Opportunity | Equity | Youth and Family Voice | Access | Action
What Have We Been Up To?
OYF is now on social media! Follow us on Instagram @oyfnola
OYF and OCD Launch Housing Assistance Program for Educators
The Office of Youth and Families and Office of Community Development launched the Down Payment Assistance for Educators Program, a new initiative meant to address educator and teacher shortages in Orleans Parish. This $1.5 million initiative provides down payment assistance to childcare workers, school paraprofessionals, public school teachers in grades K-12, and school behavioral health professionals. Applicants are eligible to receive up $70,000 in interest-free forgivable loans to assist with the purchase of a home. To learn more and start the application process, visit: Down Payment Assistance for Educators
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Increasing Transit Access through RTA/School Pilots
In partnership with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), YouthForce NOLA, RIDE New Orleans and Living School, OYF announced a school transit pilot program for students from the Living School to use public transit as their primary mode of transportation to and from school. This initiative aligns with the call to action in the citywide Youth Master Plan published by OYF in partnership with the Children and Youth Planning Board. The plan calls for expanding affordable transit access for young people so that they can get connected to school, work, and recreational opportunities.
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Community Stakeholders Canvas Local Businesses to Increase Awareness about School Attendance
In September, OYF teamed up with NOLA-PS and several other community stakeholders to canvas communities across the city and increase awareness about the importance of school attendance. Representatives from the City, NOPD, and the District Attorney's office worked with NOLA-PS staff to visit businesses in various council districts and speak with business owners to encourage students to attend school. Tackling chronic absenteeism and truancy remains a top priority and OYF will continue to host quarterly working group meetings to track collective progress.
City-Wide Park and Recreation Master Plan Launch
On October 3rd, park partners and city agencies gathered for a citywide parks master plan kick-off meeting. The parks master plan launch was facilitated by Design Workshop-- a national design and planning firm that has done substantial work both locally and across the nation. During this initial meeting, the group discussed the plan's focus on equitable access and environmental resilience. Additionally, the group began to outline a comprehensive community engagement process that will engage the input of youth, adults, and senior citizens across every council district. Interested in participating in the plan? Email us at youthandfamilies@nola.gov to be added to our email list.
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OYF Signature Program Updates
'Mayor for a Day' Contest Winners are Sworn in as Deputy Mayors
Last spring, the Office of Youth and Families launched the 3rd annual Mayor for a Day essay contest, open to all NOLA youth ages 11-18. Mayor Cantrell chose three winners from three different age categories. Each winner had the opportunity to spend all day with Mayor Cantrell and held their own meetings with various department heads.
Austin Ogbuefi, 17, is a senior at Benjamin Franklin High School and he focused on infrastructure and resilience. Declan Samuelson, 12, is a 7th grader at Homer Plessy, and he learned about how to realize his vision of turning vacant land into cultural community parks. And Scarlet Martinez, 15, is a 10th grader at Walter Cohen High School, and she was interested in how to reduce the unemployment rate, support immigrants, and promote women’s health.
Our office is proud of Austin, Declan, and Scarlet along with the numerous other applicants who continue to demonstrate that youth in New Orleans care deeply about their city and are eager to engage in a civic environment. To learn more about the Mayor for a Day essay contest, visit www.nola.gov/m4day and stay tuned for the launch of the next contest in Spring 2023!
The Parent Leadership Training Institute Launches 9th Cohort!
OYF is excited to welcome the 9th cohort of the Parent Leadership Training Institute. This new class of parent leaders will embark on a 20-week journey where they will develop their leadership skills and implement impactful advocacy projects.
PLTI is a signature program of the Office of Youth and Families that engages parents and caregivers in a free course to develop leadership and advocacy skills on behalf of their children. For more information visit www.nola.gov/PLTI and stay tuned for updates on PLTI community projects!
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Pathways Program Hosts an Internship Fair
The 8th cohort of the Pathways program is underway! Pathways is a 15-week program that combines work readiness training, personal development, conflict resolution, mindfulness, and hands-on job experiences to provide opportunities for youth who have interacted with the juvenile justice system.
In late August participants had the opportunity to learn from several local businesses in order to select an internship placement. All youth are fully engaged in meaningful placements that are helping them acquire invaluable work readiness skills. Shout out to employer partners including Crazy Plant Bae, Community Bookstore, Canine Behavior Solutions, Treme Market Branch, Ragz to Stitches, RicRack, STARZ Automotive, Revolution Real Estate, NOLA Organic Spa, Barber Madness, and Friends of the Freedom House!
Are you interested in supporting young people as they navigate new pathways? Are you a business that can provide a supportive internship experience? Please contact pathways@gracefullymindful.org
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Community Resources
Save the Date: Annual Night Out Against Crime October 4th
Ubuntu Village Juvenile Justice Education Series: Save the Date!
