Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Efforts of Grace, Inc.
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: Ashé Cultural Arts Center
Mailing Address: 1712 O.C. Haley Boulevard
City: New Orleans
State: LA
Postal Code: 70113
Main Phone: 504 569-9070
Main Fax: 504 569-9075
Organization Website: www.ashenola.org
Employer ID Number: 72-1686819
Organization Tax Status: Nonprofit

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/28/23
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Kuumba Academy
Project Description:

In Kiswahili, "kuumba" means creativity. The Ashé Cultural Arts Center’s Kuumba Academy, founded in 2009, is a year-round after-school and summer leadership development program for children 6-16 years of age. We also hire young people 17-21 as paid program interns. Our curriculum includes training in African drumming, dance, cooking, entrepreneurship, and STEM and digital skills. Additionally, we instill principles of unity, self-determination, faith, and creativity as well as ways of eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. The Academy’s schedule consists of four annual sessions: Saturdays from 9 AM – 2 PM in the Winter/Spring; daily classes from 8 AM – 3 PM in the Summer; Saturday classes in the Fall; and in the last week of December. One of our pre-COVID surveys of Kuumba Academy students revealed that over 77% come from households earning less than $40K annually. Nearly all the students come from Orleans Parish.

For several years, we also operated the Ashé Institute for Cultural Education (InCuEd), which trained early childhood educators how to effectively teach young Black children using culturally appropriate pedagogical strategies. The pandemic forced us to cease the trainings, but we hope to be able to resume them again in the not-too-distant future. The Kuumba Academy has traditionally served as a laboratory for InCuEd teaching innovations.

Total Project Budget: 150,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): WK Kellogg Foundation, $100K invited grant renewal

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: New Orleans, LA
Age Group To Be Served: 6-21

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Frederick
Contact Last Name: Delahoussaye
Contact Title: Chief Creative Officer
Contact Phone: 504 569-9070
Contact Email: wood@ashenola.org