 Opportunity | Equity | Youth and Family Voice | Access | Action
Let me start this letter by introducing myself. My name is Asya and I have had the pleasure of serving as the Director of the Office of Youth and Families for the past 10 months. This introduction feels a bit late given the start of the last quarter of the year, but as my high school summer intern might say, “life was life-ing" and my family was changing. In January my family grew by one as we welcomed my daughter Ellis- she is often at community meetings, so you have likely met her. And in May, my father passed. I share this because as the Director of Youth and Families, these changes in my family have deeply impacted how I do and aspire to serve families.
When Mayor LaToya Cantrell created our office in partnership with community stakeholders, it brought light to our collective need to better care for our best assets, our future, our children. It has meant that we needed to start looking at serving young people and the adults who pour into them every day more holistically. It means improving our collective quality of life, which not only means safety, but opportunity- opportunity to earn a decent living, to play, to learn, to grow old in a place you love. It means honoring the intergenerational influence and wisdom that lives within families. And it means listening to our young people when they tell us what they need and want- to be proactive.
To do this better, we have spent time in community listening, learning, and making sure that the Office of Youth and Families is always looking towards the future, while working to ensure every young person has the support they need to get there. For this reason, you will also notice that our newsletter layout has shifted (we like trying new things)! Our office often fills the role of connecting, convening and generally knowing what is happening in New Orleans in service of our youth and families. We have heard the community say that you want to know more about what is going on, so the newsletter has shifted to do just that. We are highlighting work being done on behalf of youth and their families and we want to encourage everyone to learn more about each entity. There is beautiful collaboration happening in the youth spaces, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the opportunity to continue to adjust. We are grateful to serve and are always here to be good partners to those who are invested in doing right by our future.
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 As we’ve transitioned into the fall and a new school year, our office also welcomes new beginnings for some of our signature programs and offerings. We are proud of the role that our programs play in bringing stability and opportunity to our youth, families, and neighborhoods. We hope to continue engaging a wide range of community members in all our offerings and activities.
In September, the Gracefully Mindful Wellness Institute celebrated the graduation of the 9th and 10th cohorts of the Pathways Internship program. State Representative Mandie Landry was in attendance in support of the graduates along with Mayor Cantrell. Twenty young people completed the 15-week program. The team is gearing up to welcome the 11th cohort and the 2nd Alumni Leadership cohort, which opens the door for former graduates to go through the program again with an emphasis on leadership skill development. An essential component of Pathways is its community partnerships with local businesses. If you operate a business in Orleans Parish and would be interested in mentoring or being an internship placement site for our youth, please email michael.mosko@nola.gov
To learn more about Pathways, visit www.nola.gov/pathways
Also in September, we launched the Family Voice Matters series. On a quarterly basis we will host “listening sessions” at various locations to provide families with a chance to discuss issues and opportunities that impact them. The September session took place at Café Reconcile with several parents in attendance. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @oyfnola to learn about the next one!
Our intrepid Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council is on a new journey this year. OYF partnered with the Neighborhood Engagement Office to merge the Junior Civic Leadership Academy (JCLA) and MYAC programs. In this new iteration, MYAC youth begin the program by learning all things local government through JCLA. Through this merger, we aim to increase the core competencies and basic knowledge of government work in our young leaders. This month we welcomed 26 new faces from across the city to join 6 second-term members to lead the 2023-2024 Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Stay tuned to learn about the great work to come.
This month we also proudly launched the 10th Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) cohort. PLTI is a 20-week leadership program that increases the civic skills of diverse parents/caregivers to become leading advocates for their children and change makers in their community. After spending three years of virtual programming, this cohort began their PLTI journey in person early this month. We look forward to sharing their journey and community impact projects.
A highlight this month included joining Tulane University and Mayor Cantrell to recognize this year's recipients of the Tulane Mayoral Scholarship who graduated from Abramson Sci Academy, The Willow School, Livingston Collegiate Academy and Frederick A. Douglass High School. All 5 recipients received a four-year tuition scholarship to Tulane. To learn more about this exciting program, visit Tulane Mayoral Scholars Scholarship.
