New Orleans, LA — Powered by The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and in collaboration with the Dorian Francis Foundation and Bar None By Design, Reality Check successfully completed its 2025 Mental Health & Anti-violence facilitator and mentor-led workshops— a transformative initiative adapted into a series of youth-centered workshops under the Beats & Lyrics Edutainment Bootcamp.
The summer schedule included a wide-reaching set of workshops that combined music, art, and media to empower teenagers while addressing critical issues around mental health and teen violence.
From June to August 2025, over 60 teenagers participated in creative, career-focused training sessions across multiple artistic disciplines including filming, event production, audio/video engineering, writing, painting, music production, marketing, and sound engineering.
Key program highlights included:
- ARCH: Beyond The Wall Mural Project (June 2 – Aug. 24, 2025) – A 12-week racial justice and healing initiative culminating in a community mural under the Claiborne Bridge dedicated to Tamborine & Fan.
- Dorian Francis Foundation Workshop (July 13, 2025) – A mental health and career development workshop that inspired youth to integrate mental wellness into a fashion show titled “Fashion Therapy.”
- Mental Health & Wellness Warrior Awardees Brunch (July 27, 2025) – Students gained hands-on event production experience while celebrating local mental health advocates.
- B.O.N.D. F.I.R.E. Virtual Workshops (Aug. 1, 2025) – Youth-led sessions promoting creative expression as a tool for liberation and political education.
- Black Youth Got Something to Say Brunch (Aug. 2, 2025) – A semi-annual truth-telling event where youth identified issues and worked toward community-driven solutions.
- 52 Cyphers Artist Development Workshop (Aug. 16, 2025) – Students connected with music industry professionals for training in artist development, marketing, and performance.
Impact at a Glance:
- 60+ youth directly engaged in workshops and events
- 85% of participants reported stronger self-expression and communication skills
- 95% reported greater awareness and understanding of mental health issues
- Original works created, including music compositions and a large-scale public mural
Kelwynn Napoleon founder of Reality Check adds this insight, “Our projects created a safe space for youth to confront difficult topics while gaining professional and creative skills. Our goal is to continue building opportunities that allow young people to transform their communities through art, resilience, and leadership.”
About Reality Check
Reality Check a non-profit organization provides mentorship and support to young people through the Arts, Technology, and Culture. Our mission is to promote social development and confidence building through self-expression, while also equipping young people with essential critical thinking and life skills, career development, and community engagement opportunities. With a focus on art therapy, mental health & wellness, and community building, we strive to empower and engage youth at every level, providing edutainment-based curriculums, field trips, lesson plans, programs, projects, workshops, and forums that promote productivity and competitiveness in a global economy. Our goal is to create a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people, helping them to become successful and engaged members of their communities.
