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UNITED WAY OF
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

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Communities, Together.

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WAYS TO HELP

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HOW WE HELP

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our Storytellers

WE ARE UNITED

For over 100 years, United Way of Southeast Louisiana has been working to meet the needs of families and communities in our region. With deep local roots, we see how our communities’ greatest challenges are connected and how we can bring people and resources together to address them.

Storytellers

At United Way of Southeast Louisiana, every story begins with a person—and a moment when support can change everything. This storyteller video brings that impact to life, highlighting how individuals and families across our region are overcoming challenges and building stronger futures with the help of a caring community. Through real experiences and authentic voices, we see what’s possible when people are connected to the resources they need to thrive.

These stories are a powerful reminder that lasting change doesn’t happen alone—it happens when we come together. From education and financial stability to health and basic needs, United Way is there every step of the way, working alongside partners and neighbors to create opportunities for all. Because when one story changes, it inspires many more—and together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Southeast Louisiana.

Zwila & Zen

At 26 months old, Zen was diagnosed with a severe language delay and later diagnosed with Autism. Through the enrollment in a United Way partner program, Zen has been able to thrive in an environment that fosters his socialization and language skills. With the love and support of teachers and staff, Zen continues to develop and grow more confident and is now counting, saying his A-B-C’s, and can speak the words that delight everyone in his life, “I Love You.” Your gift to United Way is able to help fund programs that offer the unconditional love to Zen and many other children in our region.

Terry

Poverty had Terry on the wrong path. Formerly incarcerated and facing a lack of opportunity, Terry was finding it more difficult to get his life on track. After enrolling in United Way’s financial stability services, Terry has a renewed outlook for he and his family’s future. Once we offered him credit counseling and showed him how to manage his finances, he has been able to turn things around. Terry is now on his way to becoming a homeowner and is working two jobs to help him realize his dream.

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.