A commitment to education and empowerment
Ferdinand Learning Center is a non-profit organization that supports Black artists and entrepreneurs in New Orleans through grant writing, classes and workshops.
ANNOUNCEMENT
We are thrilled to announce that Ferdinand Learning Center has been awarded the 2024 Jazz and Heritage Foundation Community Partnership Grant! Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Jazz and Heritage Foundation and its grant committee for supporting our vision. This grant allows us to bring an incredible project to life: Pixinguinha to Bechet: An Evening of Choro and Traditional Jazz.
This project will explore the profound connections between two iconic jazz figures, Pixinguinha and Sidney Bechet, both born in the same year. We will dive into their most celebrated compositions, performances, and the unique journeys they faced as Black musicians navigating a predominantly white industry.
Our talented lineup for this performance includes:
- Alex Canales on saxophone and clarinet
- Ponya Ferdinand on vocals
- Fernando Lima on drums
- Leonardo Lucini on bass guitar
- Geovane Santos on guitar, violin, banjo tenor, cavaco
- Eduardo Tozzato on piano
Performance Details:
🗓 Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM
📍 Location: New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA
Stay tuned for more updates on our musicians and additional performances in this series. We can’t wait to share this musical journey with you!
About
Ferdinand Learning Center was founded by Wiletta Ferdinand, a distinguished New Orleans author, educator, and historian. With over forty years of experience in the education and non-profit sectors, Ms. Ferdinand’s journey began in 1971 at Dopkwe Work and Study Center, the first Black Independent School in New Orleans for grades K-8. Situated in the Lower Ninth Ward, Dopkwe embraced an Afro-centric curriculum focused on social advancement and academic success, and it welcomed influential artists like Peter Tosh, Sonia Sanchez, and Bootsy Collins into its vibrant community. Ferdinand Learning Center, established as a continuation of Dopkwe’s mission, is named in honor of community activists and educators Valerie and Inola Ferdinand. Valerie and Inola Ferdinand donated property to the young educator to establish the Dopkwe Work Study Center in the Lower Ninth Ward. Since 1997, it has been a cornerstone of educational and social progress in New Orleans.
A passion for empowering Black entrepreneurs
Ms. Ferdinand has penned over 25 award-winning grants throughout her career. Her expertise and exceptional writing have garnered recognition from organizations such as the New Orleans Council on Aging and the Louisiana Department of Tourism. These grants, amounting to thousands of dollars, reflect her profound impact. With a recent master’s degree in museum studies, Ms. Ferdinand is a firm believer in the power of Black Art to inspire and educate.
Ms. Ferdinand now mentors Black entrepreneurs in the art of grant writing, covering essential skills such as crafting narratives and budgeting. Recently, she wrote a successful grant called “Raising Queens” for esteemed New Orleans makeup artist Evita Mercadel.
Award Winning Grants
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
Louisiana Department of Tourism
Jazz and Heritage Foundation
New Orleans Council on Aging
Black Heritage and Art
Our comprehensive suite of Black heritage and arts classes serves a diverse audience, including Black educators, artists, and enthusiasts.
Ferdinand Learning Center is dedicated to promoting and preserving the rich heritage of Black art forms from rural Louisiana and New Orleans. Our mission is to document and share these cultural expressions to ensure they are remembered and celebrated. Our focus includes traditional crafts such as doll making, quilt making, cultural dance, Mardi Gras Indian beading, and second line umbrella making. Additionally, we highlight the biographies and narratives of African American senior citizens in Louisiana, capturing their invaluable stories for future generations.
EJ Morris Senior Citizen Center
In 1982, Ms. Ferdinand began her work with the EJ Morris Senior Citizen Center, focusing on preserving the heritage of older Black New Orleanians through writing and craft making. Together with her colleague Bobby, Ms. Ferdinand wrote the first grant to open the EJ Morris Senior Citizen Center. With a budget of $60,000, the center operated its first year from the now-closed T.J. Semmes School on Jourdan Avenue. The following year, with an increased budget of $100,000, the center acquired a building on Caffin Avenue, now called Fats Domino Avenue. She authored two books based on interviews with the seniors at the center. Before Hurricane Katrina, these senior citizens sold their crafts for years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Ms. Ferdinand meticulously documented their lives, creating an oral history record. Her group of senior citizens included notable figures, such as the grandmother of renowned musician Kermit Ruffins.
Bamboula to Zydeco
- Jazz and Heritage Community Partnership Grant
- New Orleans Jazz Museum
- Experience history of Black dance in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras Indian Beading
- Tradition and history of Mardi Gras Indians
- Hand sewn creations
- Exclusive access to design insights.
“I couldn’t have done it without Ferdinand Learning Center. I appreciate them helping me so much.”
Evita Mercadel
Entrepreneur, Makeup Artist
Watch, Read, Listen
Join 900+ subscribers
Stay in the loop with everything you need to know.
Ferdinand Learning Center 