Companies donate $150,000 for New Orleans recreation programs

Mayor Mitch Landrieu this morning is set to announce $150,000 in private donations to help pay for recreation programs in New Orleans.

Grant Capital Management, a Maryland-based provider of lease financing to the public sector, has given $100,000 to the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the NORD Commission, a public-private entity that voters authorized last year to take over the city's struggling Recreation Department.
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Nola Youth Programs

I recently attended a Unified Non Profit Meeting which focused on some of the great youth programs in the City of New Orleans. Wanted to share a few I learned about!

Knowledge Garden: Child Development Center (www.myknowledgegarden.com) Aims to provide a safe nurturing environment where infants and toddlers from the month through four year receive a firm foundation for learning and growth. Great programming to help further develop kids as well as allow parents to partner with the school.

Children’s Bureau (www.childrens-bureau.com) Children Bureau improves quality of life for children and families through valid and proven programs that enhance and strengthen mental health and wellness. Their programming and services include counseling, family preservation, crisis intervention, infant mental health, community education, mental health consultation to childcare center and  Project LAST, which help to meet needs of children and families impacted by grief.

Crescent City Lights Youth Theater (www.crescentcitylights.org) Provides educational and performance programs to the families of the Greater New Orleans area that change young people’s lives by fostering performing arts and life skills in a nurturing multi-cultural environment through instruction by professional in the theater arts.

Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel Project (www.operationreach.org) Involves youth in community development and social entrepreneurship through Green Collar Job Training in which youth learn the ins and outs of how to turn raw organic material into eco-friendly alternative fuel.

New Orleans Outreach (www.nooutreach.org) Improve the quality of public education at our partner schools by linking volunteers and community resources through high quality in-school and afterschool programs that respond to the needs of each school.

Photo Credit: http://www.operationreach.org/about-us/

Teen Tech Day Coming to New Orleans in April!

A organization I truly love and work with is NewOrleansTech.net.  NewOrleans Tech.Net is a hyperlocal news media organization that was founded to highlight the tech movement that is going on in the city.  Our purpose is to highlight groups, meet ups, events, and provide information that make our readers think about technology in different ways.  We want people to know that there is a vibrant tech community here in New Orleans with programmers, developers, and tech entrepreneurs.  It’s our culture that makes us unique and different from everyone else in the world.We have three initiatives that come out of our organization which are the website, our tech podcast, and our community outreach projects.

A project I have worked on that is truly dear to my heart is called Teen Tech Day! Teen Tech Day will be a one day event tailored toward youth in New Orleans, exposing them to technologies such as web design, programming, photography, podcasting, videography, and game development.  Our goal is to take twenty-five teenagers between the ages of 14 – 17 and get them excited about technology as a hobby, passion, or even a career.

We are doing this because we love technology and we want to pass this on to the next generation.  Many of our youth are only exposed to technology through computers and social media websites, but they can learn so much more.  Technology also has areas of math, science, and engineering that can spawn jobs and careers for young people.  Tech Teen Day will encompass interactive workshops and talks from various technologist in and around the New Orleans community.

When Will It Happen

April 9th, 2011 from 9AM to 3PM
Continental Break, Lunch, & Snacks will be provided

Where Will It Be?

3400 Tulane Avenue, Suite 1000
New Orleans, LA 70119

How Can I Get Involved?

Parents & Guardians

As stated above, we will only accept a handful of youth for Teen Tech Day.  Our hope is that we can grow the number of attendees every year so that no one gets turned down.  Parents or guardians can fill out our Tech Teen Day application orprint it out and mail it to us before 5:00 PM on March 25th, 2011.  Team members from New Orleans Tech will review each application based on the willingness to attend the conference.

Volunteer

If you wish to volunteer to help us with the event, please contact us and let us know.

Donate!

Help us by contributing just $5 to help NewOrleansTech make Teen Tech Day a success! Your donation will go towards: The conference location, Food for youth and speakers, Educational gift bags for students, Equipment, Liability Insurance, Misc. Items (Nametags, pens, signs). Donate Here

Business Leaders John Georges and Todd Graves tap Chris Paul and Rita Benson LeBlanc to support a major youth initiative

Georges and Graves bring Lemonade Day to South Louisiana

Today, Georges Enterprises’ CEO John Georges and Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves were joined by All-Star Hornets Point Guard Chris Paul and Saints Owner/Executive Vice President Rita Benson LeBlanc to announce that National Lemonade Day is coming to South Louisiana. Chris Paul and Rita Benson LeBlanc will serve as spokespersons for this major youth initiative.

