Executive Team
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Jack Slooijer, Founder/Executive Director
Born and raised in Louisiana, Jack founded Below Sea Level Aid to support the community that nurtured them. Their dedication to public health began as a research associate for NHBS, followed by running the largest syringe exchange program on the Gulf Coast. With a deep commitment to community care, Jack created Below Sea Level Aid to uplift the voices of Louisianans and fight for access to basic services in the South and rural areas.
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Annika Vanderspek, Director of Administration and Operations
Annika has a background in harm reduction and reproductive health resource distribution and currently works as a healthcare policy analyst. Whether it’s at the state legislature or in their own neighborhood, they are committed to building systems that center people, not profits. Annika believes that by practicing mutual aid and harm reduction, we reveal what a world built on connection and collective care could look like.
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Griffin Thompson, Director of Research and Geographic Analysis
Griffin is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University with a degree in Geography & Sustainable Planning and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Natural Resource Management. He enjoys opportunities to make maps that have real-world impacts and BSLA is a perfect fit for that. When Griffin isn't making maps, he can likely be found either gardening or watching pro wrestling with his cats.
Support Staff
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Kelsie Rhodes, Health Services & Quality Assurance Coordinator
Originally from Ohio, Kelsie (she/her) has been a proud resident of Louisiana since 2015. Feeling called to work in service of her Queer community, she began working in non profit healthcare, where a passion for reproductive justice, sex education and HIV prevention was born. Kelsie believes that community care and mutual aid are crucial to navigating trying times, and is excited to have an opportunity to do her part with BSLA. In her spare time, Kelsie loves karaoke, going to the movies, and supporting local performance art with her friends.
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Kacey Lange, Community Resilience Coordinator
Kacey (she/her) is a staff scientist at Tulane University that focuses on Southeast Louisiana marsh ecological system changes with climate change. She is passionate about teaching the community on ways to connect to environmental sustainability. If she's not in the marsh, you can find her biking around the city or at a local music show.
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Maxx Anderson, Harm Reduction Specialist
Maxx is a Louisiana native who joined Below Sea Level Aid to build community and expand harm reduction in local party and music scenes. Passionate about keeping people safe while they have a good time, Maxx believes care and culture go hand in hand. You can usually find them at a local garage band show or catching the latest drama in the ring with WWE.
2026-2027 Interns
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Olivia Nevels, Non-Profit Management
Liv is a health education specialist and doctoral candidate at A.T. still University with a background in violence mitigation, harm reduction, and community mental health. Her work is fundamentally centered in treating every person as a neighbor, believing that community is central to thriving populations.
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Katelyn Mann, Public Health
Katelyn is an undergraduate senior at Tulane University studying Neuroscience. She is interested in public policy and public health, particularly healthcare and environmental health. Through her work with Below Sea Level Aid, she hopes to deepen her understanding of harm reduction and learn ways community-based organizations support public health in New Orleans.
