (12 y/o).

Email: kim@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

Kelly Johnson joined the Louisiana Right to Life staff as North Louisiana Director in August 2018, after serving as a spokesperson and leader for the pro-life and pro-family movement in Louisiana and beyond for nearly two decades. She is now serving in an advisory capacity with Louisiana Right to Life.

She is also a Licensed Pastoral Counselor, a practicing member of the National Christian Counselors Association, and a certified teacher who has taught in the classrooms of some of Louisiana’s top public and private schools.

Kelly and her husband, U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson (R-La.), have been called to serve in ministry together on the “front lines” of some of America’s most pivotal cultural battles. For their work in promoting the sanctity of human life, marriage and traditional family values, they have been the recipients of many honors, including “Champions of the Faith” award by the Southern Baptist Convention.

Kelly has been interviewed by and featured in many national media outlets including ABC’s Good Morning America, the CBS Morning News, TIME magazine, Citizen magazine, World magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post.

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Louisiana Tech, pursued a Master’s in Education at Centenary College, and earned her counseling license from Sarasota Academy of Christian Counseling.

Kelly and Mike reside in Benton with their four children: Hannah, Abby, Jack and Will.

Email: kelly@prolifegala-com.prolifelouisiana.org

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The Board of Directors of Louisiana Right to Life directs the activities of the organization.

William “Bill” Watkins was elected Vice President of Louisiana Right to Life in September 2007.

Watkins is a past President of Terrebonne-Lafourche Right to Life Committee and a lifelong resident of Houma, where he lives with his wife, Elizabeth.

He practices law in both federal and state courts around Louisiana with the firm of Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell & Watkins. They have 4 daughters, and two grandchildren. He credits his involvement in the pro-life cause to his mom, Shirley Watkins, who devoted many years of service and prayers.

Celie and her husband, Dan, founded the Terrebonne/LaFourche Chapter of Right to Life during their 5-year stay in Houma. She served as Federation President and Chairperson for the National Right to Life Convention hosted in New Orleans in 1987 and was also active in planning when the convention returned to New Orleans in 2015.

Celie and Dan, who have five children, live in Madisonville. Celie previously served as director of Religious Education at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Covington before retiring.

John Nickelson is a recently-elected City Councilman, representing District C in the city of Shreveport. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Texas. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia, served as a law clerk to a federal appellate judge, and practiced with a national firm in Dallas before returning home to Shreveport. He and his wife, Emily, have three daughters and are active members of their church, the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans.

Peg Kenny has been a motivating force behind the operations of Louisiana Right to Life for many years. Heavily involved in both the Louisiana and national legislatures, she is recognized for her years of work in promoting and passing pro-life legislation.

Separate from her involvement in LARTL, Peg previously served as Director of the Louisiana Pro-Life Council, which acted as the Respect Life Office for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Sharon Ryan Rodi serves as the National Delegate to National Right to Life for Louisiana Right to Life and has been a key leader in the pro-life cause since the mid-70’s. Sharon is a retired attorney and former director of Catholic Charities Refugee Social Services program, and in 2017 she received the St. John Paul II Award by the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans for her outstanding service of human dignity.

Her husband of more than 50 years, Mark Rodi, and their daughters and spouses, Shannon Rodi Nash and Michael Nash and Erin Rodi Rotolo and Brian Rotolo, cheer Sharon on in all her endeavors.

Michelle Gorney has been involved with LARTL for more than 20 years when she and her husband, Chuck, founded St. Tammany Right to Life. Michelle has been a pro life speaker on many occasions and has attended NRTL Conventions and the National March for Life several times.

Michelle previously served four years as LARTL President and currently serves as Secretary of St. Tammany Right to Life. She works as a mother and nurse in St. Tammany Parish.

Dr. James Burton Godchaux of Lafayette was born in Houma and grew up in Opelousas. He graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1972, interned at Lafayette Charity Hospital, then did a diagnostic radiology residency in Shreveport from 1973-1976. It was in those early days of legalized abortion when he and his wife, Kathleen, began to get involved in pro-life activities.

Dr. Godchaux is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and began his practice in Lafayette in 1976 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. For a time there he served as Head of the Department of Radiology. He also held a Neuroradiology CAQ 1998-2008. In 2004 he helped to develop Envision Imaging of Acadiana, an outpatient imaging center, where he serves as radiologist and previously as medical director.

He is the father of four sons and has 14 grandchildren. He and Kathleen both serve on the boards of Acadiana Right to Life, the DesOrmeaux Foundation’s Women’s Center of Lafayette, and the Zerben Bienvenu and William Smith Fund for Pro-Life Education in Acadiana.

He is a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, where he and his wife Kathleen served as Lay Ministers for 30 years.

Leslie Ellison served on the Orleans Parish School Board from 2012 to 2020 and is a leader in the Algiers community of New Orleans. She was elected to serve on the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee in 2016 and reelected in 2020.

Leslie is a longtime member of Gideon Christian Fellowship International. She has been a dedicated pro-life advocate for many years and is passionate about expanding pro-life outreach in the black community.

Dana Hammer is an active pro-life leader, having founded the Advertise for Life Initiative with Louisiana Right to Life in 2014.  Dana has served as the Chairwoman for the 2020 and 2021 New Orleans Proudly Pro-Life Gala and continues to serve on the committee.  Dana and her husband Mike founded the New Orleans Pro-Life Luncheon to unite pro-life leaders working to defend life and help mothers in the greater New Orleans area.