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About the Leader
Adrinda Kelly is the Founding CEO of BE NOLA (Black Education for New Orleans), whose mission is to support Black educators and Black-led schools to provide a quality education to New Orleans children. Under her leadership, BE NOLA has delivered high-impact programs to more than 1,000 Black educators, quadrupled its base of supporters, and grown its budget and impact. Adrinda's past work included several years at Teach For America, where she launched the organization's first National Advisory Board of Alumni of Color and grew its annual School Leaders of Color Conference and Staff Diversity Practitioners Conference into flagship events.
Adrinda's leadership has been recognized locally and nationally, including as a 2019 Pahara NextGen Fellow, a 2021 Loyola Institute of Politics Fellow, and as a Top Woman Nonprofit Leader by New Orleans CityBusiness. Adrinda holds a diploma from McDonogh 35, a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, and a master's degree from New York University.
About the Work
BENOLA builds the capacity of Black-led efforts to advance educational progress in New Orleans. The mission of BE NOLA is to ignite the Black Brilliance that exists throughout schools and neighborhoods to assure Black children thrive.
THE 1954 PROJECT
Investing in Durable Leadership & Institutions
The 1954 Project identifies visionary education leaders whose work is strengthening Black communities and invests in them and what they are building with significant, flexible capital and long-term relationship.
Named for the year of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, The 1954 Project honors that promise by backing leaders closest to the work with resources that follow their vision.
This is philanthropy shaped by trust in leaders and commitment to what they’re building.
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