The Gaudet Committee announced the awarding of seven community grants. The Gaudet Community Grant provides funding for not-for-profit agencies that create, manage, and expand educational opportunities for African American children within the Diocese of Louisiana.

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is proud to honor the legacy of Mrs. Frances Joseph Gaudet, a turn-of-the century educator and activist. Mrs. Gaudet had the wisdom to leave her trust to the Episcopal Church in such a way that her mission would continue to find new ways of expression in changing times. Mrs. Gaudet dedicated her life to building alliances with people of every race and class. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is committed to keeping her purpose alive.

The 2016 Gaudet Community Grant recipients are:

All Souls Episcopal Church and Community Center, New Orleans

All Souls’ Scholar Success Tutoring Program provides after-school tutoring to low-income children in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans five days per week during the school year, and a six-week summer school program. Gaudet funds will provide support for instructors fees and supplies. (Award amount $7,500)

Arts Council of Pointe Coupee, New Roads

The Arts Council of Pointe Coupee provides instructions in the arts with a focus on character development, life skills, and thinking skills. Gaudet funds will provide instructor’s fees and supplies for a series of parent involvement activities at the Pointe Coupee Head Start focusing on arts projects that can be completed in the home. Gaudet funds will provide instructor’s fees and supplies for the “Express Yourself Summer Arts Camp” which offers art instruction to students attending the Upper Pointe Coupee Elementary School’s extended year program. (Award amount $5,750)

A’s & Aces, New Orleans

A’s & Aces is a sports-based youth development organization designed to address several crises that particularly affect new Orleans children: illiteracy, violence, and obesity.  Their programs focus resources on at-risk children in public schools, who are most in need of extra literacy support and values development. Gaudet funds will provide support for the Pathway to College program providing 60 students from Edward Hynes Charter, Mildred Osborne Charter, and Arise Academy with after -school, weekend and summer life skills / literacy, tennis, tutoring, and mentoring to promote success in and beyond middle school. (Award amount $4.650)

Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, New Orleans

The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) connects New Orleans most vulnerable children- young people who fall into the juvenile justice system- with educational opportunity. Gaudet funds will partially support two education advocate staff positions working with the LCCR’s Right to Learn Project, a program that address the need of the children by aiming to keep youth in school, increase graduation rate, and reduce the likelihood for becoming further involved in the justice system. (Award amount $3,600)

Anna’s Place NOLA, New Orleans

The mission of Anna’s Place NOLA, a ministry of St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, is to promote healing and wholeness of body, mind, and spirit in the Treme/7th Ward and the Greater New Orleans community by offering academic, cultural, and arts enrichment; holistic health care, and healthy lifestyle education. St. Anna’s received two grants through the Gaudet Community Grant program. The first grant will provide support for staff position for the after-school program which is an arts-integrated, project-learning curriculum developed by a music educator in conjunction with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Carnegie Hall. The after-school program incorporates reading, math, science and visual arts into a music base. The program provides homework help; Saturday instruction in vocal and instrumental music and visual arts; field trips; gardening; nutrition classes and physical activities; health education classes; health screenings; group discussions with a licensed therapist; music therapy; and conflict resolution strategies.  (Award amount $10,000).

The second grant awarded to Anna’s Place NOLA will provide funding for curriculum development, supplies, and support to staff for a four-week summer camp program. The summer camp program is an arts-integrated project learning curriculum expanding on the Saturday vocal and instrumental instruction music education program. (Award amount $10,000)

Trinity Educational Enrichment Program (TEEP), New Orleans

TEEP, a ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans, is a six-week summer camp for 5th and 6th grade students providing instruction in Science, Math, Language Arts, Art, and Music. Other activities include field trips, swimming lessons, and instruction in dance and drama. Gaudet funds will undwrite the costs of TEEP for six campers for the six week camp. (Award amount $8,300)