Meraux Foundation Delivers Joy with the Blues

The Meraux Foundation recently sponsored a Blues in Schools program to introduce blues music to local students and hosted the annual Blues, Brews & BBQ festival at Docville Farm. 

Rita Gue, the president of the Meraux Foundation, shared her excitement saying, "We’re proud to expand our investment in arts education through Blues in Schools and support the work of our local food bank by hosting Blues, Brews & BBQ again.” 

New Orleans Blues Society's Pennsylvania Johns with Meraux Foundation President Rita Gue and blues organizer Eric Schmidt.  Download full size image here. 

The Blues in Schools event for elementary, middle, and high school students featured several musicians, including Bruce Sunpie Barnes, Brint Anderson, Ed Wills, and Jojjo Wight and Amedee Frederick, known as the Ponchatrain Shakers.

"The Meraux Foundation plays an essential role in introducing our young people to the arts and nurturing their talents,” emphasized Charles Cassar, the school's Cultural Arts Program Director. "They continue to find and bring new opportunities to our schools so our students can experience the arts."

Little Freddie King performs at the Blues, Brews & BBQ on Saturday, Oct.  7, 2023.  Download full size image here. 

The Meraux Foundation's dedication to the arts in education extends beyond Blues in Schools. It also sponsors the local theater and education nonprofit, Goat in the Road Productions, to lead students through playwriting courses, and it sponsors productions at Chalmette High School. 

Recently, the Meraux Foundation hosted the Blues, Brews & BBQ festival at Docville Farm. The festival's proceeds go to the Community Center of St. Bernard, one of the Foundation's major beneficiaries.

The festival featured a harmonica workshop, local brews, and of course, plenty of local BBQ. The musical lineup included performances by Chalmette High Jazz Band, Ghalia Volt, Pennsylvania Wolfe Johns Band, Lil Red & Big Bad with special guest Renee Gros, and Little Freddie King.

"This year's festival exceeded expectations, and we are grateful to our many volunteers and supporters who are helping keep families in our community fed," said Jamie Richardson, the executive director of the Community Center of St Bernard.

At Blues, Brews & BBQ on Oct. 7, 2023, Sabrina Schmidt, right, displayed her artwork and sold prints to benefit the Community Center of St. Bernard. Download image here. 

Local artist Sabrina Schmidt was at Blues, Brews & BBQ, selling prints of her painting depicting a festival scene at Docville Farm. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Community Center of St. Bernard. The prints are $60 and can be purchased by contacting Sabrina at sabrina@vdesign.com.

Prints of a painting by Sabrina Schmidt depicting a festival at Docville Farm are for sale, benefitting the Community Center of St. Bernard. Download image here.

While the Meraux Foundation’s recent focus has been on the blues, its programs have certainly created a lot of happiness.