Mr. Levar from Fathers on a Mission talks to Gioia about the work he does and how he supports young fathers. Their mission is to “promote responsible committed fatherhood through education, strong relationships, holistic health, and socioeconomic education.  

• https://www.fathersonamission.com/

Mr. Levar's bio:
A proud native of Baton Rouge and a member of the Capitol Senior High School class of 1995, Levar Robinson has always embodied the spirit of a servant leader. In 1996, inspired and encouraged by his mother, he embarked on a journey with the U.S. Navy, serving as a nuclear Submarine Machinist Mate for six years on two nuclear submarines and a submarine repair ship. During this time, his passion for travel and watersports ignited. Transitioning from the Navy, Levar held key positions with industry leaders including Northrop Grumman, Dow Chemical Company, and ExxonMobil, amassing a combined total of 17 years of professional experience. Yet, his commitment to community service and mentorship never wavered.

Beginning in 2008, Levar extended his influence to guide and inspire young minds within churches and prison ministries, becoming a beacon of hope for the next generation. Volunteering with organizations such as Big Buddy, 100 Black Men, and Volunteers in Public Schools, he further demonstrated his dedication to community growth. In 2017, driven by a profound desire to make a lasting impact on the lives of at-risk youth and a heartfelt commitment to supporting fathers, Levar established Fathers On A Mission (FOAM), a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Remarkably, he embarked on this journey while maintaining a demanding shift work schedule at DOW Chemical Company. FOAM’s mission is clear: to enhance Fathers and Father Figures, which will ultimately strengthen families. With six children of his own and having served as a father figure to countless others, Levar’s dedication stems from personal experiences, a genuine sense of purpose, and most of all-a calling on his life.

Today, Levar’s presence is felt within schools and communities alike. Whether engaging youth through open dialogues through his company Enhance Your Greatness through their mentoring curriculum, "Enhancing Your Greatness" or providing essential social service interventions for Fathers and Father Figures, his impact resonates deeply. Levar’s tireless efforts have earned him recognition from esteemed organizations and companies across the city and state. His accolades include the 2018 Emerge Center Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activist Award, the 2018 Louisiana Association of Non-Profits (LANO) Community Leaders Alumni distinction, the 2019 ExxonMobil Responsible Care Award, the 2020 Business Report Executive Leadership Academy Alumni recognition, the 2020 NAACP Trailblazer Award, the 2020 BlueCross BlueShield Foundation Angel Award, the 2022 New Orleans Saints and Community Coffee Military and Community Volunteer Honoree distinction, the 2022 Responsible Fatherhood Facilitator and Family Life Coach

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Kate Parker of Kellogg Foundation discusses their incredible investments in maternal-child health in the New Orleans area and how, as funders, they learn from families and the communities themselves. 

https://www.wkkf.org/

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Meet Kyla, a young, pregnant mom in the Maternal Pathways housing program. She tells her story about how she came to join Maternal Pathways and her experiences while pregnant, including with her doula and prepping for a safe and healthy delivery.

• Art and Gofund me link soon to come

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Melanie Richardson, co-founder and Executive Director of Training Grounds, discusses how her organization creates quality learning experiences for children in the first five years of life to support healthy brain development.

Melanie’s passion lies in supporting parents with understanding child development so they can help their children flourish. She co-founded TrainingGrounds and the We PLAY Center, so parents and children would have a safe environment to play, learn and grow together with the guidance of parenting educators. As a licensed master social worker, Melanie is devoted to creating accessible and preventative programs for families and young children  As the executive director of TrainingGrounds, she has fostered strong partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders to maximize resources and support for families. Melanie actively participates in various steering committees and advisory groups responsible for supporting early childhood care and education, infant mental health and early childhood leaders of color. Melanie is a Promise Venture Studio Fellow, a 2023 Volunteers of America Futures Fund Community Health Incubator and W.K.Kellogg Fellow cohort member.  She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Pennsylvania.

• https://www.mytraininggrounds.org/home
• Social media links
  • Instagram: @mytgnola
  • Twitter: @mytgnola
  • Facebook: @mytgnola
  • Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/melanie504

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Ms. Jenni from The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital and Ms. Sue from Devoted Dreamers Foundation stop by to talk about supporting young parents and how important connection is to youth. 

