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Our Impact

MIssion Ignition

The mission of the program and of the student board is to make service fun and engaging for high school students by turning it into a competition and encouraging a sense of community while inspiring philanthropic lifestyles that transcend graduation requirements.

THE CREATION OF SOMETHING INSPIRING

In January 2013, student leadership from Lusher Charter School approached United Way of Southeast Louisiana to work together on an initiative that would encourage and incentivize community service among high school students beyond any community service hour requirements for their school. Not long after that, Benjamin Franklin High School joined the initiative as Lusher’s rival, and the students, together with United Way, developed what is now known as Mission Ignition. The concept of Mission Ignition is fairly simple: schools compete to complete the most service hours during a one-month period. In the six school years since its inception, the program has grown from two schools to eight, engaging thousands of students, rallying nearly 20,000 hours of service, and inspiring tens of thousands of social media posts about the event.​

WHERE WE’RE HEADED: SPREADING OUR MISSION​

Although United Way Mission Ignition is currently focused on the New Orleans area, the planning team has no reservations about expanding the competition across the lake, the state, and even the country. The United Way Mission Ignition Board is continually looking for new schools to get involved. If your school is interested in joining us, contact Melody Reed at MelodyR@UnitedWaySELA.org or Haley Mack at HaleyM@unitedwaysela.org

PROGRAM HISTORY AND COMPONENTS

In January 2013, student leadership from Lusher Charter School and Benjamin Franklin High School joined with United Way of Southeast Louisiana to develop what is now known as Mission Ignition. The concept is simple: schools compete to complete the most service hours during a one-month period. In the three school years since its inception, the program has grown from two schools to seven, engaging hundreds of students, rallying nearly 8,000 hours of service, and inspiring tens of thousands of social media posts about the event.

The Mission Ignition student board, consisting of 30-40 students representing all competing schools, is organized into committees dedicated to coordinating service projects, raising funds, promoting the competition at the schools, and maximizing the use of social media as an advocacy tool. Students drive all aspects of the program including competition logistics and strategies for success under the guidance of United Way Staff. Student board members manage social media sites and create all promo videos and collateral.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana helps to enhance and cultivate leadership skills in the students who devote their time and effort to working on the board. At the end of each board cycle, Mission Ignition student board members will have developed their ability to:

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Work collaboratively with peers from across the community to envision goals as well as to create and implement strategies for accomplishing those goals

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Experience the rewards of successful collaborative effort

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Engage previously uninvolved peers in collaborative effort on behalf of the larger community

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Secure resources for a philanthropic program

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Transfer knowledge and passion for volunteerism to post- high school experience (work, college, etc.)

Mission Ignition schools currently include

Lusher Charter School, Benjamin Franklin High School, Haynes Academy, Thomas Jefferson High School, Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, East Jefferson High School, Riverdale High School, and Isidore Newman School representing over 3,000 students in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.

INTERSCHOOL VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

During Mission Ignition competition month, all competing schools gather on weekends to complete joint service projects, called “Missions.” Previous Missions have included: park clean ups, beautification projects at schools, mentoring young children.

For more information on Mission Ignition, please contact Melody Reed at 504-827-6846 or Haley Mack at 504-827-6817.

OUR PAST SUCCESS

19

2,944 Hours

1st- Ben Franklin High School
2nd- Thomas Jefferson High School
3rd- Lusher Charter High School

Economic Impact
$
18

4,456 Hours

1st- Riverdale High School
2nd- Ben Franklin High School
3rd- Haynes High School
Economic Impact
$
17

3,689 Hours

1st – Benjamin Franklin High School & Riverdale High School / 2nd – Haynes Academy / 3rd – Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy

Economic Impact
$
16

4,200 Hours

Benjamin Franklin High School & Riverdale High School 2nd – Thomas Jefferson High School 3rd – Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy

Economic Impact
$
15

3,633 Hours

1st – Patrick F. Taylor 2nd – Haynes Academy 3rd – Thomas Jefferson Academy

Economic Impact
$
14

1,765 Hours

1st – Benjamin Franklin High School 2nd – Thomas Jefferson High School 3rd – Lusher Charter School
Economic Impact
$
13

2,373 Hours

Lusher Charter School
2nd – Benjamin Franklin High School

Economic Impact
$
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Young Leaders United

Young Leaders United (YLU), formerly Young Leaders Movement, builds socially conscious leaders who fight for change. YLU unites passionate people to create more equitable communities through advocacy, volunteerism, and giving. Learn More
Mission Ignition

Retire United

Retire United mobilizes the experience, expertise, and resources of individuals who are retired or soon-to-retire to strengthen our community through volunteerism and philanthropy. Learn More
Mission Ignition

Tocqueville Society

Tocqueville Society members unite to increase United Way’s capacity to stabilize families, help children succeed, and empower healthy living. An annual gift of $10,000 places you among this uniquely engaged group of philanthropists. Learn More
Mission Ignition

Mission Ignition

The mission of the program and of the student board is to make service fun and engaging for high school students by turning it into a competition and encouraging a sense of community while inspiring philanthropic lifestyles that transcend graduation requirements. Learn More
Mission Ignition

OUR GROUPS​

Within United Way, groups of like-minded people are inspiring their peers to make a difference. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. Together, we can change the world.
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Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.