YouthForce NOLA Celebrates #TeacherAppreciationWeek
YouthForce NOLA Celebrates #TeacherAppreciationWeek
It goes without saying that teachers play a central role in our work to prepare New Orleans public school students for success in life. To the educators, coaches, and training providers in our collaborative and beyond, we say #ThankYou!
Thank you, Ms. Amani
“She was there to always guide me in my internship and always there to motivate me.”
Dasani, YouthForce Internship Alumna
Thank you, Ms. D
“She is an amazing and loving person to be around.”
De'Andre, YouthForce Internship Alumna
Thank you, Mr. Elzy
“He showed me the way within acting.”
Kendal, YouthForce Internship Alumna
Thank you, Mr. Joe
“He gave me tools I needed to land my job and to be successful during my internship.”
Jaena, YouthForce Internship Alumna
To all the teachers who sacrifice to give our students opportunities for a better future, thank you!
- The YouthForce NOLA Collaborative Steering Committee
Educators play important roles in the student experience, shaping young people as students, as individuals, and as the future of New Orleans. During these trying times, they’re all working hard under difficult conditions to continue educating, empowering, and inspiring students. Now, more than ever, they deserve our gratitude and praise!
Warm Regards,
Cate
Cate Swinburn
President
YouthForce NOLA
Want to know more about our impact? Check out YouthForce NOLA annual report.
In this issue, you will find:
This week’s new information
Information on how YouthForce NOLA is responding
Valuable resources, organized for each segment of our collaborative
YouthForce NOLA’s Virtual Internships to Provide Students Real World Experience this Summer - YouthForce NOLA announced we are producing our paid internship program virtually this summer. Some 100 public high school students will receive soft skill-building instruction and a choice between technical training or real-work experience remotely as the world of work responds to the coronavirus pandemic. >> Read More
Cate Recognized as ‘Top Female Achiever’ - YouthForce NOLA President Cate Swinburn was selected by New Orleans Magazine as a ‘Top Female Achiever.’ As the profile points out, with Cate at the helm, “In only five years, the number of high school students earning industry-recognized credentials in New Orleans has increased 875 percent, nearly 800 have received work experience, more than 10,000 attended soft-skills programs and more than 5,000 have engaged with employers during YouthForce’s annual career expos.”
WDSU Features LAUNCH - WDSU produced a tv news report on LAUNCH, YouthForce NOLA’s innovative bridge year program, and featured one of our students. We are still accepting applications from students who could benefit from a 13th year of free instruction.
The 74 Features YouthForce NOLA - YouthForce was featured in a recent The 74 article as an initiative that is 'keeping 21st century students engaged.'
Students Encouraged to Apply for FAFSA - While the Department of Education is waiving the requirement that a FAFSA must be completed in order to graduate, NOLA Public Schools is encouraging the Class of 2020 to complete this important federal financial aid application.
Compete LA Flat Rate Tuition – The University of Louisiana System announced a flat rate of $275 per credit hour for qualifying Louisiana adults returning to school to finish their degree though Compete LA. To qualify, students must be Louisiana residents, have some college credit but no degree, and have been out of school for at least two years. Participating universities include the nine universities that are part of the University of Louisiana System, including the University of New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University.
ICYMI:
Teacher Leader Summit Goes Virtual - Louisiana Department of Education’s marquee annual event, the Teacher Leader Summit, is shifting its in-person format to a series of more than 30 free, interactive webinars that will take place from May 28 to June 5. It will bring together a host of educators and content experts who are focused on creating meaningful growth for every student, every day. Educators will share their knowledge, learn new skills, and prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. Registration is open through June 5.
Junior Civic Leadership Academy: Open Enrollment - This initiative from Mayor LaToya Cantrell is an engaging 8-week program that will provide youth with an in-depth look at City government. The program includes hands-on demonstrations and presentations that give participants an insider's view of how the City of New Orleans operates. With this knowledge, students will be better equipped to engage their communities and help improve residents’ quality of life.
Our immediate response to the pandemic was to restructure our programs, compile resources, maintain a web page, and help our partners and community organizations navigate the evolving situation.
We continue to:
Provide policy guidance,
Advance soft skills building virtually,
Innovate in how young people develop career awareness and gain first-hand work experience, and
Support young people in a post-high school bridge year program in which they develop core skills, expand their networks, and embark on their post-secondary pathways.
