2019 Annual Report

youth force NOLA annual report 2019 STRONGER TOGETHER dear friends, We’re excited to share with you a snapshot of the amazing They say to get a great job things our collaborative has achieved this year. you’ve got to be connected

Since founding YouthForce NOLA nearly five years ago, we’ve Our young people have incredible talents and potential, been working hard to bring about systems change that will but for too long they haven’t been set up for success. result in a brighter future for all of us. In doing so, we’ve Academics are improving and the economy is growing, gathered students, educators, employers, training providers, but there’s a disconnect. That’s where YouthForce NOLA government, and civic organizations around one shared goal: comes in: we’re connecting young people with career creating a pathway to prosperity for New Orleans public high school graduates. opportunities and employers with incredible talent. Our career readiness model is delivering the soft skills, By connecting these cross-sector partners, we’re ensuring our technical skills, and job experiences that students need young people are fully prepared to assume careers in fast- to enter high-wage career pathways – and it’s helping growing industries and to thrive economically. This, of course, build a pipeline to meet our region’s fast-growing benefits not just our students and their families but also local industries’ workforce demands. The results: more We more couldn’t agree industries, our regional economy, and our community overall. prosperous graduates, employers, and communities.

As the coordinator of this effort, YouthForce NOLA works as a connector between stakeholders, a force for systems change, and a steward of measurable results – results we’re proud to What you see share with you in the pages that follow. is who we are

In celebration of the powerful network making these YouthForce NOLA is an education, achievements possible, you will notice a honeycomb pattern business, and civic collaborative that integrated throughout this annual report. The very shape prepares New Orleans public school and structure of the honeycomb is the source of its strength— students for successful pursuit of high- each individual cell works with those around it to create a wage, high-demand career pathways stable, accessible, and productive hive. That’s how we see and facilitates systems change to ensure our collaborative. We are a group of people and organizations sustained success. working collectively to advance a shared vision. To reinforce the ideals that drive our work, we’ve And the rewards couldn’t be sweeter. organized this report around our 2019 goals to:

There’s much more work to be done to reach our vision, but Enrich the student experience with a focus on we’re well on our way. We thank you for helping deliver these career awareness and development results and for your continued support. Bring about systems change by: Together, coordinating a network of capable, Cate Swinburn The YouthForce NOLA vision: connected adults around our vision President New Orleans public school graduates are thriving addressing obstacles and building momentum toward our vision economically and are the most sought-after talent for hiring and advancement in the region’s high- 1 wage, fast-growing industries. 2 skill clusters An enriched student experience Our work centers around four skill clusters to prepare students means exposure to the world of for the region’s high-wage, high- demand careers: Health Sciences, real opportunities Digital Media/IT, Skilled Crafts, and Business Services. YouthForce NOLA is increasing the likelihood of success after high school through a Career Pathway Programs of Study model built on three pillars: career exposure, building skills, and work experience. Work experience programs that work wonders

Our collective programs incorporate real work opportunities as part of the high school curriculum to help students prepare for their Building skills professional futures. Earlier career exposure employers demand YouthForce Internships provided 236 students this year with 60 hours Skill building prepares students for later, greater success of paid work readiness training with the soft and job-specific skills Career exposure programs make students and 90 hours of a paid internship. employers consistently rank as aware of opportunities and provide the tools Students developed a variety of essential to career readiness. they need to pursue them. soft skills, learned more about Industry-recognized credentials potential careers, gained valuable YouthForce NOLA Career Expo engaged and demonstrate an individual’s mastery of work experience, and networked inspired 2,200+ freshmen through interactive technical skills desired by employers. The with working professionals in fast- demonstrations and direct conversations with Class of 2019 earned 439 credentials, growing, high-wage industries. 75+ employers, institutions of higher education, marking an 875% increase compared and training providers this year. to what seniors earned the year before Partner organizations’ internships YouthForce NOLA began. and work experiences, funded in YouthForce NOLA Employer Hub connected 50+ part by YouthForce NOLA and professionals to 5000+ students this year to share Soft skills trainingis woven into all the state’s Jump Start Summers their experiences and practical tips for pursuing YouthForce NOLA programming and this initiative, gave 70 additional careers in their industries. year alone helped prepare 10,000+ young students even more opportunities people with soft skills like problem solving, for career exposure this year. Delgado Discover STEM Careers Day, new this time management, and communication. year, allowed 950+ middle school students to explore careers in STEM fields and make more informed high school decisions. Our soft skills programs Our paid internships are are designed around the These career exposure made possible through MHA Labs Building Block opportunities are made funding from the Skills Framework, which is possible through our City of New Orleans. comprised of 35 core social, partnership with emotional, and cognitive skills Junior Achievement deemed critical for college, of Greater New Orleans. career, and life success. 3 4 Changing the paradigm through a network of capable, connected adults This year, YouthForce NOLA worked closely with 25 of 28 open enrollment The challenge isn’t that our students don’t measure up; rather, Orleans Parish public high schools the system has failed to fully prepare them to enter high-wage to create, coordinate, and maximize

