- Not involved in development and planning of NEW programs
NORDC is offering to the public
- Another situation about new requirements for your program partners I was never brought in or should I say Casa Samba is never brought in to talk about new changes in policies and programs.
- Requirements; policies and procedures go into effect we are never ask if the requirements are applicable to your Partners that or using the centers I can only speak for the Annunciation Center this is the problem no one ever comes to annunciation location to converse with us about new plans and guidelines to both improve and make our programs better for both Casa Samba and NORDC.
- Wearing a badge to teach a class in my programs is a serious safety hazard for the class I teach Capoeira a martial art class. This badge flies off and hits one of my students in the eyes and blind them or even slip and fall on the badge then Casa Samba will be liable for this lawsuit. We will not be able to wear a badge due to the hazardous safety conditions. This is a perfect example of not communicating with your program partners before you put policies and procedures in place.
Where did that policy coming from?
This policy was never in my contract but, you threaten to withhold funds from Casa Samba because of a new policy that you implemented without including it in my contract, for the requirement of check stubs for doing a non-tangible service. My understanding is that these check stubs war for things that we had to purchase an audit. services we do not purchase anything to do our services. The funding that we receive goes to 100% payroll.
We have to mop the floors and maintain a clean area in order to help the staff because the building is understaffed there is no maintenance person on duty at any time.
Forcing partners to wear IDs not considering the hazards that could cause in classes in particularly like martial arts and high energy dance classes. For the high energy and high impact classes that we teach at our cultural classes, an ID tag could be hazardous to the class bad. If the badge Falls off without someone knowing about it opens the door for a huge possibility to hurt himself really bad.) Why this is necessary when you enter the building you are greeted by NORDC employee representative wearing a NORDC shirt and a badge this extra need of instructors to wear badges is a complete waste of funds Like our children’s program. This policy leaves you wide open for lawsuits plus it’s one of the ways to misappropriate funds. If there was more communication with the partners in the interest of sitting down at the table together to work out things like this instead of having so much confusion which could’ve been avoided.
Summer camps want all group members to sign in as representatives of – Casa Samba for the past two years we have had this problem no one has addressed it as of yet. This is against Casa Samba’s Company policy to have non-board members sign any documents for Casa Samba. Only the members of our board can sign as representatives. No one bothered to ask about this detail
Where did that policy coming from? but I was forced to excepted.)
Casa Samba has been required to perform administrative duties without pay in order take in attendance list for over 10 years knowing this should be administrative duties. While this information should only be required for paid instructors.
For the NORDC un-officials 15 your partnership we have had with NORDC at no time were we called to the table to discuss any future programming to be created produced are invented by NORDC. At this point in time Casa Samba is under the operation of take it or leave it basis We understand that we are supposed to be in a partnership but the partnership is only working to the best interest of NORDC while we take the financial hits of the free classes and services we do provide. But in return, we are hit with small technicalities that could potentially put us out of the category a receiving any type of funding although it is for work.
We would like to see how Casa Samba is benefiting from being a partner with NORDC you have directed and partner with several programs particularly
The ballet Association {they basically have their own space}
You created fit Nola: We were asked to be under the umbrella of fit Nola which is totally contradictory to our policies. In the public eye, Casa Samba would be considered a subsidiary of fit Nola, which focuses the identity to Fit Nola and not Casa Samba who is actually producing this service.
Exercise happens in our classes but it is not the focal point of our classes our classes are educational. NORDC does not truly understand what Casa Samba is about. Casa Samba is an educational Cultural Organization we educate people about Afro Brazilian cultures to better to have an understanding of the African cultures transferred through the slave trade I’m us to help afro American, as well as all people, understand the different parts of history.
Zumba and Pilates are trademark organizations that extend opportunities to entrepreneurs to teach these dance classes. These organizations pay their instructors to go out and teach these classes Norton incorporated the same policies by hiring them as private contractors to do classes. These companies have endless funding to continue to promote their products in particular Zumba. You can find Zumba in any exercise club in the country, you’ll find Zumba and every community center you can find Zumba just about anywhere.
- Try to find a samba class literally impossible in New Orleans
- Try to find a samba class with live musicians him possible
- Try to find a Samba class with a master teacher in Louisiana other than Casa Samba impossible
NORDC has one of the only programs of its kind In the entire southern region. A one-of-a-kind program that you choose to neglect. A program that created and directed by a master artist and musician living, working and Sharing all of his knowledge in his own neighborhood and it his city trying to work with his community, providing free programming for children under age 18 but we still see the development of new programming as well as partners
Strings Program; You’ve you found a sponsor for your program which all new instruments were purchased for this program.
Well, we have had a children’s drumming program for 15 years and we’re still playing on chairs. I donated the chairs that they sit on as well as the drums they play on why hasn’t anyone come to see my program and do a quality assessment on my program to see the things that we need.
Stem Nola one of your newest partners and there was money found for this program, Somewhere around $24,000 a year for 12 sessions a year two times a month at the different centers
Casa Samba has had free programs for kids for 15 years I’m still waiting for assistance!!!
All current Partners that have some type of particular arrangement with NORDC that they were able to successfully get funding for their programs through a third party organization. We would like to know how this happens and can you assist us with this.