When the founders of the New Orleans African American Museum (NOAAM) envisioned a museum dedicated to preserving Black history and culture in New Orleans, they did so with deep conviction-believing that the stories, lives, and cultural traditions of Black New Orleanians mattered. That they deserved not only to be preserved, but to be celebrated for generations to come.

This GiveNOLA Day, we are proud to carry that legacy forward by launching a transformative new campaign: the renovation of one of Tremé's rare architectural gems-Villa Meilleur, built in 1726-into the Leah Chase Gallery. This beautiful historic building has stood through centuries of struggle and celebration, and now, with your help, it will be reborn as a space for honoring and uplifting Black creativity and community memory.

The Leah Chase Gallery will showcase key works from NOAAM's permanent collection and become a center for public engagement-with a reading room, digital media lab for oral history collection, and community archiving resources. It will be a space where Black stories live, breathe, and inspire future generations.

By supporting this campaign, you are helping to realize a vision that spans generations. You're investing in Tremé, in New Orleans, and in the broader legacy of the Black South. You're helping us protect vital histories and ensure that future Black creatives have a home to keep creating.