Launch Pad Program Partnership
("Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Doers of the Future")
The IGL Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring people together to learn, compete and play.
We leverage the popularity of the video game industry through hosting tournament Fundraising events, which in turn we are able to provide a low cost exciting Digital Arts curriculum that revolves around the core learning programs included in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math.
Over the years we have hosted dozens of STEM Programs and gaming events at local New Orleans schools. These events showcase educational seminars, local businesses, animation and video workshops, gaming tournaments and much more. The goal is to be both fun and educational, while at the same time better preparing students to be a part of today’s technology-driven workforce economy.
Mission Statement: Creating career opportunities by introducing students to the new age of software, digital arts and technology through educational exposure and project base learning. The main focus of Digital Arts Training Academy’s (D.A.T.A.) program is to improve prospects and career paths for youth.
D.A.T.A. stands by providing a friendly environment and staff that are committed to the creative learning process while equipping students with a skill sets that are in high demand.
Launch Pad Membership Incentive
Launch Pad members receive a variety of key technology tools that will be beneficial for any business beginner or entrepreneur. We believe the cooperative partnership would not only increase business growth for members, but will create job opportunities for students in the future!
- Project Development
-Video Content Creation
- Graphic Designs
-Website Maintenance
-Marketing
- Events brand recognition (Over 100 events)
Free Annual Services for Members
(Student Assistance)
How does it work?
The DATA League works with high school groups and students that attend IGL Foundation DATA Program throughout the state. Students are given certain tasks and projects to complete which are assigned by the business owner. These assignments can be anything from creating digital arts media social platforms, software development to data collection and finding project solutions. All students will receive the same task or challenge so that business owner can choose from multiple student-based solutions before choosing what fits there company the best. Students accumulate points for every challenge they win throughout the school year either collectively or individually. At the end of school year points are calculated and scholarships or grants go to top winners. This allows a youthful fresh technology-based perspective on solutions which inspires innovation within the company to stimulate its growth and financial aid to students for their educational goals.
All students in our program are trained by our staff in different areas to accomplish each project. Students are given deadlines, taught project management, and set goals to get work completed for both short-term and long-term projects within the program. Project competitions are a way of increasing technology skills training, enhance team building and enhances workforce development by having students cooperatively compete. This also advances a student's entry level resume to include actual skills based experience that is necessary in the job market.
The bonus to students being able to potentially earn scholarships and grants throughout the course of a year, is that the student can also qualify to earn, elective credits for school, CTE certifications and take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities.
How do students benefit?
Gaming Events
For a game developer, we could be their greatest asset, in that IGL hosts over 100 events per year between our student and amateur leagues in both large and small arenas which showcases their game to the main consumers, perform game testing, reviews, and receive instant feedback.
Even if Launch Pad members are not indie game developers, the opportunity to consistently be in front of students, parents and all other attendees to market a product for free is extremely cost efficient for marketing and financially beneficial!
Free ( Vendor Setup) for Launch Pad members
Our Network
Currently we are gearing up for our biggest year yet for both our gaming and educational programs. We just established partnerships with a school network throughout the state and joined with several student-based organizations, like the Kiwanis Club, which have given us access high school students reach throughout the state. We also have a partnership with the largest online home school institution in the state, University View Academy.
August 2019 is our projected date for expansion of our program from working with only 30+ schools to accessing 500-1,000 students through our platforms, partnerships and fundraising campaigns.
Where do we Start?
1) Nola Gaming Fest 19
2) DATA Summer Training Camp
3)Planing & Development
Nola Gaming Fest
(Fundraising & Advertising)
NOLA Gaming Fest- Nola Gaming Fest event is our annual fundraiser that helps fund all our programs throughout the year to not only make our educational programs more affordable, but to increase the network of all our Gaming Leagues.
With partnering on the horizon, we would like to use all donations towards this event so that we can enhance our access to students during the summer hours and increase our attendance in the summer camp. Summer access to students is crucial, as we have longer hours with the students and more time to engage and develop their skills. We would definitely like to announce this news at Nola Gaming Fest and increase student engagement and advertising efforts early at our summer camps which would also assist with program fundraising.
Summer Training
Our summer training programs are at an all time high this summer since we started the program 8 years ago! We have two separate site locations that we facilitate programs at, however, our operation site and model school is located in the Noble Minds building on South Carrollton.
Our other remote locations will be all Einstein Charter Schools in New Orleans East, and the Heroes of New Orleans facility in Algiers.
Planing & Development
An operational analysis is needed upon implementation of the Launch Pad/IGL Foundation Cooperative Initiative to get a better outlook of the needs of the members. This would help us best develop the projects, curriculum and events starting in August.
We will also use this same time period to connect with more schools in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas along with surrounding parishes close to our training sites.