NEW ORLEANS — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Louisiana honored Jarrett Cohen with its inaugural Trailblazer Award at its 43rd Ben Smith Fete in December at the Tate, Etienne, Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center. Cohen is founder, principal and chief investment officer of JECohen, a New Orleans-based registered wealth and investment management firm.
He was recognized for his community leadership and his “contributions to diversifying and democratizing the financial and investment advisory space.”
“It was such a humbling experience to be in the company of pioneering honorees. I sincerely thank the ACLU of Louisiana for this honor,” said Cohen. “Together with the ACLU of Louisiana, I want to create a more just and inclusive community – one in which people feel as though the financial and investment advisory space is more welcoming and democratized.”
The gala, which is named in honor of the late Benjamin E. Smith, a pioneering civil rights attorney and co-founder of the ACLU of Louisiana, also honored Leona Tate, who desegregated McDonogh 19 school with Gail Etienne and Tessi Prevost on the same day that Ruby Bridges desegregated William Frantz Elementary. She received the Ben Smith Civil Liberties Award. Albert Woodfox, a member of the Angola Three and founder of the Louisiana Stop Solitary Coalition, was honored posthumously. Kuchler Polk Weiner LLC was named Law Firm of the Year.
“There exists two Americas: one where people have wealth and the other where they do not,” said Alanah Odoms, executive director for the ACLU of Louisiana. “Jarrett Cohen is making strides to democratize the wealth management industry as well as to provide equitable access to powerful financial services for communities that have been historically deprived of these resources. His work is beyond impactful.”
