Summer REbuild RECAP!

As usual, summer at Youth Rebuilding New Orleans was fun, busy, and HOT! While we work with over 200 volunteers in the summer, YRNO shifts focus to our local youth job-training internship, the REbuild Program.

Lesane and Derrick painting a bench for our neighbor.

Neciy and Tristen practicing professional introductions.

This year, 2 cohorts of 21 youth worked to complete the yellow house and community builds while also completing training workshops on career readiness, soft skills, personal finance, social justice, mental health, investing, social media, and sex education.

Jakiara teaching a volunteer from Chappell Baptist Church (SC) how to use the chop saw.

Jaliyah and Tristen painting the historic front windows.

Interns Emanuel and Jeremy install an interior door on final day of internship.

We are grateful for partnerships with a number of organizations and guest speakers Chandra Britt (Whitney Bank), KD Minor (Cowen Institute), Khalilah Collins (Making Connections NOLA), Chelsea Moore (OPSB), Jimmie Lenson (Brotherhood, Inc), Peyton Theriot (Edward Jones), as well as continued partnerships with Junior Achievement and MHA Labs.

Ms. Britt from Whitney Bank giving a workshop on finances, credit and life.

Interns also received training in “green infrastructure” as part of the Healthy Block Initiative, in partnership with The Urban Conservancy, Green Light New Orleans and SOUL NOLA, which aims to reduce localized flooding on the St. Ann Street block where we work. Interns removed concrete, installed True Grid permeable paving system, and planted rain gardens as part of the project.

Interns and volunteers from St. Peter’s UCC install True Grid pavers.

This year, thanks to the Returning the Favor show with Mike Rowe, YRNO was able to provide all participants with fully stocked toolbelts as well as brand new laptops for typing resumes, researching real estate, and completing other job-readiness activities.

Earl distributing tool belts and hand tools to each intern.

Thanks also to our continuing dedicated employer partners Palmisano, Eskew Dumez Ripple and Whitney Bank for hosting educational field trips each week for the interns to learn about career paths as well as the New Orleans employer landscape.

Interns taking notes at the Palmisano jobsite at City Park.