Carla Briggs is the founder of Viola’s Breads in New Orleans.
Mina Seck is the Community Food Director of SproutNOLA.
CARLA BRIGGS OF VIOLA’S HERITAGE BREADS
& MINA SECK WITH SPROUTNOLA TO RECEIVE
LES DAMES D’ESCOFFIER NEW ORLEANS LEADING FROM THE HEART AWARDS
Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) New Orleans has announced the two grant recipients for the 2025 Leading from the Heart Awards. These recipients, who will each receive a $2,500 grant, are Carla Briggs, founder of Viola’s Heritage Breads, and MIna Seck, Community Food Director of SproutNOLA.
In keeping with Les Dames New Orleans’ philanthropic mission, the Leading from the Heart Award program honors women in the 10-parish Greater New Orleans community who have made a positive impact in hospitality, sustainability and/or food justice. "The work Carla and Mina are doing is more than noteworthy — they have had a profound impact on our community and the industries at the heart of our mission,” said LDEI New Orleans chapter president Dee Lavigne. “We had a truly impressive list of nominees for this year’s awards. Our hope is to grow fundraising efforts for our Leading from the Heart grants so that we can honor and support even more women in our community in the future.”
“These two remarkable women are trailblazers in our community and it’s an honor for our chapter to support their vision and their work,” said Rebecca Schattman, the New Orleans chapter vice president of philanthropy.
The grants will be presented at the Leading from the Heart Awards breakfast on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 9 AM – 11 AM at Alma Cafe - Mid-City, 301 N. Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans. The event is open to the public and tickets, priced at $55 per person, can be purchased from Les Dames New Orleans’ website.
Carla Briggs, 2025 Award Recipient
Carla, the founder of Viola’s Heritage Breads, is a chef, educator and entrepreneur committed to uplifting others through food, community and education. Her $2,500 grant will fund an immersive, educational experience for junior high school girls, including a hands-on baking workshop and walking tour highlighting The People’s Bakery, a black-owned cooperative in post-Civil War New Orleans, and other Reconstruction-era stories of entrepreneurship, resilience and community.
Mina Seck, 2025 Award Recipient
Mina is the Community Food Director of SproutNOLA, a non-profit that supports established and developing small-scale and sustainable farmers, community gardeners and farm workers in Louisiana with technical and social support. The organization’s $2,500 grant will fund new community classes focused on the arts, herbalism and cooking, including teacher stipends, materials and supplies.
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