Central to all forthcoming activities is the non-profit foundation Minton’s Mentors. The organization, dedicated to contributing to the Harlem community, will enhance knowledge and share awareness of the role of jazz as the major indigenous musical genre of the United States through a variety of community-oriented and educational programs.
Minton’s Mentors aims to achieve these goals through outreach programs that include free jazz performances throughout Harlem, free lectures at Minton’s about the history of jazz, and providing internships within jazz and the recording industry for aspiring professionals. Minton’s Mentors will also work closely with the club in developing family-oriented jazz shows, as well as free outdoor concerts for the public.
Seeking to firmly establish jazz as integral to the community, Minton’s mentors will also develop a range of programs dedicated to education and personal development for children, as well as organizing free sporting teams and events.
Each summer, Minton’s Mentors will host two jazz camps in partnership with Camp Seneca Lake in Honsdale, PA. The camps will feature seminars, performances, master classes, and intensive one-on-one attention for students. These jazz camps will function in conjunction with Minton’s artist residencies and with its partnership with Fort Hare University. The first camp takes place in April 2009.