Engaging Young People Throughout the Talent Development Ecosystem

The YouthForce NOLA collaborative offers young people career-connected learning opportunities at every stage of the Youth Talent Development Ecosystem. Through virtual career exploration, paid training and internships, and bridge year programs, YouthForce’s mission is to ensure that high school students are prepared for high-wage, high-demand careers, and to facilitate systems change to ensure equitable outcomes for all young people. 

The Ecosystem has several stages: Inspire, Prepare, Launch, Connect and Support. There are several key opportunities over the next few months: 

  • Career Expo – Students in the 9th and 10th grades are introduced to career-connected learning during the YouthForce NOLA + Junior Achievement Virtual Career Expo. Attendees participate in virtual panel discussions and site visits related to four career clusters: Business Services, Digital Media/Information Technology, Health Services, and Skilled Crafts. This year’s Expo is scheduled Friday, March 18. Contact Lauren Stedahl at lauren@jagno.org 

  • Technical Coursework – To ensure that New Orleans students develop the technical skills required to land high-wage, high-demand jobs, YouthForce partners with training providers to help students earn employer-validated, industry-recognized credentials, which students earn only after completing a rigorous program of study in job-specific skills. We help our training provider partners develop their curricula and then connect them with opportunities to teach these skills to students both in and out of schools. YouthForce also works with community colleges to expand dual enrollment opportunities for students and create greater connectivity to their programming.

  • YouthForce Internship – In the preparation stage, high school juniors can take technical courses and participate in YouthForce Internship, a paid work-based learning program that involves work readiness and soft softs training, one-on-one coaching, and a paid internship with a local company. New Orleans public high school students in the Class of 2023 can learn more and apply for this year’s summer program at www.youthforcenola.org/yfn-internship. The deadline to apply is March 17.

  • Bridge Year Programs – High school seniors who want or need time, coaching and support after high school are good candidates for bridge year programs. to develop their five-year college and career plans.

    • The deadline to apply for LAUNCH 2022, which provides a bridge for students from high school to college and career is April 30.

    • The Application deadline for Next Level NOLA, a year-long college- and career-preparation program for graduating seniors is May 30.

    • The Green Balloon Fellowship connects recent graduates to jobs with companies in the Greater New Orleans region. The application deadline is March 1. 

Please share this valuable information with your networks and any public high school students that you know. >>LEARN MORE


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