When I visited New Orleans this past May, it had been a decade since my first trip. Ten years ago, I attended the Essence Music Festival weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit. At the time, no one could have imagined the devastation that would ravage the culturally and historically rich city. As I returned to New Orleans this year, I took in the place once again – the enormous Superdome, the trolley cars, the aroma of local seafood cooking, the humidity, the jazz bands, the people, and the ubiquitous fleur de lis, “flower of the lily.” All of those characteristics, and more, give New Orleans its unique character, which, to everyone’s benefit, is being restored through the collective commitment of its people and others who deeply care about the place.
I was there for a convening of the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions Opportunity Youth Forum (OYF), a collective impact initiative designed to re-engage older youth in education and the workforce. The convening brought together the diverse 21 OYF communities taking on this work, funders, thought leaders, and other stakeholders to learn from each other and sustain the momentum of the initiative. Equal Measure is conducting a portfolio evaluation of the OYF.
As part of the convening, we had an opportunity to visit partners in the New Orleans collaborative. We traveled down the historic Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard – once a thriving district for the Jewish and African-American communities. On this commercial and cultural corridor are Café Reconcile and The NET Charter High School, where we got a first-hand l
ook at how innovative programming and caring adults are improving the lives of older youth in the community. We also learned about other initiatives in the city, including Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools, which teaches youth community organizing skills, and Youth Empowerment Project, which provides youth with training to enhance their workforce readiness. Students often face significant setbacks in completing their education and career goals due to various factors in their personal lives and communities. For many New Orleans youth, these programs offer a second chance to reach their personal goals.
Hearing about and seeing these programs in action was an inspiring experience – as was being back in New Orleans. The city rebounded after great loss and devastation, showing us all the power of courageous effort. Although prevalent prior to Hurricane Katrina, the popularity of the fleur de lis has greatly increased, becoming a symbol of resilience for the people of New Orleans and their ongoing commitment to strengthen the city. The fleur de lis represents hope and second chances – just as Opportunity Youth represent great promise for our country.
When it was time to return home from my recent trip, I wondered when I might be able to come back and experience a little more of the place that exudes so much. Greater appreciation often comes the second time around.
Kim Edmunds is a consultant at Equal Measure.