If you are running a program that is not listed or know of an addition resource please register on the site or contact Eric Jensen (ejensen@gnoafterschool.org) as soon as possible for inclusion. Summer is a critical time for children and youth and it is vital that families have a clear idea of what activities and resources are available. Please support New Orleans children, youth, and families by sharing this important resource!

The Youth and Families Transition Task Force report is now available in the Funding & Advocacy section of our Resources.

On 4/22/2010 Transition New Orleans held, One Voice. One Mission. Presenting a Vision for the Future. Each of the 17 task forces formed to gather information and public input on a variety of issues that affect the quality of life for the residents of New Orleans, including Youth and Families, presented their preliminary recommendations to Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

This meeting will be held next Wednesday, 4/7, 6pm at John Mc Donogh High School‎, gym, 2426 Esplanade Avenue. This will be a valuable time for us to share our insights as a strong and committed provider community. In preparation for the meeting please review 10 for 2010 and send in your thoughts, concerns, and questions for our city leaders to info@gnoafterschool.org. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!

This meeting will replace our Provider Meeting originally scheduled for 4/14/2010.

This meeting will be held next Wednesday, 4/7, 6pm at John Mc Donogh High School‎, gym, 2426 Esplanade Avenue. In preparation for the meeting please review 10 for 2010 and send in your thoughts, concerns, and questions for our city leaders to info@gnoafterschool.org. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!

Congratulations to Gina Warner, our Executive Director, who is co-chairing the Mayoral Transition Task Force on Youth and Families. The Task Force will focus on building city and community supports for our young people. Her Co-Chair is Dr. Calvin Mackie who recently led a statewide legislative commission creating the report: The Black Men and Boys of Louisiana. The Task Force on Youth and Families will be calling for community involvement and we hope you will participate.

If you were able to attend, please take a minute to complete our short survey on the Forum. Your feedback will help shape future events.

Between school and home a gap to fill:
A guest column by Cornelle Carney
November 27, 2009
Times-Picayune, New Orleans

Young people possess an innate curiosity to explore the city and learn new things. But in my opinion, there aren’t enough positive venues for New Orleans youth to explore and foster their curiosity.

Often, youth like me are criticized for our choices, behaviors, styles and interests. Well, I am old enough to know that adults haven’t always made the best decisions either. Let me point the finger back at you. Case in point: when I evacuated to Georgia after Katrina, I went to a fine, clean school that had a media center and a variety of afterschool programs. When I returned to New Orleans I realized I had been cheated out of a quality education, supportive community and learning environment conducive to academic and personal growth. My friends and I could not believe how far behind our New Orleans schools and youth programs were, compared to places we’d been.

Our Katrina lesson? Adults have failed to make good opportunities for kids — in and out of school — a priority in our community. On this basis, New Orleans adults get an F.
I’m one of nine children and was only 3 years old when my father, a former Army sergeant, died. My mom struggled to provide for us on a limited income. None of my older brothers graduated from high school. According to the statistics on young African-American males living in poverty with no father — especially in New Orleans — I was not supposed to succeed.

With a handful of caring adults in my life, I graduated from O. Perry Walker High School, completed Initial Entry Training with the Louisiana Army National Guard and began college at Loyola University New Orleans. Tom Hayes, my former math teacher, became my mentor and role model. He made himself available to me before and after school and provided the college planning guidance I needed.

Then I met Eric Jensen, Youth Programs Director at Afterschool Partnership, who included me in the Partnerships’ initiative. Eric’s contacts have helped me find summer jobs, and he invited me to work with him at the Afterschool Partnership as the Youth Liaison. Without these people, I would have probably been another high school dropout or landed in jail.

Most adults don’t seem to understand that one of our biggest challenges occurs during out-of-school hours. This is a critical time when young people are unsupervised until their parents return from work. Let me put this into some revealing perspective. Did you know that East Baton Rouge Parish funds its recreation department at $37 million per year, as opposed to NORD funding, which is under a measly $5 million per year? On top of that, many schools have cut extracurricular activities to save money. Where can young people go in New Orleans to find safe, constructive places to be between school and home?

A new mayor will be elected in 2010. As part of the Afterschool Partnership’s “Ten for 2010″ initiative, I demand that the new mayor make youth a priority!

He or she can make a big difference. For example, cities such as Boston, Atlanta and Jackson, Miss., have youth councils that empower and engage their youth in community service, youth-led dialogues and other community initiatives. New Orleans should do the same.

We have to reform NORD and establish it outside city government so we can more efficiently invest in new programming and improvement of the dilapidated facilities. We need an executive-level administrator in the mayor’s office to coordinate youth initiatives with NORD, educators and community organizations. We have to provide older youth with more job opportunities to work and learn.

The vast unmet needs of our city’s youth cry out for attention and reform of the status quo. New Orleans adults must commit to improving the quality of life of youth now.
Is there anything more important?

Cornelle Carney is a student at Loyola University.