This summer’s cohort included 129 youth, ages 14-17, from across all five City Council districts.

“This is what Mayor Cantrell means when she says, 'Nothing stops a bullet like a job.' This is also part of the holistic approach the Mayor employs to ensure public safety by investing in our people. Our previous work with Summer Success has shown a 6% recidivism rate; programs such as these connect our most vulnerable youth to opportunities that enable them to make positive connections in our community that propel them forward,” said Emily Wolff, Director, Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families.

Summer Success partnered with The Black School and eight other organizations to offer employment and work readiness programming as well as wraparound support. Youth receive $10/hour for up to 20 hours a week. In addition, all youth are receiving case management, transportation assistance and transitional planning support.

Summer Success is run in conjunction with the Office of Youth and Families’ Pathways Program, which is a year-round workforce readiness program that serves system-involved youth and is funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.

Mayor Cantrell and Xavier hosted a press conference on Wednesday, July 21, to celebrate the successful completion of the "Summer Success" program. 

You can view the full press release and more about the program at nola.gov.