Made in New Orleans Foundation

Made in New Orleans Foundation (MiNO) envisions a New Orleans hospitality industry that leads the world in growing, supporting, and financing the success of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We use a multidisciplinary approach to address and eliminate disparities facing hospitality professionals of color. We invest in individuals, provide support and resources for advancement.

At the individual level, MiNO provides educational resources, individual mentorship, scholarships, and business coaching. At the industry level, we amplify the voices of professionals of color and provide support to hospitality companies that are seeking to eliminate bias and disparities in their organizations.

MiNO is investing in individuals and transforming the industry.

Your gift supports creating an equitable hospitality industry by:

-Providing support, visibility, and resources for BIPOC chefs and entrepreneurs working to advance in their hospitality careers

-Providing direct relief to BIPOC workers dealing with lost income and unexpected expenses in the wake of disasters

PROGRAMS

The EQUITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM is creating a model of changing management standards across New Orleans's hospitality industry by working with restaurants to challenge implicit biases in policies that impact hiring, firing, promotion, and training practices that create barriers for people of color. MiNO works in partnership with restaurant owners to conduct a racial equity assessment of their business, develop action plans for change, and provide ongoing training and support. This program provides restaurant owners with practical tools and resources that allow them to create a more unified and equitable workspace and maximize the potential of their business. MiNO has partnered with Beloved Community to enroll 22 restaurants and hospitality groups in the inaugural year of Beloved's "Equity at Work: Hospitality." MiNO is providing support and guidance to cohort participants as they are completing this two-year journey. Beloved Community & MiNO Foundation host monthly Lunch & Learn sessions open to all members of the industry to discuss a variety of topics that affect equity in the industry.

The MiNO HOSPITALITY NETWORK connects BIPOC hospitality professionals at all stages of their careers with formal and informal opportunities for education, training, career advancement, job openings, and emergency direct relief.

CULINARY SCHOLARSHIP
The Culinary Scholarship Program invests in aspiring BIPOC chefs with scholarships that cover tuition, travel, and living expenses to attend culinary programs at top institutions. Prior to Covid-19 pandemic recipients attended International Culinary Center in New York. To date, 19 local students have received scholarships, graduated, and are pursuing advanced culinary careers.

Testimonials

"Through our partnership with MiNO, we have received educational support, outside expertise on actionable deliverables we can implement for our organization and most importantly, a like-minded visionary who shares in our commitment in creating a more equitable New Orleans by addressing the systemic barriers that exist within the hospitality industry."-Ralph Mahana, General Manager, The Windsor Court

"The work MiNO does continues to support the needs of the under-supported communities within the hospitality industry. It lights me up that this foundation has been ever so beneficial to my own career and now I have the opportunity to lend my assistance in supporting others career growth as mine was supported. " - Byron Bradley, Alumnus 2016, Entrepreneur and Chef

"I can not say enough about MiNO. I am so grateful for this experience and everything its leadership has done for us. [ ...our mentors ] have been wonderful in helping us from anything advice with executing events, sharing knowledge about anything work related, or sometimes something as simple as how to get through a tough day in the kitchen. The scholarship alone is such a gift. For us, MiNO represents the opportunity to experience something completely new, something that perhaps would be out of reach otherwise. It arms us with the tools to come back and be confident and prepared to take the challenges presented in the workplace. They continue to invest in us, and in turn help us invest in the community. It is such a gratifying and heart-filling feeling. I am forever grateful."
-Barbara Rodriguez, Alumnus 2015, Entrepreneur, Chef and Manager Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Our work with Made in New Orleans Foundation and Lauren (MiNO's Executive Director) has been instrumental in leading the equity work and evolution of Bacchanal Wine and The Elysian Bar. As a team, we have taken a deep introspective dive into our mission and values. Through our work with Lauren in MiNO's Equity Program, we have developed a deeper commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion...