The LeSane Project, Inc. is an initiative that focuses on using mentoring, entrepreneurship, and the arts

to drive positive educational and economic outcomes.

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Our mission is to inspire youth to create a better life for self, family, and their community

by exposing them to a variety of career choices and providing opportunities for gainful employment

through internships and apprenticeships.

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We hope to serve as a tool to create more entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Participation in this program will lead to an increase in confidence, personal development, and the likelihood of high-school graduation and post-secondary graduation for all participants.

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Founder’s History 

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While growing up in Pompano Beach and attending Pompano Beach High School, The LeSane Project’s founder, Jazzmann LeSane spent much of her time participating in extracurricular activities and clubs. After graduating, she attended Florida State University, motivated but unsure of which career path to choose. After serving for two years with City Year Jacksonville, Jazzmann began to

observe the same struggle to choose a career she’d experienced among the youth she worked with and set on

the journey to establish The LeSane Project. Our founder, Jazzmann LeSane, has built a strong foundation with the students, staff,

and community surrounding Pompano Beach and Blanche Ely High School. In 2017, The LeSane Project partnered with

the Dreamers 4 Change Foundation to take five girls who attend Blanche Ely High School to Trinidad and Tobago.

We have also co-hosted the Lemonade Workshop Series three times for young girls in Pompano Beach.

 

Organization History

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From 2016-2017, our first year in operation, we met bi-weekly with a group of 10 middle and high school students for Saturday retreats under a pavilion at Apollo Park in Pompano Beach, Florida. After a few months we moved to the Mitchell Moore Recreation Center.

Each session included a set of team-building, career exploration activities, and guest speakers. 

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The second year, we established a presence at Blanche Ely High School. Study Hall consisted of facilitating games and activities that served as team-builders, career exploration activities, group discussions, and inviting guest speakers.

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Our third year, we pivoted into our entrepreneurship focus starting with a group of thirty 9th-12th grade students at Blanche Ely High School. The group met twice a week, during lunch, in The LeSane Project’s classroom where they learned the fundamentals of building a business. We facilitated local field trips to 8 millennial owned businesses. We continued to have guest speakers visit the school to share their entrepreneurial journeys. On June 15, 2019, The LeSane Project hosted a Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase where 14 students presented their business or business ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of parents, peers, and community members.