Bridging the Gap: Soft Skills Span School and Work
The number one priority employers identify for employees is soft skills, such as problem-solving, planning, and communication, yet far too many of our young people are not ready for the expectations of our high-wage workplaces when it comes to these skills. That's why soft skills training, applying the MHA Labs Skills Framework, is being woven into all programming across the YouthForce NOLA network.
Most recently, with the start of the school year, YouthForce NOLA kicked off the 2019/2020 Soft Skills Teacher Fellowship to train a 3rd cohort of teachers on how to integrate the soft skills training into their classroom curriculum. This year, ten teachers join from four schools in the YouthForce NOLA collaborative: Edna Karr High School, Einstein Charter School, Livingston Collegiate Academy, and Warren Easton Charter High School.
Year-over-year, we’ve seen an increase in skills and confidence development among the students in our Soft Skills Teacher Fellows’ classrooms, and we look forward to building on that success this school year and beyond!
LAUNCH has Launched!
We are thrilled to announce the start of LAUNCH, a pilot program for recent 12th grade completers from NOLA public schools. To multiply these students’ postsecondary options, LAUNCH provides a 5th year of instruction that includes:
Dedicated coaching and soft skills training
Technical training
Online college coursework
Paid meaningful work experience
You can learn more about LAUNCH at https://www.youthforcenola.org/launch
Student Training Opportunity: Spark Mindset
Spark Mindset, a training provider in the YouthForce NOLA collaborative, meets students where they learn by offering the only gamified Virtual Reality experience that prepares students for CompTIA Network+ and Security+ Certification. Their modules are fun, engaging, and build student confidence as they reach new milestones. It’s this combination of challenge and reward that improves retention long term. To learn more about Spark Mindset’s Cyber Space Camps and Cyber Space Academy Program, visit https://www.sparkmindset.com.
Job Openings Across Our Collaborative
The New Orleans Office of Youth and Families is hiring a Program Manager. Click here for details.
The New Orleans Business Alliance is hiring an AVP Talent Development. Contact Ken Weatherup at kweatherup@nolaba.org to inquire about the position.
YouthForce NOLA is hiring a Lead Internship Coach, a Training Specialist, and an Internship Coach. Click here for details.
YouthForce NOLA Welcomes New Team Members
Emily Ferris, Executive Director, LAUNCH
Emily heads up YouthForce NOLA’s LAUNCH initiative and is committed to providing a wide variety of meaningful opportunities for all students in New Orleans. She brings over 17 years of education experience, beginning as a middle school math and science teacher, and most recently as an Academy Principal with InspireNOLA Charter Schools.
Geraldlyn Johnson, LAUNCH Success Coach
Geraldlyn guides recent high school graduates through career exploration ensuring a successful transition into their future. She brings experience as a teacher and has worked with YouthForce as a summer internship coach for three years and in education for over ten years.
Joe Robinson, LAUNCH Success Coach
Joe guides recent high school graduates through their first year of college coursework and career exploration. Previously, he taught middle and high school English and Language Arts and ran a wellness program for students.
David Shepard, Director of Policy
David leads YouthForce NOLA’s support of training providers and executes the organization’s policy agenda. In addition to his experience as a teacher, he worked for seven years at the Louisiana Department of Education, where he redesigned Louisiana’s charter school application process and helped lead the launch of the Super App.
Steph Slates, Chief of Staff
Steph leads YouthForce NOLA’s organizational culture and systems, data strategy, and funder engagement. Previously, she was the Executive Director of School Talent at New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO) for six years, where she managed the citywide strategy for recruiting and developing educators and oversaw multiple federal grants. She began her career in education in 2002 as a New Orleans public school teacher.
Lindsay Voves, Employer Partnerships Coordinator
Lindsay provides technical and logistical support for all employer-facing programming. She came to YouthForce NOLA through Venture For America, a nonprofit fellowship program with a goal to revitalize American cities through entrepreneurship.
You can learn more about these new faces as well as the entire YouthForce NOLA team here.