All About Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement has 106 local JA Areas across the nation, and together we are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices. JA's programs-in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy-ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.
During the 2019-2020 school year, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans (JAGNO) worked with over 20,000 students throughout the Greater New Orleans area and Southeastern Louisiana, providing critical financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship training and resources while navigating the Covid-19 pandemic.
All About The Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund
https://www.aaronsanchezscholarshipfund.com/
The Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund is an initiative aimed at helping future generations of Latino chefs reach their goals both in and out of the kitchen through mentorship and education. Each recipient receives a full culianry scholarship to the International Culinary Center (ICC) in New York City, along with supplies, living expenses and mentorship opportunities. Aarón credits his mentors, including his mother Zarela Martinez and the late chef Paul Prudhomme, among others, with giving him the skills for a successful career. He launched the Aarón SánchezScholarship Fund to help the next generation of Latino chefs and leaders. "These young chefs are the future of our industry and it's up to us to highlight their abilities and talent and provide them with the skills and opportunities to succeed."
All About Aarón Sánchez
Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author and philanthropist. He is chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, and a judge on FOX's hit culinary competition series MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. He is partner/creative director of Cocina, the first online contnet platform dedicated to celebrating Latin lifestyle through its vibrant culinary culture. Aarón grew up in the restaurant business and is passionate about preserving his family's legacy through food and encouraging diversity in the kitchen.
A third generation cookbook author, Aarón has written two cookbooks - "La Comida del Barrio and "Simple Food Big Flavor". He will be publishing a memoir titled "Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef."
Aarón love for the arts extends beyond the kitchen. He is a partner in world-renowned tattoo shop and museum, Daredevil Tattoo in New York City. He has a son, Yuma, and lives in New Orleans.
All About Neal Bodenheimer
Neal Bodenheimer is the owner, bartender and restaurateur behind Cure Co., which is comprised of acclaimed bars, Cure, Cane & Table and upcoming Vals in New Orleans.
A New Orleans native, Bodenheimer discovered his passion for the beverage industry early, when he started working in a bar at 18-years old. He later went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and embarked on a year-long trip around the world to explore global food and beveragetraditions. Hungry to get back to the states and start working, Bodenheimer moved to New York where he invested six years working his way up the industry for respected restaurant groups including Steve Hanson’s B.R. Guest Corporation and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, Bodenheimer felt the call backhome to New Orleans. He opened Cure in 2009, which quickly gained national recognition as a pioneer of the New Orleans’ craft cocktail movement. Cure was named one of
“America’s Best Bars” by Esquire, listed as one of the “Best Cocktail Bars in the U.S.” by Food & Wine, and hailed among New
Orleans’ best cocktail bars by Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler, USA Today, Thrillist and Coveteur.
In 2012, Bodenheimer and his partners purchased an existing bar and restaurant in the historic Vieux Carre of New Orleans which they developed into a new bar and restaurant project, Cane & Table. With a focus on rum, proto-tiki cocktails and Caribbean culinary traditions, the establishmentopened in 2013. Since then, Cane & Table has been named one of the “Five
Best New Cocktail Bars in America.” by Bon Appétit, cited as one of the best bars in America by Food & Wine, Esquire Network, Eater, and THRILLIST and one of the best newbars in the South by Garden & Gun and Southern Living. Cane & Table also garnered a coveted semi-finalist nomination for the James Beard Foundation Awards’ “Outstanding Bar Program” in 2015. Bodenheimer and partner, Kirk Estopinal, continue to oversee the operations of Cure + Cane and Table.
Cure received the coveted nod for the James Beard Foundation Awards “Outstanding Bar Program,” in 2018. In the same year, Bodenheimer partnered with the Solomon family to take ownership of the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, the beverage industry’s premier cocktail and spirits festival and non-profit.
In 2020, Bodenheimer is joining partners Matthew Kohnke, Turk Dietrich and Chef Fredo Nogueria for the latest bar and restaurant, Vals. The true neighborhood spot located just up the road from Cure will feature traditional and regional Mexican-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on agave spirits. A vision five years in the making, Bodenheimer, Kohnke, Dietrich and
Nogueria have been quietly preparing for the opening and saving select rare bottles for Vals since 2015.