History and Mission

The New Orleans Arts & Cultural Host Committee (NOACHC) was created to promote, present and make accessible to the community-at-large, the arts and cultural heritage of New Orleans.  The Committee seeks to further its mission by working to improve and encourage arts education for young people, as well as promoting civic and social activities to both citizens and tourists in New Orleans.  Originally created in 1995 to assist the City of New Orleans in hosting the Essence Music Festival, the Committee supports and encourages the talents of New Orleans artists, musicians and entertainers.

The NOACHC recognizes that quality arts education for young people is the beginning of an appreciation for artistic expression; instills discipline and encourages the pursuit of excellence.  Through the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp; the NOACHC seeks to address and augment the lack of arts education in schools by providing expert music instruction by jazz greats to young musicians who otherwise would not have the opportunity to participate in a program of this caliber.  The NOACHC also perpetuate America’s true and only art form in the City where it was created

In 2000, The New Orleans Arts and Cultural Host Committee became the chief fundraising entity for the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp which was established by City government representatives.  The Committee was incorporated in 1999 and acquired 501 ( c) (3) status in 2000.  It also became the producer of the Jazz Camp and afforded donors tax deductions.  At this time, Jazz Camp is NOACHC’s primary focus.

Sybil Morial, President

Sybil Morial, a retired educator and college administrator, is the wife of New Orleans first Black Mayor, “Dutch” Morial and mother of former New Orleans Mayor, Mark Morial. She has served as a Jazz Camp cornerstone since its inception.

Vaughn Randolph Fauria, Vice President

Vaughn Randolph Fauria is the Executive Director and President of NewCorp Inc., a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) specializing in small, minority, and women owned businesses.

Hon. Marlin Gusman, Secretary/Treasurer

Elected Sheriff of New Orleans for a third full term, is responsible for the Orleans Parish correctional facilities; the care, custody and control of inmates. As Executive Officer for the New Orleans Criminal and Civil Courts, he also oversees subpoenas, courtroom security, and the executory process. By invitation, he attended and completed the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Madlyn Bagneris, Scholarship Fund Chair

Madlyn Bagneris serves as a member of several social and state cultural boards. She is the retired Manager of Supplier Diversity and Second Tier Sourcing for Entergy Corporation, is a former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Social Services and the Executive Director of the New Orleans Recreation Department under Mayor Dutch Morial.

Jerald Barnes

Jerald Barnes is a community relations leader who takes organizations to new levels of performance by designing and executing high yield transformational initiatives. A social responsibility pioneer, consultant, entrepreneur, thought leader and valued member of executive teams, Barnes promoted repeatedly to mission-critical roles to drive change in varied and complex organizational environments. He built highly engaged teams and served as the face of UPS to hundreds of community and civic groups. The president of JBarnes Consulting, services include strategic planning, community relations, employee engagement, and philanthropy.

Winston Burns

Winston Burns is the CEO of Newburns Management Group, which he co-owns with his wife, Wendy, the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Newburns operates stores inside New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport, Orlando International Airport in Florida, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in Missouri, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Jeanette M. Davis-Loeb

Jeanette M. Davis-Loeb is the Founder & CEO of the Rising Oak Foundation, a national 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation committed to the holistic development of black boys. She is also the former V.P. and C.O.O. of Dynamic Industries L.L.C., a privately held company specializing in property development and asset management.

Sidney Fauria

Sidney Fauria is the owner of S. J. Fauria & Associates, LLC and Construction Consultant.

Dr. Lana Joseph-Ford

Dr. Lana Joseph-Ford is a Audiologist and Speech Therapist. Founder and CEO of Joseph-Ford Enterprises and High Level Speech & Hearing Center. Dr. Joseph-Ford, is an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry. She has served as an advocate for musicians’ health throughout New Orleans. She helps others by offering early intervention strategies for individuals with communication disorders.

Justin C. Mack

Justin C. Mack is a New Orleans native. He is the Director of Student Affairs, Joseph A. Craig Charter School at Friends of King Charter School District. Mr. Mack is also an advocate for restoration of the Louisiana coast and environmental educator.

Jacques Morial

Jacques Morial has over a quarter century of experience in community organizing, capital finance, dispute resolution, strategic communications, political campaign management, public policy analysis and development. Jacques is a true music aficionado. In addition to supporting Jazz Camp since its inception, he is a supporter of musicians and works tirelessly to preserve the cultural heritage of New Orleans.

Mark Samuels

Mark Samuels President of Basin Street Records, a company he started in 1997as a hobby and has nurtured it into the premier Jazz recording label in the industry.

Johnathan Thomas

Johnathan Thomas is a native of New Orleans with roots in the entertainment industry. He began his career as an entertainer and  has since transitioned into working with entertainers and businesses in the industry.  He presently serves as CEO of Ascension Branding a company that provides full-service marketing and business solutions to artists, corporations, and non-profit organizations.

Sarah Newell Usdin

Sarah Newell Usdin has served as a member of the Orleans Parish School Board since November 2012.  She is the Founder and past- CEO of New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO).  After teaching in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship, she taught 5th grade for three years before becoming Teach for America’s Executive Director in Louisiana. She went on to serve as a partner with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), working to recruit, train, and certify public school teachers. Mrs. Usdin is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and was a recipient of The Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership.