You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who loves New Orleans more than Fox 8 Weekend reporter Allison Braxton. She's quick to let people she meets know that she was born and raised in the Crescent City. Allison is a natural at showing off New Orleans' rich history to visitors.
The Cabrini High School graduate earned her Bachelor of Science/Arts degree in Mass Communications from the University of New Orleans. She also has a minor in History and Print Journalism. Allison got her start in journalism right here in NOLA as an associate producer of a teen talk show. Her decision to do on-camera work led to reporting jobs in Victoria, TX, Alexandria, LA and Chattanooga, TN.
However, August 29th, 2005 changed Allison's life forever.
"My entire family lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, so I decided to move home to help them rebuild," she says. "I remember watching from Chattanooga the coverage of Hurricane Katrina and feeling guilty because I wasn't here." Even though she was miles away, Allison was actively connected to the aftermath of Katrina in her coverage of several stories about evacuees, rescues and recovery.
She returned home to take on two jobs, working 7-days a week. Allison works at Fox 8 on the weekends and during the week she works with her mother treating the chronically mentally ill across the metro area. "I find both jobs so fulfilling."
Allison says returning home has been both challenging and rewarding. "New Orleans has so much history, from the people to the politics to the city's unmatched culture. I bought so many books to try to catch up on our rich heritage."
When she's not working or spending time with her family, Allison loves to eat, shop for bargains and travel.