•  https://www.chnola.org/services/the-parenting-center/
  • 504.896.9591 
  • Instagram: @chnolaparentingcenter
• https://devoteddreamers.org/
  • Instagram: @devoteddreamersfoundation

Jenni Watts Evans has been involved in Early Childhood Education and Development from many angles, beginning in the classroom as a toddler and preschool teacher. Jenni moved into advocacy work as a Parent Counselor at Child Care Resources of Agenda For Children helping parents find quality child care and training teachers of young children. Jenni worked to advocate for quality early care and education, better wages and support for teachers and caregivers, employer supports for parents, and anti-bias and anti-racist education through participation in the international Anti-Bias Education and Leadership Project.

After having children, Jenni joined the staff at The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital. As a Parent Educator, then Program and Outreach Manager, Jenni provided information and parent support on child development, challenging behavior, values-based parenting, and more. 

While she continues to provide parent support through Parenting Center programs like the one at Covenant House, Jenni returned to the classroom as Lead Teacher and resident Parent Educator at an area Early Learning Center. Jenni also offers consultation to parents privately as far as the internet will reach. 

Jenni has two children, Reina, 28, and Haley, 26.

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Gioia sits down with Ms. Kimberly Novod, Founder and Executive Director of Saul’s Light. Ms. Novod and her husband founded Saul’s Light after losing their son after he was born prematurely. Saul’s Light seeks to support NICU families and those that have lost a baby, in addition to promoting policies to protect families and babies and improving perinatal health outcomes.

• Saul’s Light info:
  • https://www.saulslight.org/
  • Instagram: @sauls_light

Kimberly Novod, a nationally-recognized speaker and New Orleans-based community activist, knows well the rippling impact of maternal mental health, prematurity, and infant loss - having experienced all three. Driven by the principles of tikkun olam and tzedakah, she envisions a Louisiana in which neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and bereaved families receive the comprehensive support they need to lead meaningful lives. 

As founder and executive director of Saul’s Light Foundation, Kimberly has collaborated with hospitals, service providers, and grassroots organizations to realize this vision, advocating for family-centered care, equitable healthcare policies, and directly serving families throughout the state since 2015. In recent years, she successfully advocated for state legislation that ensures families receive a tax credit for stillborn children and that health insurance providers, including Medicaid, cover prescription human milk. In 2022 alone, Saul’s Light provided direct support to over 100 English- and Spanish-speaking families, including education, peer mentorship and financial assistance to offset travel, lodging, and counseling."

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Nurse Nikki Greenaway, a nurse practitioner with Blooming Maternal Health, is passionate about improving the pregnancy experience and maternal health outcomes, especially for Black mothers. 

Nurse Nikki, is a wife, mother of three, Nurse practitioner and lactation consultant. Nurse Nikki is the founder and owner of Bloom Maternal Health. Bloom is a community based medical practice that provides pregnancy support, postpartum care and women’s health coaching to families in Texas, Louisiana and Virginia. 

• www.BloomMaternalHealth.org
• Instagram: @nursenikkinp

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Hosanna, a Covenant House social worker, joins Gioia to talk about substance use among youth and specifically those facing homelessness and who are pregnant.

Resources for individuals living with substances: 

• https://ldh.la.gov/page/1429
• https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/
  • This link is for information on what is and isn’t safe to consume during pregnancy

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Meet Rheneisha Robertson and Dr. Deidre Hayes as they discuss their paths to Covenant House and their vision for maternal health in the New Orleans community. From public health initiatives to one-on-one-relationships, they explore the power of community in supporting young families.

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/

Welcome to the Red Bean Baby podcast, hosted by in-house expert on all things Covenant House, maternal health, youth homelessness and so much more, Ms. Gioia Barconey. Listen in as she and the Director of Youth Support Services, Ms. Ebonee Craighead discuss how Gioia came to host Red Bean Baby, as well as what to expect for future episodes with some exciting guests in store. 

Red Bean Baby talks about a lot of difficult, potentially triggering things. Take care of yourself and your mental health. Learn about more resources here on our website (https://www.covenanthousenola.org/issues/mental-health-wellness/).

Dr. Corine Brown, or Dr. C’Ma, a social worker and friend of Covenant House, can help you access more resources. Meet Dr. C’Ma here: https://themindbodyservicecollective.com/

• Learn more about Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/
• Donate to Covenant House
  • https://www.covenanthousenola.org/donate/