Lede New Orleans was founded in 2020 by Jen Larino, a local journalist, and Ejaaz Mason, a local filmmaker and educator. The founders sought to meet a need for information and stories that are responsive and relevant to New Orleans' Black and brown communities by equipping local young people with skills, tools and resources to document their communities and make media. Through a global pandemic, racial unrest and social isolation, we've executed on that vision with the guidance of a leadership team with more than 80 years of combined experience in media, business and engagement in New Orleans.

Since March 2020, Lede New Orleans has trained 45young people in multimedia journalism and civic leadership through its paid Community Reporting Fellowship program; published 175 pieces of original youth-produced media about local issues; and connected more than 500 community members to the work of the fellowship through events that foster trusted space for civic dialogue and storytelling.