About

The Couvent Collective: Empowering Entrepreneurs and Students - From Classroom to Career

The Couvent Collective is a Public Benefit Corporation and social enterprise dedicated to empowering underserved business owners, students, and communities. Inspired by Marie Justine Cirnaire Couvent, a free woman of color who established the first school for Black children in the Deep South in 1837, we champion innovation, access, and growth across education and entrepreneurship.

Founded by Kim M. Braud, a Louisiana native with over 30 years of expertise in training, business strategy, marketing, and financial services, The Couvent Collective bridges the gap between opportunity and access for women, veterans, re-entry individuals, and underserved entrepreneurs.

Our Educational Initiatives:

Financial Power for Life™ is Louisiana's first state-specific high school financial literacy curriculum, built to meet the HB 52 mandate requiring all Class of 2027 graduates to pass a financial literacy course. The comprehensive 300+ page curriculum includes Louisiana-specific content such as TOPS scholarship planning, hurricane financial preparedness, parish-level economic data, and culturally responsive lessons honoring Louisiana's diverse communities.

Lark & Mimi™ Learning Series introduces financial literacy to Pre-K and kindergarten students through engaging storytelling and age-appropriate money concepts, building foundational skills from early childhood.

Financial Power for Life™ Athlete Edition (launching mid-2026) provides comprehensive financial education for NIL-eligible high school and college athletes, as well as professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and MLS.

Our Business & Entrepreneurship Initiatives:

Evans Cutchmore Literary Marketing is a marketing-first publishing house built for authors who want more than just a book on a shelf. We provide exceptional writers with the tools, strategy, and visibility to dominate their markets through ARC boxes, retail distribution, media kits, pre-order campaigns, and the Author Growth Lab resource hub.

The Maker System, Veterans United Transportation, and Frigatebird Inc. deliver technology-driven tools, practical education, and a supportive community for entrepreneurs across manufacturing, product-based sales, and logistics industries.

Business Resource Library offers exclusive access to step-by-step guides, industry-specific contract and supplier lists, live training, and expert strategies to help small businesses scale.

Grants, Scholarships & Funding Support:
•     The Marie Couvent Scholarship and The Margery Cutchmore Visionary Grant support underserved entrepreneurs and students
•     Monthly grant subscription service delivers curated funding opportunities for small businesses
•     Business loan partnerships through Lightbox Lending provide mission-aligned capital access
•     Grant writing services help schools and organizations secure Title I reallocations, bank CRA partnerships, and traditional grants

With a Georgia base and a planned relocation to New Orleans by the summer of 2026, The Couvent Collective delivers comprehensive implementation solutions, ranging from curriculum development and professional training to funding strategies and business growth support.

Beyond being a service provider, we are a catalyst for change, working to provide every entrepreneur and student with the information, funding, and assistance they need to build enduring wealth for generations.

Learn more at www.thecouventcollective.com