NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Reconcile New Orleans (Reconcile) has received a $4 million-dollar gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The single largest gift in Reconcile’s history will expand its capacity and fuel the nonprofit’s work to redefine youth-focused workforce development programming for New Orleans’ opportunity youth, young people between the ages of 16 to 24 years old, who are seeking connection to educational and workforce opportunities.
“We are honored and grateful to MacKenzie Scott for investing in Reconcile New Orleans and the young people we serve,” said Reconcile New Orleans Chief Executive Officer Kheri Billy. “This transformational gift is an endorsement of our work and an investment in our young people who are the next generation of talent and future of our city.”
The gift will elevate Reconcile’s work to holistically address the factors that influence a young person’s ability to access employment opportunities and provide occupational training that creates a pipeline of new talent into New Orleans’ workforce.
Reconcile’s innovative Workforce Development Program is a positive youth development space that supports the career exploration and job readiness opportunities of young people 16 to 24 years old. During the paid 14-week, in-person training, Interns work with Reconcile staff to address barriers to employment and/or educational opportunities. They receive one-on-one coaching, earn industry credentials, explore career and educational pathways that suit their individual interests and abilities, and experience real-world, on the job training in the training restaurant, Café Reconcile.
While Reconcile is focused on career exploration and job readiness, its work is also rooted in addressing system-level barriers to protective factors that allow young people to thrive including housing, transportation, childcare, physical and mental health care, and interpersonal relationships, among others. Each young person receives an individualized approach with them at the center of their journey.
“Our work is youth centered. We are first and foremost a place where young people are treated with respect and their lived experiences are acknowledged and always top of mind,” said Billy. “We adapt our programming and change our delivery to meet the needs of young people. At Reconcile, youth voice is prioritized.”
To create a supportive transition into professional or educational pursuits, Reconcile staff members stay connected with Alumni for one-year post-program to provide ongoing support and resource delivery. The MacKenzie Scott donation will allow Reconcile to continue building a robust program experience and the continued development of its post-program support initiative, helping participants sustain engagement with their educational or career pursuits after completing in-person training.
Effective workforce development requires collaboration at the local, state, and national level to improve the environment for positive youth development and create equitable economic opportunity. Reconcile focuses its collaborative work on narrative change, policy change, and establishing shared best-practices across an ecosystem. To this end, Reconcile partners with the Louisiana Opportunity Youth Coalition for improved policy, New Orleans Children’s Youth and Planning Board’s Youth Master Plan, and the New Orleans-based Opportunity Youth Connection Collaborative.
“With this gift, Reconcile can continue to push the boundaries of impact and redefine youth-focused workforce development programming. We are here to advocate on behalf of New Orleans’ young people, amplify their voice, and create change that ensures a better future for generations to come. This is the real work. Work that is possible thanks to the unmatched generosity and vision of MacKenzie Scott.”
To learn more about Reconcile New Orleans’ workforce development program and Café Reconcile, please visit www.cafereconcile.org.
