Black-owned spaces are endangered in our city. Give today to keep open the vital community spaces where people organize, celebrate, and cooperate.

Our Story

In late 2015, the Yisrael Family acquired an 8000-square-foot building on Historic Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans. As a family, they fundraised $250K over three years to develop this 8,000 sq ft building to get it back in productive use. The Yisrael family at the “TLC” collaborated with many other community-focused programs in New Orleans such as True Love Movement (a mental health and wellness company) and Amaru Community Homeschool (a thriving community school for children ages 5-15).

The center was established as a bustling community center that over time evolved into a dynamic space for power-charged events, talent showcases, and learning hubs. The “Life Center” was an important space for the 7th ward, “Claiborne Corridor” but driven by failing city infrastructure, landlord false commitments, and capitalist forces, Tombar Life Center was closed.

The Yisrael family relocated fully to 1701 St. Anthony in 2019.

When the pandemic happened in 2020 it abruptly ended live, in person events, the community events that were the Yisrael family’s mainstay. Instead of giving up on their dream to curate a space to uplift the community, the Yisrael family began envisioning how a corner store in the heart of the 7th ward in New Orleans could be transformed to bring light to the community surrounding it. Riddled by poverty and crime, the neighborhood they lived in could’ve made them weary, but instead, the family came together in partnership with two trusted collaborators Ayanna Molina of True Love Movement and recording artist Deby Mc. Along with the Yisrael family, Ayanna and Deby are now in the process of building a cooperative business called Urban Dream.

Constructing a cooperative business (supported by Cooperation New Orleans) has been a serious focus of time and energy, but together this incredible group of artists, activists, and entrepreneurs has been painstakingly planning to bring the mission and vision to fruition.

 Products such as healthy food, services such as financial planning and mental health support, as well as an event space to have positive community-driven events, are what make Urban Dream different. With a focus on community development and celebrating community power, Urban Dream is becoming what the Yisrael family always dreamed it would be: a place to create a prosperous and equitable community that celebrates creativity, unity, and engagement. Urban Dream’s vision is that with inspiration and cooperation, every individual and family will thrive and contribute to its collective success.

Our excitement as a team is growing every day. We center our thinking on how important this project is to our own lives and the lives of community partners who come through the doors of 1701 St. Anthony St. As we are readying ourselves to realize our collective dreams, we know we are stronger together. This is what we call the Urban Dream!

Stay tuned in to this work with us!