Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum
Our annual Forum brings together emerging leaders from across New Orleans to learn about the issues facing our city, and work toward solutions.
About the Forum
From Housing to Disaster Recovery, Economic Development to Cultural Preservation, the Forum takes a deep dive into the issues New Orleans faces and equips the next generation of leaders to impact change. Together, we learn, discuss, and grapple with the question — How do we build a Better New Orleans?
Each year, 50 emerging leaders are selected to participate in the Forum. Through weekly sessions, Forum participants learn from subject-matter experts, engage in an open discussion about New Orleans issues, and work toward solutions. We close with a retreat that gives hands-on, practical training on how to understand, navigate, and influence the decisions that impact your community. Since 1968, we’ve trained over 2,600 leaders.
2024 Forum Session Schedule
Regular sessions are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm - 8:30pm September 11th through November 13th, 2024. Dinner is provided. There are two Saturday sessions; at the beginning and end of the program, from 9:00am - 5:00pm. Saturday sessions include lunch.
Applications for our 2024 cohort are closed.
SEPTEMBER 7th (SATURDAY): Opening Retreat: City Tour
SEPTEMBER 11th: What is Equity?
SEPTEMBER 18th: New Orleans Government 101
SEPTEMBER 25th: Stories of Success - Movement Building & Culture
OCTOBER 2nd: Climate & Environment in the Crescent City
OCTOBER 9th: Housing
OCTOBER 16th: Health Equity & Wellness - Who survives and who thrives in New Orleans?
OCTOBER 23rd: Livable Cities
OCTOBER 30th: Business in the Bayou - Economic Development
NOVEMBER 6th: Youth & Education
NOVEMBER 13th: Crime & Justice
NOVEMBER 23rd (SATURDAY): Closing Retreat - Turning Knowledge into Action
December 4th: Graduation/Reunion Celebration
*Weekly location and exact titles subject to change*
Pricing: $400
Standard Pricing
The Forum costs $400 per participant. This may be paid by the participant, or by their employer. The cost covers dinner/lunch for each session, tour transportation, and administrative costs of the program, and supports CBNO’s work to build a better New Orleans.
Scholarships
Full & Partial Scholarships Available!
We believe money shouldn’t be a barrier to access this important conversation. Scholarships are available to applicants who cannot afford to pay the participation fee. See application for details. Our scholarship fund is in memory of 2017 Forum Alumna Sharree Walls, whose legacy of leadership was cut short in 2019.
Create a seat at the table.
Our Leadership Forum is a life-changing opportunity for participants to learn how the City works, how to use their power to make their community thrive, and who can help.
Help us provide scholarships to applicants who cannot afford to cover the cost of the program.
“You can't advocate for changes if you don't know who to go to or how to do it. I really appreciated the organizing portion and the power mapping with information about New Orleans's governmental structure and decision-makers. "
— Shirani Jayasuriya, Leadership Forum graduate (2022)
