United Way of Southeast Louisiana believes every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
That’s why we collaborated with the ASA Center for Career Navigation at Jobs for the Future (JFF) to host the New Orleans Career Navigation Lunch & Learn last week, which served as a powerful call to action designed to amplify youth voices and strengthen our region’s school-to-work ecosystem. By the learn-to-work ecosystem, we mean the educational institutions, community organizations, industry partners, and other stakeholders that help young people transform from children and young adults who are acquiring knowledge and learning skills to workers who are contributing to the economic growth and vitality of their communities.
Our convening united a diverse group of stakeholders, including influential education leaders, dedicated workforce professionals, essential community partners, and most importantly, the young people whose futures we are shaping.
The goal was clear. We set out to brainstorm bold, actionable ideas for enhancing career navigation practices and policies for nearly 40 million youth ages 16-24 across Louisiana. Now more than ever, they need access to career navigation that helps them make decisions about education and work so that they can access quality jobs and experience economic mobility over the arc of their career.
The packed event fostered connection and sparked innovation. Here are a few highlights.
- Youth Advocates Speak Out: A powerful panel of local youth advocates shared their authentic lived experiences and invaluable perspectives on navigating the complexities of education and employment systems. Their stories were a poignant reminder of the real-world impact of our work.
- Regional Priorities Unveiled: Attendees gained a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and key regional priorities for education and career pathways, providing a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
- Collaborative Breakout Sessions: Interactive breakout sessions encouraged deep dives into actionable strategies, where participants collectively identified opportunities to better align existing systems and supports for young people.
- Meaningful Networking: The event provided ample opportunities for youth, nonprofit leaders, educators, and employers to connect, share insights, and build relationships crucial for future collaboration.
This convening underscores the necessity of creating spaces where young people are seen, heard, and centered in every conversation impacting their lives. Attendees departed feeling energized, well-informed, and deeply committed to co-creating a system where youth are empowered as agents of change rather than merely recipients of services.
The invaluable insights and palpable energy generated at the Lunch & Learn will directly inform and shape our ongoing efforts in education and youth development. United Way remains committed to advancing collaborative strategies that purposefully position young people at the very heart of education, workforce, and policy solutions.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the insightful youth panelists, our dedicated community partners, and every individual who joined us in our effort to ensure every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Erica Bouris, Senior Director ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF
Todd Battiste,Senior Vice President for Education & Youth Initiatives, UWSELA
