When Chassidy Carter graduated from Reconcile in 2022, she kept building. She went on to earn her Associate degree in Culinary Arts from Delgado Community College. Today, she has served as the first-ever Chair of Reconcile's Alumni Advisory Council, where she shapes the program that helped shape her.
Chassidy's story shows what is possible when support continues after graduation. Five years ago, that story might have looked different.
Support Beyond Graduation
Five years ago, Reconcile did not have the Alumni Services infrastructure we have today. Over time, we learned something important: the first year after training matters just as much as training itself. It is when young people settle into new jobs, take on new responsibilities, and navigate everyday challenges like transportation, housing, and financial stability. A strong start deserves strong follow-through.
Thanks to funders who believed in what comes after graduation, that has changed. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation have been instrumental partners in building Reconcile's Alumni programming. Their investment and thought partnership have helped turn a growing idea into a lasting part of how we support young people.
What Alumni Support Looks Like Today
Today, every graduate enters a 12-month follow-up period with a dedicated Alumni Case Specialist. In 2025, Reconcile added a second full-time Alumni Case Specialist, giving our team more time to stay connected with each young person and respond when they need support.
Alumni support includes:
Regular check-ins on work, school, and personal goals
Continued coaching and career navigation
Financial tools and connections to community resources
A network of peers who understand the move into professional life
And connection does not stop at one year. Each year, Reconcile supports about 200 Alumni, including many who are well past their first year and still choose to stay connected.
Alumni Shaping What Comes Next
Alumni are not only receiving support. They are leading.
Through the Alumni Advisory Council, Alumni share what is working, what could be better, and how Reconcile can support the next class of young people. Their insight comes from experience, and it helps guide how our programs grow.
Alumni are also showing what is possible through their own pathways. Samirelle, a 2024 graduate, moved from workforce training into employment and is now enrolled in nursing school at Southern University at New Orleans. David, a 2025 graduate, connected with Louisiana Green Corps to earn credentials in the growing environmental and green infrastructure field.
Every path looks different. What they share is a foundation of skills, relationships, and continued support.
Growth That Continues Over Time
One of the clearest lessons from our Alumni work is that progress keeps building after graduation.
Over the past year, Reconcile followed 136 Alumni through their first 12 months after training. When they graduated, 82 were employed. Three months later, that number grew to 120. By six months, all 136 were working. One year out, 111 remained employed.
These numbers tell an important story. Career stability often takes shape in the months after graduation, and continued coaching and connection help young people get there. With stronger Alumni support in place, Reconcile can now look beyond job placement to understand how careers grow over time.
The Annual Alumni Summit
This Saturday, October 31, Alumni will gather for our Annual Alumni Summit. It is a day for connection, leadership, and looking ahead, and a chance for Alumni to share their experiences, learn from one another, and help shape what comes next.
Thank You to Our Partners
Graduation is not an ending. It is the transition to what comes next.
Thank you to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, and the employers and partners who help make that transition possible. When Alumni lead, younger Interns can see what is possible for them, and our whole community grows stronger.
We are grateful to invest in young people alongside you.
Help build what comes next. Your support helps young people grow long after graduation day. Give today.