to A Network of Career Pathways
to A Network of Career Pathways
to A Network of Career Pathways
Who We Are
YouthForce NOLA is an education, business, and civic collaborative that builds bridges between school and work. Through our network of partner schools, employers, training providers, and community organizations, YouthForce is opening more doors to economic opportunity for New Orleans students.
OUR VISION
New Orleans public school graduates are thriving economically as a result of being the most sought-after talent for hiring and advancement in the region’s high-wage career pathways.
Our Mission
YouthForce NOLA prepares New Orleans public school students for successful pursuit of high-wage, high-demand career pathways and facilitates systems change to accelerate and sustain progress.
our objectives
Bringing together economic, educational and civic leaders to build a network of programs and policies that benefit our city’s public school students.
Building a system of education-to-prosperity pathway to help facilitate real-world skills growth in schools that will ensure economic success for our young people.
Our values
Collaboration and Voice: We conduct this work in collaboration with students, parents, schools, businesses, and other organizations and institutions that share the same goals and values. We continuously seek and channel those stakeholders’ perspectives.
Equity: We acknowledge the persistent inequities in our city and country, and prioritize equity in the programs and systems we develop and support.
Excellence and Accountability: We hold ourselves and community partners to high standards and monitor results to ensure quality programming and positive outcomes for students.
Respect: We respect our students and their families, school partners, employers, each other, and other stakeholders; and we conduct ourselves as such.
Student Choice: We believe students and their families should have the information necessary to make informed choices, be empowered to do so, and have a wide range of quality options available to them when they are making these choices — especially in selecting programs of study and post-secondary education or work options.
Transparency: We clearly articulate and communicate the values, policies and procedures for decision-making, the resulting decisions, and related programming to all stakeholders.
Our paths to success
We partner with employers in high-wage industries to expose students to different career pathways and take their first step into the workforce. We focus on three major pillars that come together to form what we call Career Pathway Programs of Study (CPPS): an integrated student experience both inside and outside the classroom where they receive career exposure, skills building, and work experience throughout their teens.
We partner with employers to place students in paid internships for real-world experience to help students explore options.
Students stand out on college applications or start careers with industry-recognized credentials to qualify for well-paying jobs right out of high school.
We emphasize training in foundational social, emotional, and cognitive soft skills to ensure students do well in school, work, and life.
TESTIMONIALS
SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS OUR REGION
Hundreds of students have participated in YouthForce NOLA’s internships, acquired the skills and credentials needed to join any of our partner organizations, and seen personal success in life. Our innovative efforts to prepare students for college and careers has informed both policy and practice around equipping students to get jobs with family-supporting wages.
