Future Building Fridays: Throughout the entire LAUNCH program year, your cohort will meet weekly during Future Building Fridays (FBF). These consist of valuable skill workshops, workplace site visits, and discussions with guest speakers. Industry leaders and professionals meet LAUNCH participants during FBF to share lessons they’ve learned along the way, and provide valuable feedback and insights as LAUNCHers prepare for training and work experiences.
Resources: Other resources that LAUNCHers receive as a part of the program include stipends to recognize progress completion, transportation assistance, technology devices to complete assignments and stay connected, a dedicated study space, food and snacks at in-person meetings, and other goodies along the way!
Requirements: While LAUNCH comes at no cost to our participants, it is a serious commitment, similar to a first year of college. LAUNCH participants must be willing and able to commit to 20 hours of LAUNCH and training activities each week. LAUNCH participants often have jobs; in fact, coaching on how to simultaneously manage training and work obligations is built into our programming.
Our expectations and the primary requirements for LAUNCH enrollment and participation are:
Active Attendance: attend weekly success training, Future Building Fridays, and any study sessions
Technical Training Progress: make satisfactory progress towards your industry credential at your training provider
Coaching Check Ins: meet with your Success Coach each week to receive advising and guidance towards your goals
Deliverables Submission: submit any required deliverables to help improve LAUNCH programming and build your own Five Year Plan and portfolio.
Participants’ engagement and participation in each of these components help us determine continued LAUNCH enrollment, which includes access to stipends and other benefits, and assistance with hiring or continuing education placements at the end of LAUNCH.
Eligibility: Any student who meets graduation requirements from a New Orleans public high school can enroll in LAUNCH. There are no GPA requirements or ACT limits for LAUNCH eligibility.
