Tanya Harris-Glasow was born and raised in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward community- an area decimated by levee failures during Hurricane Katrina. During her time as Head Organizer/Executive Director of the New Orleans chapter of ACORN, she led organizing campaigns for fair wages, voting accessibility for New Orleanians dispersed by Hurricane Katrina and the right of return for the most vulnerable residents. She was a founding member of AKSA (ACORN Katrina Survivors Association.)