Girls Nola

GIRLS- NOLA is a program designed to use integrative arts techniques to decrease poverty, discrimination, and violence against girls and women while increasing the cultural competency of New Orleans government officials and policy-makers. The program will focus on improving adolescent behaviors, developing and identifying youth leaders, fostering parental advocates, and empowering women as core leaders within society. To achieve this, GIRLSNOLA will implement a two track initiative that teaches girls how to become respected, responsible, and fully realized young women in society. While also teaching parents how to bring up these bright and amazing young leaders. 

Music & Cultural Education Program

DSEF’s music and cultural education initiative will teach our city’s youth the history of New Orleans cultural traditions. This project has been created to not only teach the history of New Orleans, but to utilize artistic, hands-on, and educational approaches to help impact lives in an effort to counter the culture of violence. This organization believes that, in order to effectively compete within society and in the global economy, we must produce erudite youth who are creative, collaborative, and innovative thinkers. And so, it is vital that our youth are geared with the confidence and integrity needed to survive.

Back to School Extravaganza

 

Scholarship Essay Contest

Each year the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund (DSEF) and Tulane University’s Staff Advisory Council, team up to host its annual Back to School Extravaganza. This event is a free school supply giveaway targeted towards all New Orleans students, and includes food, music, entertainment, blood pressure screenings, cholesterol screenings, child health screenings, and more. The focus of DSEF’s Back to School Extravaganza is to promote the culture of music, art, and education in the city of New Orleans. In that, this program highlights several music, art, and educational programs across the city while encouraging parents and kids to take part as an outlet to counter the culture of violence. This annual event comprises of live performances, motivational speakers, countless giveaways, and surprise guest. Kids are awarded the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite cartoon characters such as; Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob, and Elmo. In return, we encourage New Orleans citizens to donate can goods and non-perishable food items to our 2nd Harvest Food Drive in support of disaster victims.

Operation Giveback

Each Holiday Season the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund partner with UNITY of Greater New Orleans to help house the homeless population. UNITY is a leading nonprofit organization committed to providing housing and services to New Orleans homeless population. Each November – December, DSEF host city wide drives to collect food, household items and toiletries for those less fortunate. 

College Tours

The Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund has plans to re implement its College Tours Initiative. This program was originally implemented spring 2008 when DSEF hosted a college tour for the student of L.E. Rabouin High School March Band to Florida A&M University. Students were given a college tour, free band camp, application assistance and a priceless glimpse of the HBCU and college experience. DSEF plans to form relationships with local New Orleans higher learning institutions, state-wide institutions, as well as Florida A&M University, Southern University, and Jackson State University as featured destinations for our program. Participants for this program will be chosen through various outlets. We will target middle and high school students, grades 7^th - 12^th only.