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Lastly, we are thrilled to announce that the 2023 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest is now open for essay submissions and will remain open through October 30th.The Mayor for a Day Essay Contest aims to foster and encourage leadership in young people living in New Orleans. New Orleans youth ages 11 to 18 are invited to write essays about what New Orleans would be like if they were Mayor for a day. Three winners will be selected and given the opportunity to be sworn in and shadow the Mayor for a day. If you know an amazing young person with a story to tell, please do not hesitate to let them know about this special opportunity! For submission instructions, please visit our official Mayor for a Day Essay Contest webpage using this link or by visiting www.nola.gov/m4day |
Partner Highlight
Family Connects New Orleans (FCNO) is a direct service initiative operating under the New Orleans Health Department, and in collaboration with the Touro infirmary and Oschner Baptist, they are committed to providing support when needed most.
FNCO is redefining maternal and child health by taking an innovative approach: going directly to the participants, either in the home or a neutral partner location. This program extends a helping hand at a critical juncture in a family’s life and hopes to support parents and newborns through pivotal health screenings, home assessments, and helping the family establish connections with reputable community resources.
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How does this program work?
A registered nurse (RN) arrives at the family’s doorstep to conduct an in-home visit. This visit marks the beginning of a unique journey towards ensuring the health and well-being of the mother and the infant. During this pivotal visit, the dedicated RN carries out a comprehensive health assessment. This goes beyond routine check-ups; it encompasses a holistic view of the mother’s and infant’s well-being.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Family Connects New Orleans is its ability to connect families with tailored community support. The RN engages in a meaningful conversation with the family, identifying their specific needs and challenges. Based on this insight, the program acts as a bridge, linking families with a network of community partners. Whether it’s accessing educational resources, mental health services, or parenting support groups, Family Connects New Orleans empowers families to thrive in their unique circumstances. Family Connects New Orleans is open to everyone within Orleans Parish that delivers at either Touro Infirmary or Ochsner Baptist hospitals. Interested families can find more information at www.nola.gov/FCNO. Let Family Connects New Orleans be part of your village.
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What is the Youth Master Plan?
Is your organization Youth Master Plan Aligned? Tell us how here so we can spotlight your story!
Youth Force NOLA Internships Empower Youth
YouthForce NOLA’s Internship gives rising high school seniors an opportunity to work with, and learn from, local professionals with expertise in a range of in-demand career fields like carpentry, engineering, IT, pre-nursing, and software development. This summer, more than 70 local businesses invested in their future workforce by supporting 140 YouthForce NOLA Interns through a 90-hour, paid, work-based learning experience. In addition to honing their technical skills, interns engaged in 60 hours of complementary training focused on developing essential soft skills—collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and time management—as well as business etiquette, resume-writing, and interview skills. In 2023 alone, YouthForce NOLA Interns earned more than $250,000 in stipends, helping our young people not only learn, but also start saving and investing in their own futures today.
Youth Master Plan Categories: Learning, Economic Stability
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The Office of Workforce Development is Creating More Jobs for Youth!
The Office of Workforce Development is creating The Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) program in the City of New Orleans with the Office of Business and External Services. This is an important initiative that will help students facing challenges to graduate from high school and acquire crucial life and career skills. The program aims to facilitate a smooth transition for students into the workforce or further education. Local businesses and employers throughout the United States are partnering with JAG programs to create job opportunities for students, which will not only benefit students but also contribute to a more skilled workforce in our community. The goal is to improve the long-term prospects of our students and contribute to the development of a more skilled and prepared workforce in New Orleans.
Youth Master Plan Categories: Learning, Economic Stability
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Children's Bureau of New Orleans Announces Community Mental Health Worker Pilot
Children's Bureau is excited to announce the recent launch of their community mental health worker (CMHW) pilot. The program has been operating for about 6 months and provides a range of supports for young people including education about health and wellness, outreach and engagement activities, connection to formal mental healthcare (when indicated), navigating barriers to care, and enhancing treatment by providing supportive interactions between meetings with a licensed clinician. They currently partner with Cafe Reconcile, Next Level NOLA, Youth Empowerment Project, Liberty's Kitchen, Delgado's Opportunity Youth Initiative, and Trombone Shorty Foundation. To learn more about this program, check out a recent blog post by Nia West-Bey, Director of Youth Policy at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) featuring the program: https://www.clasp.org/blog/new-orleans-mental-health-youth-innovations/
Youth Master Plan Categories: Health and Well-Being
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The Center for Resilience Invests in Violence Prevention Programming
The Center for Resilience is excited to announce PLAAY- a violence prevention program. The objectives are to teach children the skills to protect themselves from and heal from racial stress and trauma. The skills are in-the-moment-stress reduction, self-efficacy, and assertiveness. When children have these skills, they can use agency voice and positive identity perception to solve conflict without physical aggression and to better engage in and succeed academically. PLAAY Programming is currently running at The Bridge EQA Middle School and Thurgood Marshall, providing training and supervision for their PLAAY facilitators and professional development for the entire staff and faculty. For more information check out this link! https://www.cfrla.org/plaayatcfr
Youth Master Plan Categories: Safety and Justice
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Early Childhood Investments Pay Off!
