Opportunity | Equity | Youth and Family Voice | Access | Action

What have we been up to? 

The New Orleans Youth Data Hub Work Begins  In July, our office, along with the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board (CYPB), and the New Orleans Youth Alliance (NOYA), announced the implementation phase of the Youth Master Plan (Phase III). The Youth Master Plan is a strategic blueprint that aims to cultivate a youth-centered New Orleans by directing city-wide stakeholders and resources towards addressing critical issues, meeting defined goals, and enhancing the lives of the city's youth and families. Phase III focuses on the practical application of the Youth Master Plan, emphasizing implementation, ongoing monitoring, and thorough evaluation. A vital component of this phase is the introduction of a sophisticated data management system, supported by a $600,000 budget allocation for 2024. This system is designed to serve as a comprehensive hub, linking data across various youth-serving institutions and organizations, significantly improving the quality-of-life outcomes for New Orleans' youth. A Youth Data Hub Steering Committee composed of cross-sector stakeholders has begun to meet to help steer the New Orleans Youth Data Hub forward from start to completion. This is accomplished by offering support, advice, and guidance, overseeing progress, and ensuring the successful delivery of the New Orleans Youth Data Hub outputs and the achievement of its desired outcomes. We are excited to focus on this endeavor for the next 18 months and we invite you to stay connected to monitor progress.

Free Transit Passes for Residents ages 16-24!  Last month we attended the launch of the Opportunity Pass pilot program. The ability to move freely and affordably throughout the city using public transit is essential for the development of skills and confidence for lifelong public transit ridership. This is one of the goals of the Opportunity Pass Pilot Program. An innovative pilot that is in alignment with The Youth Master Plan, the Opportunity Pass program provides free transit passes to Orleans Parish residents ages 16-24. Other goals include removing financial barriers for young adults, educating the next generation about transit, and collecting data to improve transit for young adults. This initiative was made possible by the sustained commitment of Ride New Orleans, The New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board and countless young people to partner with RTA and the New Orleans Public Library so that access and equity are central to a New Orleans where all young people can thrive.   To sign up, interested individuals can visit any New Orleans Public Library with their smartphone and to learn more, check out the FAQ’s page on Ride’s website.

Celebrating the 2024 Tulane Mayoral Scholars

It's time to enter the Mayor For a Day Contest ! We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 Mayor for a Day Essay Contest opens on Oct. 16th  and will close on November  20th.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

It’s Budget Season!  The month of October heralds the beginning of fall and for us it also welcomes the opportunity to present our priorities through the budget process. This is also a great time for you, as prime stakeholders in the community, to comment in person on what you value being funded in the 2025 fiscal year.  The Office of Youth and Families is scheduled to present on Thursday, October 17th at 10:00am. We hope to see many of you in City Council chambers that day.

 OYF  Program Updates

The Parent Leadership Training Institute launches its 11th cohort!  We are excited to announce that Cohort 11 of our Parent Leadership Training Institute begins this month! This 20-week program will empower parents and caregivers with civic skills, knowledge, and opportunities to be leading advocates for children at home, school, and in the community. By connecting with other leaders in the government, business, and nonprofit sectors while also diving into the in-depth curriculum, members of PLTI will learn and grow to become strong community leaders to create incredible impact right here in New Orleans. Check out PLTI Nola on Instagram @plti_nola and on Facebook at PLTI NOLA.

Largest Junior Civic Leadership Academy Cohort selected to date! After an outpouring of applications, The Office of Youth and Families and Neighborhood Engagement Office are excited to announce the largest JCLA cohort yet has begun! 44 youth from around the city are actively learning about government with speakers from various departments. Several of these youth have also been accepted into the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, which will continue meeting to learn, advocate for youth voice, and offer insight to Mayor Cantrell on youth-related issues. We are proud of each and everyone of these young people and look forward to many of their successes throughout the year! Stay connected with their work-follow them on Instagram @myac_nola.

Partner Highlights in Alignment with the Youth Master Plan

New Orleans Public Schools Launches the Voices of Future Leaders Podcast NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) proudly announces the launch of its Voices of Future Leaders (VOFL) podcast and townhall series for the 2024-2025 school year. Hosted by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, this compelling series amplifies the voices of NOLA-PS scholars, creating a platform where students engage in meaningful conversations about leadership, community service, and the future they are helping shape. For more information and to listen to the latest episodes, please visit the NOLA Public Schools YouTube channel. Youth Masterplan Area-Space & Place, Health & Well-Being

NOVAC Youth Filmmakers Featured at the New Orleans Film Festival

NOVAC empowers storytellers and communities by providing education, training, and resources in film, TV, and digital media.