career pathways. We’re working to bring about systems change by Educators career-focused programming. connecting stakeholders, aligning their efforts around a shared vision, and giving them the right tools. YouthForce NOLA High School Collaborative built school capacity through coaching and technical Families are critical partners in students’ As a demand-driven career readiness assistance, planning tools, grant funding, decision-making and success, and model, our work would not be possible paid internships for seniors, externships YouthForce NOLA supports its partners without the 150+ companies that for educators, and industry exposure. families in engaging families around career participate in our collaborative. We partner

readiness. This year, together with the employers with employers to design programs and to Soft Skills Teacher Fellowship trained Urban League of Louisiana, we: give students the experiences they need a third cohort of 10 teachers from four for success after graduation, including partner schools to learn, practice, and Provided family engagement internships, site visits, career expos, and share soft skill-building best practices, guidance to middle and high school educator externships. benefitting more than 300 students. educator partners. Together, we’re building a reliable talent Soft Skills Community of Practice Directly supported schools in pipeline to meet employers’ needs in the convened 45 youth champions from improving parent engagement. short- and long-term. 30 organizations each month to share best practices and collaborate on soft Conducted focus groups and skills cultivation. This group collectively surveys of students and families on Training providers offer technical reaches 10,000+ youth. both school and YouthForce NOLA coursework that leads to employer- programming to inform continuous Educator Externships provided 29 validated, industry-recognized improvement. teachers from 19 partner schools and credentials aligned with the region’s training providers with paid professional high-wage, high-demand careers. We development that connects the coordinate with eight training provider classroom to the workplace through partners to develop programming, experiential learning. connect with school and employer

training providers partners, integrate training into the K-12 Convenings, workshops, and advisory experience, and provide funding. The Urban League groups connected educators, industry of Louisiana is professionals, and career readiness YouthForce NOLA’s experts to share strategies and best practices. lead partner in our work to collaborate The New Orleans Career Center with families. opened in fall 2018 and provides specialized, half-day technical training in health science and engineering pathways. It scaled this year to serve 350 trainees from 16 partner high schools and facilitated key supports for other training providers across the city. 5 6 building the ecosystem Highlights of our work to build a career readiness ecosystem include:

Regularly aligning the YouthForce NOLA collaborative’s policy work and programming with industry demand to We're implementing a strategy ensure the system is preparing graduates for the high-wage for systems change to align the career pathways that await them. components and structures Earning the State of Louisiana’s approval of new industry- that play roles in our vision for recognized credentialsthat align with YouthForce NOLA’s New Orleans public high school skill clusters and career pathways. Like our work to approve students' career success. the Medical Assistant certification in 2018, this year we have been working to receive state approval of a new Business Operations credential in support of our newly- added Business Services skill cluster.

Creating Louisiana’s first Extension Academy, LAUNCH, to provide debt-free access to college coursework and advanced technical training to students who completed the 12th grade. This bridge year also includes soft skill development, individualized coaching, and networking opportunities as students begin work experiences that lead to career opportunities. We are managing this pilot program and are helping design and establish more Extension Academies across New Orleans.

Empowering partners by providing funding and technical expertise to help them scale and align their work with that of the YouthForce NOLA collaborative. This year we worked with Spark Mindset, a cybersecurity training provider, to receive approval from the Louisiana Department of Education as a Course Choice Provider. Greater New Orleans, Inc.’s continued data analysis and Developing a national model for career readinessand rigorous labor market insights sharing our experiences with school districts, educators, inform our programs to ensure and experts across the country, having participated in 23 they are demand-driven. Their national, regional, and local conferences. Jobs Report and Career Guides further ensure educators are informed on the career opportunities that await students.

