Dakota is President and Co-Founder of Harlem Late Night Jazz, Inc., a New York State Non-profit Corporation. Dakota was born on the Mississippi River in the cradle of Rag Time; raised in the birth place of Miles Davis (Alton Ill.) and came of age in the jazz, blues and rock n roll music cauldron of East St Louis. Dakota is an avid music lover and supporter and is proud to serve on the board of directors of the Jazz Foundation of America. He previously served as Director of Time Capsule, a United Nations NGO dedicated to the preservation of Jazz. Dakota also proudly serves on the (board of the) Hormel Foods Corporation. Other prior board affiliations include: Harlem Children’s Zone, New York City Sports Commission, and the Goodwill Games.