It’s time for the 2024 New Orleans Film Festival!   

On Tuesday, October 22 at 6pm in the CAC: Black Box Theatre check out their screening of behind-the-scenes footage from their Summer Youth Filmmaking Camp in partnership with The COOL Cooperative.  

Other projects screened include 2024 NOVAC Community Filmmaker Cohort films ISHAK and THE BUZZ OF ST. ROCH and projects from their Virtuous Video program.  

It's a night celebrating community designed to do what NOVAC does best: Empower Storytellers.

Youth Masterplan Area-Learning, Youth Voice

826 New Orleans-Empowering Young Writers

826 New Orleans cultivates and supports the voices of young writers ages 13-18 through creative collaborations with schools and communities. 826 New Orleans is one of the only nonprofits in New Orleans dedicated to youth writing. The Young Writers' Council, is now accepting applications for high school students grades 9-12th. The Young Writers’ Council (YWC) are a group of students who identify as emerging writers, activists and/or community changemakers. If that sounds like a student you know, please encourage them to apply! 

Youth Masterplan Area-Learning, Youth Voice

Are you a youth serving organization aligned with the Youth Master Plan? Share your story and let CYPB know by filling out this form

 NORD and Library Happenings!

• "Prenatal Yoga: Mediation and Movement" at Algiers Regional, Fridays, 10:15-10:45am. Learn healthy postures, breathwork, and empowering mental centering to encourage bonding with your baby during this 4-week series. This program is designed for those who are pregnant. Attendees will receive a Library bag and books to start a home-library for their baby. In partnership with Domango Training. Sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Library. 
• "Baby Storytime" at Nix Library and Alvar Library, Mondays, 10:30-11:30am. Read, sing, and play together in a format designed for babies and their caregivers. Bond with your baby through books, bouncy rhymes, and songs during this baby storytime that introduces early literacy skills and encourages language development. This program is designed for newborns to pre-walkers. Sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Library. 
• "Sensory Play" at East New Orleans Regional Library, Mondays, 10:30am-12pm. Families looking for a welcoming and comfortable space for neurodivergent children can join us for an inclusive and interactive sensory play and exploration activities. This smaller and adaptive play and exploration program is inclusive to all, including children who are physically and developmentally ages 2-5 years old. Registration is required. Sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. 

• Join NOLA Libraries on November 19th for a Fall Festival! The festival will take place Friday the 19th between 3-5pm and will include a book give-a-way, crafts for the kids, and all-around fun for the entire family! Come out and support the libraries. 

Community Resources and Upcoming Events

 Baldwin & Co.

UPTURN ARTS-CAMP OPEN  Upturn Arts is a local nonprofit arts education program that offers camps when schools are closed.  Day camps are being held October 31st, November 5th, November 6th and December 20th, and the Thanksgiving camp is November 25-27 and they are having a trick or treating event on October 31st. They have an early bird code for Thanksgiving, so if families use the code FALL20 before November 1, they will receive 20% off!

"This is New Orleans" Film Screening The Louisiana Center for Children's Rights have partnered with the Center for Youth Equity to screen the film "This is New Orleans". The movie was created by E2E's current cohort of 14-19 year old youths in the city. The screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6 - 8 pm at Broadside Theater.

Secondline Arts Collective At Second Line Arts Collective, they ignite the journey 'From Recess to Record Deals.' Their mission begins with fostering an early love for music and extends to equipping the next generation of musicians with skills for artistic growth and career longevity.    Little Stompers Family Classes An engaging music program for children (ages 1-5) and their caregivers, introducing them to New Orleans music through songs, rhythm, and movement. Locations: New Orleans Jazz Museum & Algiers Music Studio Dates: October 5 - December 14 Times: 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM (based on age group) Sanaa Music Workshop A program for young musicians (ages 14-23) focused on artistic development and essential music business skills. Includes masterclasses and opportunities to perform as part of the Sanaa All Star Band.

Register here for the Neighborhood Summit!

 Job Postings

City of New Orleans Youth-Focused Opportunities 

To learn more about jobs in the City of New Orleans that serve youth, follow this link 

In The News

Guaranteed Income

Teens start food service for local deliveries!

Bloomberg Climate Action Fund Project Winners

We want to hear from you!

In an effort to building a stronger community, we want to hear about opportunities you may have for citizens in our community! Do you have an open position, internship or learning opportunity within your organization? If so, please email our Office Coordinator-Brittney Waiters brittney.waiters@nola.gov