We're also looking ahead to how to best support the ecosystem, adapt program models, and deliver on our mission, in a new, virtual or distanced, world.
Subscribe to Our Lists
We send emails to a variety of discrete stakeholder groups with information tailored to their interests, such as students, educators, and employers. If you’d like to subscribe to join one or more of these segmented email lists, click here.
There are numerous online resources for students, families, and educators being compiled by a variety of organizations. YouthForce NOLA is most frequently turning to, and pointing others to, three of our collaborative partners as the primary trusted sources for information: the City of New Orleans, NOLA Public Schools, and GNO, Inc.
City of New Orleans Covid-19 Webpage - resources available to residents, from food and housing to legal and financial support >> LEARN MORE
NOLA Public Schools Covid-19 Webpage - information and resources for schools as well as students and their families >> LEARN MORE
GNO, Inc. Covid-19 Webpage - resources and updates for businesses and workers >> LEARN MORE
YouthForce Covid-19 Webpage - information on our program and links to trusted resources >> LEARN MORE
Resources for Students and Families
Meals
The City is organizing many food programs
NOLA Public Schools is working with partners on a Citywide Feeding Program for young people
Second Harvest is providing food assistance to families in need
Lyft is now offering free rides to grab-and-go meals, tap ‘Enter promo code’ and add the code: CV19NOLAPS20
Internet - NOLA Public Schools has secured WiFi hotspots and Chromebooks and is distributing them in coordination with schools based upon need. Cox, ATT, Verizon and other providers are also offering support.
Job Openings - GNO, Inc. has compiled a running list on WorkNOLA.com of companies looking to fill immediate labor needs
Job Fairs - The Urban League of Louisiana’s Office of Workforce Development is offering Virtual Job Fairs to connect job-seekers to essential-industry jobs
Career and Technical Education - Many local training providers are offering free and reduced training and education programs
Child Care Assistance
Louisiana Department of Education opened the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to support essential critical infrastructure personnel
Agenda for Children is helping connect essential workers with group and in-home child care options
Financial Aid for Gig Workers - The New Orleans Business Alliance created a relief fund for gig economy workers
Financial Aid for Hospitality Workers - The United Way of Southeast Louisiana created the Hospitality Cares Pandemic Fund
Youth Camps & Youth Employment - The Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program and has shifted to an online process to preregister for its youth camps and employment programs
Urban League of Louisiana has created a Covid-19 web page for its various programs that serve the community
Information for Families - Agenda for Children has organized resources for families, including ideas for activities and tools for helping young children deal with hard emotions
How to talk with children about Coronavirus - Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children
Mental Health Support - SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline is a toll-free, multilingual, confidential crisis support service that connects any U.S. resident in need to a trained crisis counselor; call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
Resources for Schools and Educators
Louisiana Department of Education released a suite of resources to support school system leaders with academic and workforce planning during this extraordinary time
NOLA Public Schools is providing resources and updates for schools, including for distance learning
New Schools for New Orleans is supporting schools, sharing resources, and providing updates
GNO, Inc. is highlighting free and reduced training and education programs
Junior Achievement is providing free online Lesson Plans to teachers and parents
LAPCS is providing charter schools with guidance and sample resources to support planning and communications to your school community
Agenda for Children has organized resources for emergency child care options, information for families, and resources for early learning centers
NGLC created an annotated list of links to high-quality tools and materials for educators
ConnectED is offering a series of free online workshops aimed at supporting educators
Learning Keeps Going, the Edsurge/ISTE resource website for free products and support, includes an index where educators can search and filter to find what they need
Resources for Employers
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
is sending daily emails with up-to-date information and resources
is providing information on how businesses can benefit from the CARES Act, including creating a virtual information binder
launched GNOpivot to help regional companies pivot to meet demand in the fight against Coronavirus
is compiling a running list of job opportunities
is continually updating their Covid web page
New Orleans Business Alliance is working to ensure residents and businesses have access to available resources
Louisiana Economic Development has launched a hotline (225-342-4321) for businesses to call with questions related to the impact of the coronavirus
This is but a snapshot of the efforts underway across the YouthForce NOLA network and by no means exhaustive. If you know of news or resources you would like us to share, please let us know.