Lemonade Day, which will be held on Saturday, May 7, is a free, community wide program that fosters entrepreneurship and character development among South Louisiana's youth by supporting them in establishing and operating their own lemonade businesses. Young entrepreneurs are provided with free, detailed support materials, such as an Entrepreneur Workbook, Marketing Tips and the Caring Adult Guide, to help them establish their lemonade stand. These “lemonaders” are advised to spend a little, save a little and share a little, donating a portion of their profits to a local charity of choice.  After covering their expenses and paying back their investors, children are encouraged to open a youth savings account. There is no registration fee for youngsters to participate.

“We are so excited that everyone has joined us in bringing Lemonade Day to South Louisiana," said local champion Georges. "Our region's future lies in the hands of our youth, and Lemonade Day not only recognizes this, but it embraces it."

On Lemonade Day, everyone has a job – either buying or selling lemonade. The community is encouraged to simply purchase lemonade from one of the numerous lemonade stands throughout the region. South Louisiana Lemonade Day is a part of Louisiana Kid Power, a non-profit organization that provides fun, proactive and experiential programs infused with life skills, character education and entrepreneurship.

Eastern New Orleans teens shine in the arts

Some of our talented eastern New Orleans teenagers have been writing, singing and acting their way into the limelight recently.

Sarah Allen, a student at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Warren Eastern High School, was awarded first place recently in the poetry, rap and essay contest sponsored by the International House of Blues Foundation’s 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit of the Dream Celebration. The contest was held at the New Orleans House of Blues. 

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Mandeville eight-year-old violinist wins music contest at SLU, will perform solo at Loyola in March

Eight-year-old Umika Kuroda of Mandeville will perform a solo with the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra in March after the violinist won the group's contest at Southeastern Louisiana this past week.


The Pontchartrain Elementary student has been learning music at the SLU Community Music School for two years under the department's director, Jivka Jeleva.

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Walter Cohen Charter High School students prepare for college at fair

How do you get to college? For students at Walter Cohen Charter High School, the path leads through Cohen's annual college fair held on campus.

At this year's fair, held Jan. 19 in the school cafeteria, students in their black-and-white Cohen Class of 2011 hoodies collected pamphlets and asked questions as they clustered around representatives from Tulane and Dillard Universities and Nunez and Delgado Community Colleges.

At the Tulane table, senior Dominique Holmes and junior Nicolette Carr talked about their plans for the future. Dominique is looking at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, while Nicolette hopes to join the Air Force to get help paying for college.

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New Orleans Jazz Institute's Saturday Music School Auditions Saturday

New Orleans Jazz Institute's Saturday Music School auditions are Saturday, January 22nd from 10:00 am to 2:00pm at UNO Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.


The NOJI Saturday Music School is a free program that teaches New Orleans area youth (ages 8-18 years old) a diverse music curriculum that includes Classical, Jazz and World music forms. Private lessons, music theory, music history, several ensembles and Special Guests are featured weekly as well. 

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Students must bring their instrument to the auditions and be able to do the following:

• Play two scales of their choosing
• Play two to three minutes of a musical selection of their choosing
• Sight-read a piece to be provided at the auditions.
• A brief Music Theory Aptitude Quiz will be given to determine skill level

Students will be evaluated on the following criteria: technical facility, tone, musicality, sight-reading skill and overall presentation.

Auditions will be conducted on a first come first served basis. Students may arrive anytime between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at UNO's Performing Arts Center, located at 2000 Lakeshore Drive, at UNO's Lafefront campus. Contact Robin Williams, Director of Programs for the New Orleans Jazz Institute for more information on auditions and program requirements at 504.280.3303 or via email at rmwilli6@uno.edu

YB Green Cookbook Competition for Kids

"YB Green® cookbook competition will judge eco-friendly, vegan, or vegetarian recipes submitted by students or their parents. Each recipe will include a short explanation on why the recipe is healthy and environmentally responsible. The deadline is February 18th, 2011. The top 3 recipes will receive prizes of $100, $75, and $50.  Visit www.ybgreen.net or click HERE to apply."

