Andre Perry is the Associate Director for Educational Initiatives for Loyola Institute for Quality and Equity in Education. The Institute assesses the success of post-Katrina education reforms and also creates enrichment opportunities for students in the metro area. Prior to, he served as the CEO of the Capital One-University of New Orleans Charter Network, which was comprised of four charter schools in New Orleans.

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Close Ties wins Best Film and Best Documentary at Texas Black Film Festival. Congratulations to Director Gemal Woods!

Close Ties: Tying on a New Tradition provides an intimate look at a rites of passage ceremony that connects teenage boys with male role models. The ceremony at this New Orleans barbershop was created by Dr. Andre Perry and Wilbert “Chill” Wilson as a way to strengthen communities struggling with crime, poverty and alarming high school drop out rates.

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Perry uses creative non-fiction to tell the story of an idealistic professor, Dr. Isaac Boyd, who quickly ascends to the forefront of the post-Katrina charter school movement–a movement deemed unsympathetic as it takes control of persistently failing schools from the hands of local community leaders. Tensions rise as out-of-town reformers and local community members compete for resources and authority. While adult battles reach a fever pitch, high school students Loren and Katura set their own paths to improve schooling for New Orleans.

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