 The New Orleans Early Education Network (NOEEN) held its first in-person meeting in early September which focused on enrollment review, wage enhancement, capacity and quality-building initiatives, and a panel on educator recruitment and retention. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved a $21.4 million allocation from the Early Childhood Education Fund to match the City Seats funding. The match will add an additional 710 seats. Additionally, our office invested a $2.4 million City Wage Enhancement opportunity so that Orleans Parish Type III Lead and assistant teachers, teacher aides, and floaters who work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for up to three payments of $750 totaling $2,250. NOEEN is always looking for great educators and early education centers. If you or someone you know is interested, please visit earlychildhoodjobs.org
Youth Master Plan Categories: Learning, Economic Stability
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NORD Halloween Monster Mile, Saturday October 28, 2023, 8pm at Lafitte Greenway Brake Tag Station
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NORD Teen Council Meeting, Saturday October 21, 11am-1pm at Milne Rec Center.
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NORD Annual Halloween Spooktacular Tuesday October 31st, 6pm-9pm at Lafitte Greenway Cutoff Recreation Center
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Public Assistance Application Help with the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services New Orleans East Regional Library 10:30AM - 2:30PM. Oct 19th and Oct. 24th at the Algiers Regional Library.
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Teen Drop in Paint & Play; Oct. 24th4-5pm at Algiers Regional Library.
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Medicaid Information and Resources with Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana, Oct. 19th and Oct. 26th 11am-2pm at Robert E. Smith Library.
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The NOLA Readers 2.0 program is back! This initiative offers second grade students engaging literacy and literature experiences. The program features a free trip for second grade students and their teachers to the Louisiana Children's Museum (LCM) and the New Orleans Main Library! Participants receive a free copy of I am Every Good Thing, written by Derrick Barnes. Teachers also receive learning materials designed by educators from the museum and library. To learn more or to schedule a fieldtrip, contact Dr. Shannon Blady at sblady@lcm.org
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund Mini-Grant Period is Open!
Visit https://notcf.com/grants/ to learn more and to apply
Our Voice/Nuestra Voz hosts Spanish Classes
OVNV announces an 8-week course designed for black people who want to take their first steps towards learning Spanish. Click on this link to sign up.
Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) Offers Interactive Experience
Date: October 21, 2023
Time: 12 PM- 3 PM
Location: 1824 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
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The VERA Institute of Justice Wants to Hear From YOU!
The VERA Institute of Justice has extended their deadline for this important survey. In support of and in collaboration with Fund the People, a collaborative focused on advocacy, mutual aid, and political education, VERA has developed a survey to help identify what New Orleanians need in order to thrive and how they prioritize those needs.
Fill out the survey and help them get to 400!
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Mayors Office - News - Articles - October 2023 - 2023-10-04 NOLA Readers 2.0 - City of New Orleans
Mayors Office - News - Articles - October 2023 - 2023-10-03 GW Carver Playground Groundbreaking - City of New Orleans (nola.gov)
https://agendaforchildren.org/our-programs/noeen/2023-2024-early-ed-wage-enhancement/
https://agendaforchildren.org/our-programs/noeen/2023-2024-early-ed-wage-enhancement/
https://nolapublicschools.com/news-blog/nola-public-schools-and-jefferson-parish-schools-unite-in-the-face-of-potential-saltwater-intrusion-threat
Want to work with us? We are looking for an Operations Coordinator
Click here to apply!
Juvenile Justice Intervention Center is Hiring!
The JJIC currently seeks a treatment-minded workforce of qualified, professional candidates with the compassion to serve youth; a deep belief in the potential of a person to change; and deep respect for personhood—the belief that every young person in our society matters! Click here to apply.
City of New Orleans Youth-Focused Opportunities
To learn more about jobs in the City of New Orleans that serve youth, follow this link
New Orleans Recreation Development Commission
To learn more about NORDC job opportunities, follow this link.
New Orleans Public Libraries
Visit NOPL's website to learn more about employment opportunities.
New Orleans Public Schools
NOLA Public Schools is offering several employment opportunities. Visit NOLA-PS to learn more information.
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