New Orleans Public Library Partners with Planned Parenthood to Present "Starting Early Conversations"
The New Orleans Public Library has teamed up with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast to present “Starting Early Conversations,” a 4-part workshop series for families with early elementary students to discuss age-appropriate sex education resources. This program is designed for children ages 5-8 and their caregivers and will focus on conversations around healthy bodies, families, birth, and celebrations.
The workshops will be held every Thursday in October from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Algiers Regional Library. Space is limited. Register at events.nolalibrary.org.
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NOPL Teen Advisory Board
Teens can make their voices heard by joining the Library’s Teen Advisory Board. TAB members have the opportunity to share their thoughts about how the Library can better serve youth patrons by helping to plan programs and events, suggest products and services, and more. The group is open to students in grades 6-12 and meets on the 2nd floor of Main Library from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. Visit nolalibrary.org/youth/teens/ to learn more.
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Mini Masters at the Library: Connecting Art and Early Literacy
Children ages 2-5 and their caregivers can connect art and early literacy at Mini Masters at the Library, presented by the New Orleans Public Library and New Orleans Museum of Art. Hosted at Norman Mayer Library at 10:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month through December, participants will engage in hands-on art-making activities and develop the skills needed to become ready to read. Register here!
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NORD Fall Movies in the Park Series
The fall season of Movies in the Park has begun! This is three months of free family friendly outdoor films at NORD sites across the City. Join us every Friday evening for a family friendly movie. Movies begin at sundown, and admission is free. Picnics and blankets are welcome. For a complete list of movies, dates, and locations visit nordc.org or follow us on social media @NORDCommission.
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Halloween at NORD!
Join us October 31 for NORD's annual Halloween Spooktacular events taking place at multiple NORD locations across the City. Each event is free, and includes family-friendly games, activities, costume contests, prizes or raffles, and of course, trick or treating for candy. Some locations will also have haunted halls and activities for those who can handle a little spook! |
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Save the Date: TRUNK-OR-TREAT October 29th
CMP Educational Consulting Services is hosting its 3rd Annual Community Trunk or Treat. Last year, more than 100 volunteers and sponsors worked to make this event a success for more than 400 children.
The event will be held at McDonogh 35 (Parking Lot) from 1:30-4pm.
If you would like to sponsor this event or volunteer as a trunker, please contact Dr.Chanel M. Payne (504) 408-1665 or cmpedu@yahoo.com.
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Community Spotlights
Be Loud Studios
Be Loud Studios’ is a New Orleans nonprofit that asks K-12 students to speak up! Their mission is to amplify kid confidence through radio and digital media production. Whether it is with a microphone or a camera, Be Loud trusts youth to be creators–not solely consumers–and to hold space to practice their loudness. Our culture often devalues the voices of youth, especially BIPOC youth, so Be Loud works with all students not to teach them creativity, but to amplify the creativity that is already within them.
Be Loud just started their Fall Season of Be Loud Live- a weekly program where middle schoolers write, record, and edit their own radio segments. They interview city leaders and collaborate to amplify their voices. Last year, Billboard Magazine featured a visit to Preservation Hall where the Preservation Hall Legacy Band performed for the youth, who then interviewed the musicians and recorded their reflections.
Be Loud Radio Hour airs every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM on 102.3 FM, compiling the work of youth and over twenty local nonprofits and schools. To get more involved with Be Loud as a parent or teacher (we record with teachers as well), contact alex@beloudstudios.org. Also listen to the show starting Saturday, October 8 at 9:30AM on WHIV 102.3 FM! You can also find new episodes on the website- beloudstudios.org. Thanks for listening!
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Heroes of New Orleans (HONO)
Heroes of New Orleans (HONO) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization, dedicated to improving the health, education, human welfare, and being a service holistically to youth, families, elderly, and the community.
HONO's mission is to engage youth in various programs and activities while allowing them to interact with the everyday "heroes" in our community including business leaders, motivational speakers, celebrities, political figures and concerned citizens that are compassionate about youth success. At HONO, the staff empowers youth through proper mentorship and community-building activities to encourage positive choices and to develop a sense of awareness for community concerns. HONO aims to create a movement of care in the community for our senior citizens through services in socialization and activities to ensure their quality of life.
You can help by volunteering, donating, participating or supporting! Visit Heroes of New Orleans at 3712 Anson Street New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 381-5150 heroesofnola@gmail.com www.heroesofnola.org.
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In the News
Job Postings
New Orleans Recreation Development Commission
To learn more about NORDC job opportunities, follow this link. For more information about employment opportunities, contact Brianne Hart at NORD 504-658-3052 or bchart@nolagov.
New Orleans Public Libraries
Visit NOPL's website to learn more about employment opportunities.
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