Programs

KIDS CORNER

Building Minds of Leaders:

Building Minds of Leaders is an initiative that engages the youth in Civic and Social Entrepreneurship.  We work with socially and economically disadvantaged inner-city African American youth males on social skills, life skills, conflict resolutions and career development through music and mathematics.

The Building Minds of Leaders program is a Saturday Music Academy for youths 8 -18 years of age living in the Metropolitan New Orleans area. The program has successfully impacted 200 youth over the past five years who have participated and been trained in the area of Traditional Jazz Music, and have been rewarded by performing on the Kids Stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival since 2007 and performances at the Satchmo Festival. The youth spends an hour and a half with professional local musicians and another hour with a mentor addressing:

  • Small Business Development
  • Technical Assistance
  • Management & Finance

Music of All Ages:

In 2005 after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the BMOL restarted a program that was initiated by Legendary Jazz Musician Danny Barker who founded the Fairview Baptist Brass Band.  Mr. Barker took a lot of heat from older Musicians that were concerned that these younger musicians would take their gigs.  But being the visionary he was, Mr. Baker knew that through attrition, that if the younger musicians were not trained in this great music that made New Orleans famous, it would not continue. 

The BMOL added a spoke to the wheel and organized the Young New Orleans Traditional Jazz Brass Band. This program provides both boys and girls ages 8-18 years of age to sit side by side and learn from famous musicians like Dr. Michael White, Greg Stafford, Benny Jones, Dr. John and Sunpie Barnes to name a few.  This program provides these young students with every aspect of Traditional Jazz Music, Business and Music Education.

The Black Men of Labor Programs

The Young New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band begin touring in 2006 throughout the State of Louisiana, Jackson, Ms., Atlanta, Ga., Mobile, Al., Houston, Tx., Dallas, Tx., and New York City at Carnegie Hall sharing Traditional Jazz Music with young and old.

The BMOL has reached over 5,000 youth both male and female through mentoring them about their culture, history, worth and the contributions by African Americans to the City of New Orleans and the United States.

The BMOL has continued to provide services to the expatriates and ambassadors of New Orleans Culture, Cuisine and Music by providing the following:

    • Career Development and Training
    • Youth Entrepreneurship
    • Social Skills (Anger Management, Conflict Resolution and Life Skills)

 

The two programs are Saturday programs that are open on a first come first serve basis.  Over the past ten years the program has had an impact in changing the lives of over 500 inner city youth who have attended college and continued their training in music or professional sciences.  The Young New Orleans Traditional Jazz Brass Band has a standing date at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Kid Stage, Satchmo Festival and participation in the Annual Living Culture Black Men of Labor Parade.

Creative Industry Lab

Creative industry Lab is a career academy that educates and teaches inner city youth about the industry that drives the New Orleans Economy.  From Hollywood South, to Bio-Medical, to Hospitality and Professional Sciences, these are where the jobs are and where the BMOL looks to offer job training and job placement to youth.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The BMOL provides a preventive Health and Wellness Fair twice a year working to fight the diseases that affect the African American Community and educate on the disparity of health, the economy and those living below poverty who are the women and men who provide the services for our booming hospitality and tourist industry.

Intro To Business

The BMOL in 2005 with the help of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Fund, now Foundation of Louisiana, SBA and Casey Foundation work with local area businesses in providing Financial Literacy, Business Organization, Business Management, Bonding and Business Match Making. 

Through a Joint-Venture with ReSource One, LLC, a private local business corporation with Federal Contracts through FEMA, USAE, DOD and GSA, The BMOL offers to assist the business by partnering through Mentor Protégés and Joint-Ventures.  Clients were awarded an estimated $10,000,000.00 in contracts and created over 700 jobs with a beginning pay of $25.00 an hour.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

The BMOL provides workforce development training and job readiness tailored to their clients’ needs through their strategic plan that promotes effective leadership, training and career programming that strengthen life skills and trade skills leading to long term employment.

ENGAGE:

Choice Neighborhood Initiative New Orleans (Iberville / TREME’)

The BMOL was contracted to lead the Community Engagement for the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the City of New Orleans.

Main Street/ Broad Whole Foods

The BMOL provided Workforce Development and Job Readiness to residents interested in the opportunity of short term construction or long term employment with Whole Foods.

Joan Mitchell Foundation/ Joan Mitchell Center

The BMOL provides Job Readiness Training and Workforce Development to area residents looking for employment in addition to being the liaison between the Joan Mitchell Foundation and Center with City officials and the Community.

Arts Council Arts Market

The BMOL provides Supportive Services to the Arts Council of New Orleans Arts Market.