NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Son of a Saint, the New Orleans-headquartered nonprofit dedicated to supporting fatherless young men through mentorship, education, life skills, and community engagement, is thrilled to announce a series of upcoming events and activities during the first quarter of 2024.
Son of a Saint is committed to providing impactful experiences to all of its participants and throughout each year curates a diverse schedule of events that cater to various interests and aspirations. From educational workshops, to community service initiatives, to sporting events and cultural outings, there’s something for everyone in Son of a Saint’s dynamic lineup.
“We are excited about the upcoming events and activities we have planned for our young men and our community of friends and supporters,” says Son of a Saint Founder and CEO Bivian “Sonny” Lee III. “These experiences play a crucial role in our boys’ personal development through a safe, supportive, and enriching environment, while also allowing folks from across Greater New Orleans to interact with us directly.”
Please note that event dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For real-time updates, inquiries, or any additional information about specific events and activities, contact Son of a Saint’s Creative Director Elliot Hutchinson at elliot@sonofasaint.org.
Son of a Saint’s upcoming events and activities from January to March 2024 include:
Cooking Healthy Options & Portions (CHOP) – week of Jan. 8 – Feb. 12
CHOP is a 6-week culinary education course that features mentees and mentors cooking meals together learning about nutrition and sharpening their culinary skills.
Crescent City Mentoring Collaborative and Operation Restoration host Mentor Recruitment Happy Hour – Jan. 18
In honor of January being National Mentoring Month, the Crescent City Mentoring Collaborative (CCMC) is hosting a mentor recruitment event in collaboration with Operation Restoration at 2803 St. Philip Street on Thursday, January 18 from 6 – 8 p.m.
The CCMC is comprised of four New Orleans-based, Black-led mentorship organizations, including 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans, Reaching for the Stars, the Silverback Society, and Son of a Saint. Free RSVP is required to attend the mentorship recruitment event.
Madden Video Game Tournament – Jan. 20
Son of a Saint mentees and mentors will team up to compete on the virtual gridiron on January 20.
Son of a Saint Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) Basketball Team Tryouts – January
Mentees ages 14-17 will have an opportunity to try out for Son of a Saint’s basketball team in January.
Son of a Saint Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) Basketball Team Practices – 2 to 3 times per week beginning in January
The Son of a Saint AAU team will practice 2-3 times per week.
Son of a Saint presents at the National MENTOR Summit in Washington D.C. – Jan. 25
For the second consecutive year, Son of a Saint will host a breakout session during the National MENTOR Summit in Washington D.C., focusing on the ways innovative partnerships can propel mentorship nonprofit success. The presentation will be led by Son of a Saint’s Director of Development Maddie Brenner, its Director of Community Engagement Will Jones, and its Creative Director Elliot Hutchinson.
Son of a Saint Mentor Call to Action Event – Jan. 31
This reconnection event invites all existing Son of a Saint mentors to learn more about what’s next for the organization in 2024 and beyond, to recommit to the organization’s core mentoring initiatives, and to hold meaningful conversations with Son of a Saint leadership and support staff.
Son of a Saint mentees ride in the 2024 Krewe of Freret parade – Feb. 3
Mentees will parade with the Krewe of Freret on February 3rd. This annual tradition is one of the most exciting events for mentees and their families each Mardi Gras season.
Son of a Saint Flag Football Team Game – March 1
5th and 6th-grade mentees will have an opportunity to try out for Son of a Saint’s flag football team in March. Practices will begin in February and the first game is March 1st. Specific game time and location to be announced.
Son of a Saint participates in the Louisiana Carnival Horse Show – March 2
Mentees will show off their horse riding and equestrian training skills on March 2nd at the Louisiana Carnival Horse Show in Covington.
Recurring Activities, Engagements, and Programs at Son of a Saint
Koguma Dojo Karate Classes – recurring every Tuesday & Thursday
Every Tuesday and Thursday mentees enter the dojo to exercise and learn karate from Sensei Howard Turoff.
Study Hall – recurring every Monday
Every Monday mentees receive tutoring and academic support from a team of staff, volunteers, and mentors.
Tutoring – recurring every Wednesday
On Wednesdays, mentees are offered more intensive academic intervention in smaller tutoring groups.
Saint Robot – recurring every Wednesday
Son of a Saint’s STEM robotics team, more commonly known as “Saint Robot,” meets on Wednesdays to collaboratively design, code, and research techniques to build various projects.
Zones of Regulation – recurring weekly
These weekly sessions establish a therapeutic environment for mentees to express themselves and learn how to manage their emotions.
Son of a Saint holistically sponsors youth between the ages of 10 and 21, providing mentorship, education, mental health services, travel experiences to expand horizons, as well as internship and career-development learning opportunities. The youth development nonprofit currently serves 350 young people across Greater New Orleans, including its cohort of more than 260 full-time mentees, as well as mentee alumni, and additional tuition scholarship recipients via its Son of a Saint Scholars program. The organization remains steadfast in its mission to inspire and uplift young boys, cultivating a supportive community that empowers them to break barriers and achieve success.
For more information about Son of a Saint, its current activities, upcoming opportunities, and ways to get involved, please visit www.sonofasaint.org or call (504) 561-7508. Son of a Saint also welcomes other contributions, which can be mailed to: P.O. Box 19205, New Orleans, LA 70179.
