Black Minds Matter Louisville Inc

The mission of Black Minds Matter Louisville, Inc. (BMML, Inc.) is to empower students to achieve significant academic gains, with a strong emphasis on mathematics. Recognizing mathematics as a critical subject in all aspects of life, BMML, Inc. provides a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment that includes highly effective instruction, personalized teaching, and confidence-building measures. 

The organization offers students, from kindergarten through college, a unique learning experience through its Waldorf-Montessori-Traditional "fusion" inspired program, The EDge, which is designed to foster mathematical thinking, develop solid math skills, and inspire a love for learning under the guidance of Kentucky Board-certified and JCPS Master educator, Latonia Bland.

Latonia Bland, a Louisville native and was the 2023 recipient of the Fifth Third Bank Silver Horseshoe Award, has made a powerful impact on the community—one ice-cream cone and math lesson at a time. She has dedicated over two decades to helping others as a teacher, arithmetic whiz, community advocate, and social entrepreneur. Her journey began as a special education teacher at Noe Middle School, where she noticed Black students struggling with math. This experience, coupled with the tragic loss of her nephews and brothers to gun violence, strengthened her belief that academic opportunities can help combat violence and crime. 

In 2020, at the height of the Pandemic, Latonia made a dream a reality and established Math Academy of Louisville, a safe place that strives to empower students, especially Black and Brown, struggling students, by narrowing the academic gap in mathematics. With no financial support in place, other than money from teaching, and in order to fund the academy, BRAINFREEZE: Cones For A Cause!, an ice cream food truck was launched. In addition to the latter, Black Minds Matter Louisville, Inc., an nonprofit organization committed to education advocacy and equity through various programs, was created.

Nearly three years ago, Black Minds Matter Louisville, Inc. was able to receive funding to secure space in the Shively area. The space houses both the Math Academy and BRAINFREEZE, an interactive hands on math lab/ice cream shop featuring 60 rotating flavors. The shop is also home to the Scoops & Scholars workforce development training and entrepreneurship program, a student learn and earn program. Students are able to apply critical thinking involved math concepts for deeper understanding, and earn a stipend during academic breaks from school. 

In 2021, BMMLI began advocating for the first Kentucky Derby sponsored event in Louisville's West End. The initiative, that same year, was picked up by the Festival's Derby Equity and Community Initiative (DECI), and only 6 months later, the very first KY Derby sponsored "Block Party" in the West End was held. The Block Party features several small and minority owned businesses. It is an opportunity for people to showcase and sell their goods, and circulate income throughout the West End community. Latonia actively leads the charge on all food vendors at the event, with her BRAINFREEZE food truck, as well as other minority owned mobile food businesses, serving sweet treats to attendees. 

This year, Black Minds Matter Louisville, Inc. is raising funds, specifically, to implement a 4th and 5th grade virtual math academy, and, a virtual mathematics ACT preparation course. 

The 4th and 5th grade students have been identified as students who live below the poverty line and have severe deficiencies in mathematics. 

We would love your support in our efforts to continue to close academic gaps and help our older student population in the crusade to secure college scholarships.