Andrés Acuña

Policy & Legal Specialist

Andrés Acuña serves as Policy & Legal Specialist at Operation Restoration, where he supports policy advocacy, legislative strategy, and legal initiatives focused on improving the lives of women and girls impacted by incarceration.

Born in El Paso and raised in the Baltimore-Washington area before relocating to New Orleans, Andrés attended Holy Cross School in Gentilly, where he deepened his faith, strengthened his commitment to service, and developed a passion for advocacy and community impact.

Prior to joining Operation Restoration, Andrés served in several roles within the Administration of LaToya Cantrell during the Mayor’s second term. He began his work in the Office of Cultural Economy, supporting policy development and communications initiatives, before transitioning into a Policy Manager role within the Office of Youth and Families. In that role, Andrés focused on issues impacting historically underfunded and underserved communities throughout New Orleans.

Andrés later served as Director of State Relations within the Mayor’s Executive Office, where he worked on legislative issues including public health, criminal justice reform, housing and homelessness, property taxes, and community advocacy initiatives impacting residents across the city.

At Operation Restoration, Andrés is committed to advancing policies and grassroots advocacy efforts that create meaningful change for women, girls, and families impacted by incarceration. He believes collaborative policymaking and community-centered solutions are essential to building stronger and more equitable communities throughout Louisiana.