CELEBRATING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH

This September, Reconcile New Orleans will mark National Workforce Development Month. Let’s celebrate the incredible potential of New Orleans’ Opportunity Youth—young people aged 16-24 who are ready to work but often face obstacles that make it hard for them to get started. These young people have so much to offer our community! YOU can help them. Let’s ensure all young people have the tools and resources to find career paths matching their talents and abilities.

Even though there are many job opportunities, many young people struggle to access them. Louisiana has one of the highest numbers of Opportunity Youth in the country, with about 15% living in New Orleans. These young people are bright and eager. As adolescents coming of age, they and their families have had to face incredibly hard challenges like a lack of affordable housing, poor public transportation, under-resourced schools, and multiple natural disasters.

Reconcile New Orleans’ signature workforce training program addresses these barriers by ensuring support.  Once safe and stable, we can focus on job skills for any industry, building confidence, and preparing young people for the future. In 2024, 90 young people have already enrolled with us, taking the first step toward their careers.

FOSTERING TALENT

Reconcile is a refreshing, welcoming environment. I am excited that the things I will learn here will ensure I flourish in everything I touch. My journey is not just about me. It will also help my community grow and positively impact the world. - Mia

The impact of Reconcile New Orleans extends far beyond individual success stories; it contributes to the overall growth and transformation of our community. By focusing on the professional development of our youth, we are nurturing a generation of empowered, industrious citizens who are prepared to give back and uplift others. The success of our interns translates into stronger local businesses, reduced unemployment rates, and a more vibrant economic landscape. In celebrating National Workforce Development Month, Reconcile New Orleans reaffirms its commitment to systemic change, one young life at a time, catalyzing positive growth and unity throughout our community.

We’re ready to welcome 30 more young people into our program before the year ends, but we need your help. These young people deserve the tools and support to succeed—that’s where you come in. Reconcile Interns get hands-on training at Café Reconcile and explore careers that fit their talents and abilities. To give these 30 young people the opportunity they deserve, we need your support.

Your donation will go directly to providing these young people with the training and support they need to succeed. When you give, you’re not just helping one person—you’re investing in the future of our entire community. Each young person who finds a good job and starts their career strengthens New Orleans and helps our local economy thrive.

Throughout September, we’ll be hosting events to celebrate the achievements of our interns and the partners who make this work possible. We hope you’ll join us in recognizing the importance of giving every young person the chance to explore their potential and prepare for a successful future.

Please consider making a donation to support our 2024 intern training program. With your help, we can ensure that these 30 young people have the opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed in their careers.

Thank you for your generosity and for believing in the potential of our city’s youth.