Rock & Rouge Foundation empowers women in the Greater New Orleans area through events such as Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival & beyond, Just March Women New Orleans, benefit concerts, and more. Below is an archive of each project that Rock & Rouge Foundation has participated in or hosted.
If we share values and you would like us to participate in your project, please know that invites are warmly welcomed!
2020 Projects
Microsoft’s “International Women’s Day: Women’s Networking Event”
As a women’s organization, Rock & Rouge Foundation loves meeting the women of our community. On International Women’s Day 2020, Rock & Rouge Foundation hosted a networking brunch event with Microsoft. We gathered with the women from Upturn Arts, Like Minded Ladies, and other powerhouses to discuss our businesses and other professional pursuits. What better way to celebrate women’s empowerment on International Women’s Day?
Harrah’s Grant Award Reception
On February 5, 2020, Rock & Rouge Foundation had the honor of accepting a grant from Harrah’s Casino and New Orleans City Council. This grant was intended to support the S.T.E.A.M. Tent at the 2020 Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival, which was unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19. Instead, this grant was used to help female students continue their education. We sincerely thank Harrah’s Casino and New Orleans City Council for helping make our mission a reality.
2019 Projects
Rock For Your Reproductive Rights!
Last October, a series of anti-abortion laws were up for debate across the southern United States, threatening the right to choose. This urged Rock & Rouge Foundation to participate in Rock For Reproductive Rights: A Benefit to Support the Right to Choose. It was a rockin’ night, plus all proceeds were donated to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast & New Orleans Abortion Fund.
Rock & Rouge Foundation’s Fundraiser to Kick Breast Cancer
Rock & Rouge Foundation’s Fundraiser to Kick Breast Cancer was an event we hosted at Montrose Bowl in Montrose, CA, to raise money for our dear friend, a mother and sister, who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Montrose Bowl is an 8-lane 1950s-themed vintage bowling alley located at 2334 Honolulu Ave.
Each ticket purchase automatically entered attendees into our door raffle, as well as providing food and bowling. Raffle prizes included merchandise from our sponsor, Louisiana Music Factory, and a commemorative T-shirt from the first Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival. Live music was provided by frontwoman Lani Ramos of Big Pearl & the Fugitives of Funk, who brought the West Coast a taste of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Rock & Rouge Foundation’s Fundraiser to Kick Breast Cancer was also an open-mic event for local female or non-binary musicians, poets, speakers, and more. Breast cancer survivors were welcome to get up and share their stories as well. The fundraiser benefited a local Southern Californian cancer center as well as our friend’s medical costs.
Big Pearl’s B-Day Bash Fundraiser for Rock & Rouge Foundation
On October 9, 2019, Rock & Rouge Foundation’s co-founder, Lani Ramos, celebrated a milestone birthday by hosting Big Pearl’s B-Day Bash Fundraiser for Rock & Rouge Foundation. The benefit concert took place at the historic Le Bon Temps Roule bar on Magazine Street and featured food by local pop-up Chaat NOLA. All door proceeds went directly to fund Rock & Rouge Foundation’s grants. It was a night of fun with family and friends, all for a good cause!
Rock & Rouge Foundation at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce business conference and trade show
Lani Ramos represented Rock & Rouge Foundation at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce business conference and trade show on August 7, 2019, at Harrah’s New Orleans. Throughout the day, she raised awareness about Rock & Rouge Foundation, as well as Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival & beyond. It was an honor to be alongside other businesses and organizations that are owned, operated, and supported by our prosperous Latin and Hispanic communities!
Boogie For Your Right: An Event Supporting The Right To Choose
Rock & Rouge Foundation was honored to be a part of Boogie For Your Right: An Event Supporting Your Right to Choose at The Howlin’ Wolf on July 19, 2019. Boogie For Your Right was a benefit concert supporting reproductive rights and the organizations that fight for them. It was a spectacular event for the NOLA community, featuring tables from organizations such as Rock & Rouge Foundation, Louisiana Trans Advocates, Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response Center, and New Orleans Abortion Fund. Entertainment was provided by local legends Lani Ramos, Miss Mojo, Valerie Sassyfras, and DJ Soul Sister. Ticket and raffle proceeds went to the organizations that serve women of the New Orleans community.
Just March! Women New Orleans
Just March! Women New Orleans is an independent, local march for women, men, and non-binary individuals of Louisiana who want to make their voices heard. Founded in 2019, we march to defend the rights of all people, no matter race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, or age. Just March! Women New Orleans is not an affiliate of Women’s March, Inc., but stands in solidarity with their “Unity Principles,” which are peace, love, and standing up for women’s rights against oppression, violence, sexual harassment, unequal pay, gender equality, and so forth. Down here in New Orleans, we embrace diversity and stand in unity, for it is truly what makes us stronger!
Our first march was held Saturday, March 9th, the day after International Women’s Day. We congregated on the steps of City Hall, proceeded to march, and then returned to City Hall to showcase speakers and musicians.
Great Day Louisiana
https://wwltv.com/embeds/video/289-fb769689-6455-4e32-a59a-eea02a74c376/iframe?jwsource=cl
WWLTV’s Great Day Louisiana graciously welcomed us onto their show for an interview with the organizers of Just March! Women New Orleans. You can click on the above to watch the interview. Thanks for having us, Great Day Louisiana.
Boycott Bowl
The New Orleans Saints worked hard to place 1st in the NFC South for the 2018-2019 football season. Naturally, the city of New Orleans was outraged when the NFL robbed the Saints of the opportunity to win their second Super Bowl. So, on Super Bowl Sunday 2019, where could you find us die-hard Saints fans? At New Orleans’ first Boycott Bowl in Fulton Alley.
Rock & Rouge Foundation assembled a showcase of women artists to perform in the early afternoon, effectively getting our fellow Saints fans rockin’ & rougin’ at Boycott Bowl for the rest of their fun-filled day. We were honored to be part of this amazing community event that demonstrated, once again, the resiliency of New Orleanians and Saints fans across Louisiana.
2018 Projects
Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival & beyond
Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival & beyond is a music and food festival that gives women musicians, artists, and business owners an opportunity to showcase their services to the Greater New Orleans community. It is the first Rock ‘n’ Roll festival in New Orleans to feature a line-up consisting solely of women musicians. This one-day, family-friendly event features musical performances by women, women empowerment panels, and the Foundation-funded Tomboy S.T.E.A.M. Tent for engaging young girls in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.
Below is a video of beloved New Orleans icon, Irma Thomas, The Soul Queen of New Orleans, performing “(You Can Have My Husband But Please) Don’t Mess With My Man” at Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival in 2018. It was the perfect ending to an amazing day for women in New Orleans.
Rock and Rouge Foundation 