Be Nola - Black Education for New Orleans

Thank you to the over 450 people who pulled up on us to support and champion Black brilliance and education at our #BlackIsBrilliant Summit Pop Up during #EssenceFest! The work we do isn’t possible without the support of our people. Your presence reminds us that there has always been and will always be enough of us to get the work done. Thank you to our brilliant speakers. Thank you, Nesby Phips and Adrinda Kelly for reminding us of the brilliance of Black New Orleans. Thank you to our power panel Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Alencia Johnson, Brandan 'bmike' Odums, and Stevona Elem-Rogers, for empowering us to continue in the work we have ahead of us. Thank you, Alexus M. Cumbie for being a thoughtful moderator. Thank you, #DJKellyGreen and Caren Green, for keeping the energy high and reminding us music is always there to propel us forward. Thank you #SecondlineShorty and #GameOvaSkip for leading the footwork lesson and reminding us all that Black people can fly. We were HONORED to hold space for Councilman Oliver Thomas Jr. to present you both with city proclamations! Thank you, Daphney L. and Nesby Phips, for the beautiful and powerful collaboration for our photo installation. Thank you to The Eliza Jane Hotel for the space and for making sure we were wrapped in beauty. A huge Black is Brilliant thank you to Gabrielle D. of #StJosephineConsultants for producing this event for us. Thank you for sharing our vision and for believing in it and us as much as we do and doing all you do to make it happen beautifully. Thank you to our luminous creative visionary Stevona Elem-Rogers for founding such a joyful and meaningful summit space four years ago. Every year your Black centered vision and curation inspires us to start the school year off renewed. We are blessed to be propped up and held by such a beautiful and loving community of people. See y’all next year! Same timeeeee 📷 SheShoots #NOLAEd #BENOLA #BlackIsBrilliant

So how do we see the educational challenges and solutions in New Orleans relating to broader national issues? Grab your coffee mug, because we've got time today. ☕ Our Executive Director Adrinda Kelly had a blast speaking with staff at Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) during their conference in New Orleans and getting to share more about BE NOLA's strength-based research on Black educator experiences and Black-governed, Black-led schools. Shout out to Sasha Rabkin, Ed.D Ethan Ashley and Nicole Caridad Ralston, Ph.D. for a warm and lively discussion! #NOLAEd #BlackIsBrilliant #BENOLA

Thank you The Blairisms for partnering with us this Juneteenth for Juneteenth Joy! We gathered at Ashe for a powerful morning of remembrance and reflection. Powerful speakers shared stories of resilience, nourishing our souls in celebration of Black education in New Orleans.✨💫⭐️ This event also closed out our Black is Brilliant Speaker Series and featured guests from our previous talks. Panelists from McDonogh #35 College Preparatory School#35 College Preparatory School#35 College Preparatory School, Saint Augustine High School, St. Mary's Academy, The Learning Workshop, and Students at the Center joined us to explore New Orleans’ Black educational legacy and gave us tools to chart hopeful paths for our future. ✨✨✨ The celebration continued at the Congo Square Juneteenth Festival, with our relaxing lounge experience. We left feeling grateful for a day filled with history, community, and a bright future for Black New Orleans! ✨ #NOLAEd #BENOLA #BlackIsBrilliant 📷: @sheshoots_

This amazing testimonial from our 2024 Black Is Brilliant Institute Teacher Fellow Jasmine Brown gave us all the feels. ❤️ Hear her share the impact of #BENOLA on her work this year and beyond. #NOLAEd #BENOLA #BlackIsBrilliant

Check out Stevona Elem-Rogers talking about her work at Be Nola - Black Education for New Orleans to help address the Black teacher shortage in this latest piece from Forbes. #NOLAEd #BENOLA #BlackBrilliance https://lnkd.in/dpruUEGq

July is a time of massive celebration in New Orleans. And though it’s not always reflected, Black New Orleanians' culture, practices and knowledge is the foundation of what so many visitors to our city enjoy. So what if this year we centered Black New Orleans, as we celebrate? What if we elevate, value, and love on Black brilliance while we party instead of sanitizing our streets from the culture and indigenous keepers of the land? Read more on our our latest blog. #BENOLA #BlackisBrilliant #BlackEducation #BlackEducators #NewOrleans

BIG congrats are in order to Stevona “Stevie” Elem-Rogers @stevie_elem our co-leader and Chief of Community Programs and Partnerships for her breathtaking cover story in Essence Communications Inc. Stevie’s “Love Letter to New Orleans” is a beautiful homage to Black educators and the place we all hold so close to our hearts. We thank you for singing to us in the way only WE could sing to us. We’re blessed to live and love together! “You don’t choose New Orleans. New Orleans chooses you.” Thank you for choosing us everyday and we choose you right back sister. Share your love, and congratulations, and shine EVERY light we can in the comments for Stevie. Also more love to Edward Buckles and Queen Tahj on these absolutely GORGEOUS covers! https://lnkd.in/gi7fWf-T

“Juneteenth is about Freedom!” We stand on the shoulders of people like Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” who fiercely advocated for the national recognition of one of the longest running Black holidays. We honor the legacy of Black peace, Black joy, and Black rest. Black Freedom. The freedom to name ourselves, create ourselves and build our own worlds. We are so excited to host the finale to our Speaker Series hosted in partnership with #TheBlairisms Join us from 9:30am -1:00pm at Ashé Cultural Arts Center for JUNETEENTH JOY! A time to Educate, Elevate, and Celebrate! We’ll discuss the history of the holiday, New Orleans’ efforts to honor our ancestors, and ways we can empower future changemakers. Then after, we’ll go to Congo Square for fellowship and fun! BE NOLA will be hosting a relaxing lounge experience right in Congo Square, so stop by for some cool refreshments, a break from dancing, then get back to the celebration!! Join us this Juneteenth!

On Tuesday, May 14th, Maroon Inc., - in partnership with Urban League of Louisiana, BE NOLA, NOLA Public Schools, Brothers Empowered to Teach, and Baldwin Books - will host the inaugural Brown Symposium, highlighting the 70th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. BE NOLA is a proud co-sponsor of this year's symposium. This free event will include student performances, proclamations, and expert panel discussions highlighting the shifts that occurred immediately following the Brown ruling as well as the impacts that are felt today in our schools and communities. RSVP Here: https://lnkd.in/giZFm9fc

Back by popular demand, we're partnering again with our fave fashionista Tracey Wiley, and MCM WORLDWIDE to support Black education in New Orleans! Join us for a Shop & Sip on tomorrow, May 10th from 6-8 at MCM New Orleans. Come treat yourself with champagne and light bites while a portion of your sale will support #BlackBrilliance. S An RSVP isn't necessary, but it builds our excitement, even more, to see you there: https://lnkd.in/ewZ7nkwt