7 8 snapshot of success LAUNCH While an increasing number of New Orleans public school students are graduating with the skills, experiences, and plans they need to succeed in college or enter a high-wage career pathway, some students are looking for a faster route to career than traditional Not only are we rocketing toward our goals, YouthForce NOLA is college and some students did not yet benefit from the YouthForce sharing best practices across the nation as an innovative, proven NOLA experience. model for career readiness in K-12 education. In 2019, YouthForce NOLA introduced LAUNCH, an innovative 2019 Press postsecondary bridge year program that multiplies options and increases economic mobility for young people in New Orleans. Advance CTE • Campus Technology • Education Next • Education During this free year-long program, students receive: Week • Forbes • Getting Smart • Greater Baton Rouge Business Report • MDRC’s “Issue Focus” • New Orleans CityBusiness • Hard and Soft Skill Development The 74 • The Times-Picayune I NOLA.com I The New Orleans Advocate • FOX 8 WVUE-TV College-Level Instruction

2019 Conference participation and Presentations Workplace Connections and Experiences The first year of the rest of their lives yearThe first their the of rest of Arizona State University and Global Silicon Valley’s ASU+GSV Coaching, Technology, and Support Summit • The Aspen Institute and New Orleans Business Alliance’s New Orleans Workforce Leadership Academy • The This year, LAUNCH welcomed 26 students from 12 high schools and A national modelA national for career readiness Aspen Institute and New Orleans Business Alliance’s Socrates New three training provider partners. Orleans Salon • Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Statewide Economic Development Summit Presented by Entergy • CareerWise LAUNCH is a pilot demonstration for the Louisiana Department of Colorado’s Apprenticeship Summit • Children’s Funding Project’s Education and Board of Regents’ Extension Academy policy. Convening • Cowen Institute’s Life After High School Convening • Da Vinci Schools’ Transforming Learning Conference • Grantmakers for Education’s Annual Conference • Institute for Research on Poverty’s Career & Technical Education: Promise and Practice Convening • JFF’s Building Equitable Pathways Community of Practice Convening •Louisiana Department of Education’s Jump Start Convention • Louisiana Skills Policy Academy’s State Skills Policy Convening • MDRC’s Career and Technical Education Convening • National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ National Charter Schools Conference • Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship’s National Grantee Meeting • Power Up Women’s Conference • Results for America’s 2019 Summit • South by Southwest’s SXSW EDU Conference and Festival • Tide Risers’ Summit 2019 • Urban League of Louisiana’s School Expo • Urban League of Louisiana’s ULEAD Leadership Academy • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Leads Fellowship Program Site Visit to New Orleans

*Bolded indicates representatives from YouthForce NOLA delivered presentations.

9 10 students SCHOOLS FROM ENGAGED Snapshot of Success 2200 19 WITH training provider partners and employers at the Since YouthForce NOLA’s founding in 2015, 75 YouthForce NOLA Career Expo we’ve been guided by five-year goals to ensure our students have the technical bringing the total to skills, work experience, and soft skills required to thrive in high-wage, fast-growing years in three career pathways. And we’re on track to 5000+ students

by theby numbers meet them all: students participated in the new 950+ DElgado Discover 2020 goal 2019 progress STEM careers Day

of graduates seniors 875% earn industry earned 2019 increase recognized of the 5000+ 20% 439 credentials over credentials earned by 50+

credentials 14% students had representing Class of employers this year graduates before YouthForce experiences with NOLA began Technical Skills through our Employer Hub this year

learned about high-wage 2020 goal 2019 progress educators career pathways through our 29 Educator Externship students completed 797 program this year of graduates 236 YouthForce Internships Amplified Achievements complete students completing meaningful students completed meaningful

10% bringing work other meaningful work work experiences since STUDENTS the total to the total experience 70 experiences YouthForce NOLA 300+ REACHED

work experience began through our Soft Skills Teacher Fellowship this year 2019 progress bringing the total to 2020 goal youth reached by years

1600+ in three 84% 10,000+ students Graduates demonstrate OF supervisors YOUTH employer-validated, CHAMPIONS organizations said the work readiness career-ready soft skills 45 FROM 30 EDUCATORS of their YouthForce ORGANIZATIONS soft skills 97 FROM 52 NOLA intern was through our similar to that of an were trained in our entry-level employee Soft Skills Community of Practice Soft Skills Workshops this year

*Figures are approximate estimates based on February 2019 enrollment counts and projected statistics. 11 12 the youthforce nola

13 *Organizations listed in blue partnered with YouthForce NOLA in two ways, those listed in yellow partnered in three or more ways. 14 The YouthForce NOLA Collaborative Abramson Sci Academy Collegiate Opportunities Academy Edna Karr High School Einstein Charter High School Eleanor McMain Secondary School Frederick A. Douglass High School G.W. Carver High School International High School of New Orleans John F. Kennedy Senior High School at Lake Area L.B. Landry-O.P. Walker College and Career Preparatory High School Living School Livingston Collegiate Academy McDonogh 35 College Preparatory High School

our 2019-2020 SCHOOL partners our 2019-2020 Morris Jeff Community School New Harmony High School New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School (Sci High) New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy (NOMMA) ReNEW Accelerated High School Rooted School Rosenwald Collegiate Academy Sophie B. Wright Charter School The Net Charter High School: Central City The Net Charter High School: Gentilly Walter L. Cohen College Prep Warren Easton Charter High School Collaborative Steering Committee Delgado Community College Baptist Community Ministries Gateway EMS (GEMS) City of New Orleans New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) Greater New Orleans, Inc. New Orleans Technical Education Partner (NOTEP) JPMorgan Chase & Co. New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans our training Nunez Community College Louisiana Department of Education Operation Spark Spark Mindset New Orleans Business Alliance partners provider New Orleans Career Center New Schools for New Orleans NOLA Public Schools United Way of Southeast Louisiana Urban League of Louisiana

15 16 The YouthForce NOLA Collaborative

Leadership Melissa Ehlinger Emily Ferris $250,000+ $5,000-$9,999 Imani Miller Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pro Bono Publico Foundation our staff Steph Slates Bloomberg Philanthropies Phillips 66 Alliance Refinery Cate Swinburn City of New Orleans JPMorgan Chase & Co. Up to $4,999 Educator and Community Engagement Stephen and Sandy Rosenthal Family Foundation Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Claire Ackerman da Silva Walton Family Foundation Ayame Dinkler Rahmel Fuller Elizabeth Freudmann Sade Randall $100,000-$249,999 Michael Hecht Nathan Stockman Annie E. Casey Foundation Missy Sparks Baptist Community Ministries LeRoy Lambert Employer Engagement Carnegie Corporation of New York Moffett Family Foundation Sarah Bell Results for America Thomas Searson Lindsay Voves

our 2019 financial supporters financial 2019 our United Way of Southeast Louisiana Courtney Williams W.K. Kellogg Foundation Ecosystem In-Kind Meredith Barousse $50,000-$99,999 Baptist Community Ministries David Shepard Chevron Gulf of Mexico Brennan’s Restaurant Group Simon Spadaro-Bliss Leslie Jacobs Dickie Brennan and Company RosaMary Foundation Link Stryjewski Foundation Internships Paige Boetefuer Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss, & Hauver, LLP Naomi Daugherty $10,000-$49,999 SMG Capital One Sarah Leverett Greater New Orleans Foundation State and Federal Grants LAUNCH Keller Family Foundation 21st Century Community Learning Center Geraldlyn Johnson Lucid, LLC Carl D. Perkins Grant (Perkins V) Mile High Strategies Amani Rashid-Smith Southwest Airlines Foundation Joe Robinson

The list above reflects all active grants and new contributions in calendar year 2019. Administration Candice Black Martha Parent Ayame Dinkler, LCMC Health Brandi Young Michael Hecht, Greater New Orleans, Inc. Emily Zawislak Leslie Jacobs, Belltower New Orleans Coleman D. Ridley Jr., Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region our board our Missy Sparks, Ochsner Health System Mark S. Stein, Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss, & Hauver, LLP Courtney J. Williams, Torsh, Inc. George H. Wilson, Barriere Construction Andy Wisdom, Crescent Capital Consulting

17 18 We are proud to feature some of our talented YouthForce NOLA Internship alumni here.

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