Free Dance Classes For Any Child in Orleans Parish!

NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Announces Spring 2011 Registration Dates

New Orleans, LA | The New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) and the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) are pleased to announce the Spring 2011 dates for free dance classes at the award-winning NORD/NOBA Center For Dance. Any child in Orleans Parish is eligible. Since 1992, the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance has been providing free dance classes to school-age children as well as field trips, mentors, and the opportunity to work with visiting artists. Classes will be offered through December, and in May, students will join other young dancers from around the community in a free, fully-produced performance at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall. Recognized nationally by the President’s Committee on Arts and the Humanities and other national agencies for excellence, the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance offers over 3,000 free classes and activities annually to more than 350 children. All information below is also available at www.nobadance.com. For further information, please call (504) 522-0996 x207.

Spring Registration Dates

All classes are free. Ages six and up. Classes are first come, first served.

MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 5-7PM

ST. BERNARD CENTER (Ballet/Tap); 1500 Lafreniere Street (Gentilly);

Classes are Monday and Wednesday between 5-8 pm

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 5-7 PM

BEHRMAN CENTER (Ballet); 2529 General Meyer Avenue (Algiers);

Classes are Tuesday and Thursday between 4:30–8:30pm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 5-7PM

CUT OFF CENTER (Ballet/Tap); 6600 Belgrade Street (Westbank);

Classes are Monday and Wednesday between 5-8pm

TRINITY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY (Tap/Ballet); Cypress Grove 3611 Cambronne (Hollygrove);

Classes are Wednesday and Thursday between 4:30-7:30pm
THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 5-7PM
ANNUNCIATION CENTER (Ballet); 800 Race Street (Lower Garden District);

Classes are Tuesday and Thursday between 4:15-7:15 pm

WILSON CHARTER SCHOOL (Ballet); 3617 General Pershing (Broadmoor);

Classes are Thursday between 5-7pm

           

Thousands Run Half Marathon For Children's Hospital

Matt Manning of Baton Rouge crossed the finish line first Saturday morning, running the Jazz Half Marathon in record time.

Thousands of runners hit the streets of New Orleans on Saturday morning to raise money for Children's Hospital in the second year for the half marathon. WDSU-TV broadcast the event live.

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Joe Brown Park indoor pool renovation gets under way

Marking a milestone in the sluggish recovery of eastern New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and a bevy of elected leaders officially broke ground Friday on major renovations to the indoor pool atJoe Brown Park.


The $2.2 million project, which includes restoration of the pool and locker rooms and installation of a saltwater chlorination system, is among several jobs worth at least $18.2 million that in coming months are expected to restore the 135-acre park along Read Boulevard into the hive of activity it boasted before Hurricane Katrina.

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Local Students Train with National Dance Professionals at the NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Summer Intensive

Local Students Train with National Dance Professionals at the

NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Summer Intensive

Program culminates with joint performance by students, local artists, and TU Dance

New Orleans, LA – The NORD/NOBA Center for Dance (CFD), a cultural community partnership of the New Orleans Recreation Department and the New Orleans Ballet Association, in collaboration with Friends of NORD began its annual Summer Intensive dance program on July 6 at Tulane University’s McWilliams Hall.This year’s program features residencies by former dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Pilobolus. 

The Summer Intensive is an extension of the Center for Dance’s pre-professional program that allows 50 dance students ages 9-18 to train alongside local and guest artists for four weeks. To qualify for the program, students must have at least two years of ballet training and are selected by audition in the spring.  

“NOBA's ongoing dedication to the NORD/NOBA Center For Dance and their passion for enhancing the lives of our children have been critical to the tremendous success and national recognition of this program," said Vic Richard, Director of NORD.  "We're excited to continue this partnership with NOBA and to be a part of the creativity, discipline, and imagination of our youth as they are given the opportunity and access to truly explore the arts.” 

