Cate Swinburn founded and leads YouthForce NOLA, an organization that supports young people to fulfill their potential in work and life. A masterful relationship builder, Cate has rallied thousands of professionals, educators, and community leaders to bring out the best in those who support young people on their path to career. In its first decade, YouthForce NOLA has provided internships to more than 1,750 public high school students, championed the founding of the New Orleans Career Center—the city’s hub for technical education and training—and secured more than $60 million in public and private funding to advance opportunities for young people in New Orleans.

Cate’s career spans the public and nonprofit sectors, including leadership roles in data and accountability as well as philanthropy with DC Public Schools, the DC Public Education Fund, and The Fund for Public Schools in New York City. Cate has also worked with leading national and local education organizations, including Educate Now!, Relay Graduate School of Education, the Recovery School District, and New Schools for New Orleans. She began her career as a classroom teacher for five years, first as a Teach For America Corps Member in rural Texas and then in Austin.

Cate holds a Master of Public Administration from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of EO (Entrepreneur’s Organization), Orleans chapter president of the Alliance for Good Government, Board Member of the New Orleans Career Center, and the proud parent of a public school student. Cate lives in New Orleans with her husband, son, two dogs, and a cat.

Contact Cate at cate@youthforcenola.org