Mission: We aim to improve the lives of underserved and underemployed men by equipping them with the necessary job readiness tools to excel in high functioning work environments.
Vision: A world where underserved and underemployed men—regardless of their background—have the resources, confidence, and community support they need to succeed personally and professionally.
Our Journey
Meet the Founder & Executive Director
Daniel Montgomery is a father, mentor, chemist, and the Founder of Go Get It! (GGI), a New Orleans-based nonprofit committed to helping young men build the confidence, skills, and support they need to navigate life beyond college and pursue meaningful careers and futures.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Daniel has called New Orleans home for more than 20 years. His commitment to the city and its young people is deeply personal. After college, Daniel found himself in the same position many young men experience—trying to figure out what came next, how to navigate professional spaces, and how to build a life and career with purpose. Through his own experiences, he recognized that young men often need more than access to a job; they need mentorship, guidance, confidence, and someone willing to help them navigate the process.
That realization ultimately led Daniel to found Go Get It!, creating the kind of support and guidance he wished more young men had while finding their own way. Through GGI, he is passionate about helping young men, particularly Black men, develop self-confidence, self-awareness, professional skills, and the tools needed not only to gain employment in their desired careers, but to excel in life.
A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Daniel brings curiosity, analytical thinking, creativity, and a problem-solving mindset to his work. His experiences navigating professional environments where he was often one of few Black men have further shaped his commitment to helping the next generation enter those spaces prepared, confident, and equipped to succeed.
For Daniel, GGI is more than an organization—it is an opportunity to make sure young men don't have to figure it all out alone.
Our Journey
Meet the Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director
Iriane “Irie” McCray is a proud native of New Orleans, a mother, author, educator, and nonprofit leader committed to creating opportunities for young people and under-resourced communities. As Co-Executive Director of Go Get It! (GGI), Irie helps lead the organization’s efforts to equip young men with the skills, confidence, mentorship, and resources they need to pursue education, career opportunities, and meaningful pathways to success.
A graduate of Southern University at New Orleans with a Bachelor’s Degree in English, Irie has built her career at the intersection of education, storytelling, and community impact. She is also the author of My Song, Our Song, published in 2018, and the founder of The Writer’s Wing, an initiative focused on literacy, culturally relevant learning, and youth empowerment.
Through her work with GGI, Irie is especially passionate about expanding access to mentorship, career readiness, leadership development, and opportunities that help young men recognize their potential and build a strong foundation for their futures. Her approach is grounded in connection, accountability, and the belief that when young people are given the right tools, support, and opportunities, they can create meaningful change in their own lives and communities.
As a lifelong learner and community advocate, Irie brings empathy, creativity, and purpose to her work and is committed to helping build stronger pathways for the next generation.
The Step Up Program
The Step-Up Program is a transformative immersive workshop experience designed to equip young men with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to thrive in professional environments. Through workforce readiness training, mentorship, leadership development, and access to valuable professional resources, participants gain the tools necessary to excel both personally and professionally.
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This program is ideal for male undergraduate students who are committed to their growth and are seeking structured opportunities to strengthen their communication skills, expand their networks, and prepare for future career success.
Participants engage in interactive workshops, receive guidance from experienced professionals, and become part of a supportive community of mentors and ambassadors dedicated to helping them reach their full potential
Application Process
Applications for The Step-Up Program are distributed and accepted through our partner academic institutions.
Current Partner
Partner With Us
At Go Get It!, we believe meaningful change happens through collaboration. We invite community organizations, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders to partner with us in empowering young men through workforce readiness, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Together, we can create pathways to success, strengthen our communities, and help the next generation of leaders reach their full potential.
Meet Our Board
Paris Willoughby
Director of Pivot Point Advisory & Bridge Innovation Lab
Dr. Paris Willoughby is an educator, policy researcher, and organizational strategist whose work bridges public policy, education, cultural practice, and community development. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Southern University and A&M College, along with graduate degrees in Teaching and Museum Studies.
With more than a decade of experience in education, nonprofit leadership, program development, and organizational operations, Dr. Willoughby brings a multidisciplinary approach to governance and community-centered strategy. She is the Director of Pivot Point Advisory and Bridge Innovation Lab, where she supports organizations through strategic planning, policy development, capacity building, and professional learning.
An educator and published researcher, her scholarship explores urban policy, spatial equity, cultural narratives, and community engagement. Her work reflects a commitment to building equitable, culturally responsive institutions and translating research into practical strategies that strengthen organizations and the communities they serve.
Aaron Nicholson
Executive Director at Healthy Lifestars
Aaron Nicholson is a nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience in organizational leadership, fundraising, youth development, mentoring, and community engagement. He currently serves as Executive Director of Healthy LifeStars®, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping children develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
Throughout his career, Aaron has held leadership positions with organizations including National CARES Mentoring Movement, the Atlanta Police Foundation, and Project Adventure. His work has focused on building strong organizations, developing strategic partnerships, raising philanthropic support, and creating opportunities that help individuals and communities thrive.
Aaron has a particular passion for mentoring, leadership development, and helping people recognize and reach their potential. He brings that commitment, along with extensive nonprofit leadership and governance experience, to his service on the Board of Directors of Go Get It!
Ronell Day
Suicide Prevention Social Science Specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Ronell Day is a U.S. Navy veteran, community advocate, and helping professional committed to service, connection, and strengthening communities. He served 10 years in the Navy, where his work included suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention, and victim advocacy.
Following his military service, Ronell served as a JROTC instructor at New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy before joining the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System in 2022 as a Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator. His work focuses on suicide prevention, community partnerships, and connecting Veterans and their families with resources and support.
Ronell holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Liberty University and is continuing his education in social work at Tulane University. His military service included recognition as Sailor of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in 2016.
Outside of his professional work, Ronell is a proud father of three boys. He enjoys boxing, fishing and boating, and has a deep love for music that he expresses through DJing. Ronell is committed to bringing awareness to the cycles that keep people stuck, both personally and professionally.
Lindsey Cross
Senior Director of New Orleans Programming at Generation Hope
Lindsey Cross is Senior Director of New Orleans Programming at Generation Hope, where she leads a team supporting college students who are parenting as they work toward their degrees. Before Generation Hope, Lindsey spent 18 years as a public educator, moving from classroom teacher to instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal across elementary, middle, and high schools. That K-12 leadership shaped her belief in the limitless potential of young people when paired with the right systems and caring adults. At Generation Hope, she recruited the organization's inaugural New Orleans cohort of Scholars and mentors and now leads programming that helps young people build the leadership skills and readiness they need for the workforce. That same commitment -- equipping people with the tools, mentorship, and belief they need to thrive -- is what draws her to Go Get It's mission.
Nikki Igbo
Founder & CEO of The Writing Goddess
Nikki Igbo is a writer and editor who is passionate about helping impact-driven professionals articulate their career journeys. By positioning talented individuals for key roles and businesses for golden opportunities, she helps foster diversity, strengthen representation for future generations, and drive meaningful change within communities.