This year’s guest artist faculty includes Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, former dancers with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and co-founders of the TU Dance Company; Christina Johnson, former Principal Dancer from Dance Theatre of Harlem and currently rehearsal director forComplexions Contemporary Ballet and Armitage Gone! Dance; and Tamieca McCloud ofPilobolus. The diversity in style and training of the guest artists in this year’s Summer Intensive represents a unique opportunity for artists, students, and audiences in the New Orleans area to celebrate the excellence and outstanding repertoire of both classic and new works. 

“The camp provides an opportunity for dance students in New Orleans to receive technique and choreography training from a high caliber of guest and local artists,” said Chara Mock, NOBA Education Coordinator. “The CFD strives to offer students with a demonstrated talent an accessible opportunity to intensively train with some of the best teachers possible.”

For more than a decade, the summer intensive has trained students throughout the community, and for the second consecutive year, the program has increased to four levels to support the demand. “The artists are not only working with our Senior Level students, but our young dancers as well. It’s not often that students at a beginner level and as young as nine years old receive the opportunity to work with such high level of teaching artists,” said Mock. Past guest artists have included Urban Bush Women, Pascal Rioult, choreographers Thaddeus Davis and Tanya Wideman-Davis, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, PerksDanceMusicTheatre, and Urban Ballet Theatre. All of the current and past guest and local artists have a deeply rooted commitment to working with youth that is core to their company’s and personal mission.

The Summer Intensive program is offering many distinct choreographic voices that will culminate in a performance by the students of the works that they have learned in addition to performances by guest artists Toni and Uri Sands from TU Dance, on Friday, July 30, 6:30 pm at Dillard University’s Cook Auditorium. Tickets for the performance are $6, and are available by calling NOBA at 504.522.0996.

The Be the Change Forum Monday, May 17th

Be the Change

for at-risk youth in our community. 

Please join local leaders in discussing strategies

addressing the epidemic of youth violence.

The Be the Change Forum

will feature the

Circle of Courage Mentoring Curriculum,

which is proving that changing values will change behavior.

Monday, May 17^th

5:30 – 7:30 pm

Doors open at 4:45 PM

Old US Mint

400 Esplanade

New Orleans, LA

Please RSVP to resourcewk@aol.com

or call 985-674-9049

Panelists include:

Dr. Peter Scharf, Tulane University;

Lisa Kaichen, Unified Nonprofits of Greater New Orleans;

Walter Flower, Industrial Development Board;

Sheriff Marlin Gusman, and

Special Agent Austin Banks.

Khalil Osiris, creator of the Circle of Courage Mentoring Curriculum will be the featured presenter.

The Nation: With Disney Magic, New Orleans Awakens

Disney's The Princess and the Frog opened last week. It showcased Disney's first African American princess, prompted significant merchandise sales, and provoked racial and feminist criticism.


As the mother of a 7-year-old daughter, I knew I'd have to see the film. I went to the theater prepared to deconstruct troubling racial images, which Disney has a history of producing, and distorted notions of womanhood, which Disney makes its fortune creating. But I was mostly delighted by the music, characters, and plot. I found neither race nor gender the driving concerns of this animated film.

Disney movie screenings begin today at New Orleans Museum of Art, building up to 'Princess and the Frog' fanfare

Dreams do come true -- just ask John Bullard.

The pitch: How would the museum, still suffering from an extended Hurricane Katrina hangover, like to host an exclusive exhibit of works by one of the 20th century's leading producers of popular art?

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School within a school is new strategy to transform education

At first,  Aliska Prejean was a little skeptical when school leaders told her a new administration would take over the lower grades at Carver Elementary,  where her five children are enrolled.

By Sarah Carr, TP

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Music education initiative has big impact in New Orleans schools

The leaders of Langston Hughes Academy Charter School weren't intentionally conducting an experiment on the importance of music education. But they may have done so unwittingly.

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By Lolis E Elie NOLA.COM

Chris Paul embracing role as mentor for young New Orleans Hornets players

With a roster that includes rookie guards Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul already is embracing his role as a mentor. In his previous four seasons, Paul always had a more experienced point guard that played behind him.

by John Reid, The Times Picayune

Louisiana is #2 in U.S. in Immunization

The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention just released the 2008 immunization coverage rates results and we are happy to report our latest achievement.   According to the National Immunization Survey (NIS), Louisiana ranks number 2 in the country at 81.9% for 4:3:1:3:3:1!

Story from Shots for Tots

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