projects

One Book One New Orleans:

One Book One New Orleans (OBONO): A city-wide literacy awareness initiative in which all of New Orleans reads the same book at the same time in an effort to unite our community around a common element while offering learning opportunities. Leaders: Nghia Huynh  nhuynh@gmail.com or Jennifer Kretschmann  jkretschmann@krgrlawfrim.com for details.

 

New Orleans : Proud to Call It Home:

Started in 1994, this grassroots marketing campaign encourages pride in our city through the promotion of the Proud slogan in the form of bumper stickers, billboards, t-shirts, etc. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the YLC leadership recognized the need to reinvigorate the Proud To Call It Home campaign. The current mission of the campaign is to encourage residents and those displaced to reconnect with, reinvest in and rebuild New Orleans.

Click here for more information and to purchase Proud merchandise. The Bumper Stickers are always free - contact us to get yours!

Leaders: Anna Corin Koehl (akoehl@ontargetwithbmf.com), Sherwood Collins (sherwoodcollins@gmail.com) and Maria Bazan (mbazan@ontargetwithbmf.com) for information on getting involved.

A Streetcar Named Inspire:

A year long public art festival of streetcar replicas decorated by local artists that will coincide with the re-opening of the St. Charles Streetcar line. Volunteer opportunities include marketing, artist contact, event planning, etc.

Leaders: Mike Atwater (matwate@entergy.com), Jude Boudreaux (jude.boudreaux@gmail.com) and Paula Purvis (ppurvis@lepavillon.com).

 

YLC Wednesday at the Square:

This 12-week spring concert series in Lafayette Square has become part of New Orleans and many of us look forward to it every year. Click here for more information and to see this year's schedule. Contact Dan Forman (danforman@yahoo.com), Erica Woodley (ewoodley@tulane.edu) and Vera Lester (vera@youngleadershipcouncil.org) about getting involved with the concerts.

Got something you think we should be doing? Step up and tell us about it - all of our projects come from the hearts and minds of our members.
Click here for the New project form

Recreate:

This is a pre-Katrina project back by popular demand. Recreate is a free basketball league for kids ages 6 to 16 that will take place at Taylor Playground in the Hoffman Triangle, which is a part of Central City. YLC volunteers will coach teams and officiate games on Saturday mornings this summer. Leaders: Nolan Marshall (nolanmarshall@cox.net) Ronald Carrere (rcarrere@hotmail.com).

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Inspector General Project:

This project works with Inspector General Robert Cerasoli to hold community meetings to introduce the functions of an Inspector General's office to citizens of New Orleans. Project leaders and volunteers will work with neighborhood associations and other community groups to plan meetings where Mr. Cerasoli will talk about how the citizens of New Orleans can play a role in helping clean up corruption and rectify inefficiences in city government. Leaders: Jamie Christovich (jchristo@landisllc.com), Philip Sherman (sherman@chaffe.com) and Williams Wolf (wwolf@mjwomack.com).

Volunteer in the Arts:

This project is about giving back to the arts by volunteering at Arts and Cultural events. YLC members volunteer their time as a group at events around town lending both their presence and their help to make the events a success. Leader: Semmes Walmsley (semmes.walmsley@gmail.com) and Julie Willoz (julie.c.willoz@disney.com).

YLC Education Support:

YLC Education Support provides a venue for YLC members to perform basic volunteering at local schools, as well as an outlet for schools to schedule student participation in larger, citywide YLC projects. It also offers YLC members an opportunity to design and propose short classes for New Orleans middle-school students in any area of their expertise. If accepted by the school administration, this program will partially or fully fund the elective class. Leader: Damian Tatum (auturgy@gmail.com).

College Admissions Project (CAP):

The College Admissions Project is a free service for New Orleans high school seniors pairing them with a YLC volunteer with the goal of providing direct support through the often complicated college admissions and financial aid process. The project will run October 15 through the end of April. C.A.P. is actively recruiting both interested high school seniors and guides. Guides will receive a training as well as an extensive guide manual. To enroll, fill out the enrollment form & email to cap@youngleadershipcouncil.org, or fax to: 504-585-1511 or mail to CAP c/o YLC, PO Box 56909, New Orleans, LA 70156. Leader: Amanda Smithson.

Park-It:

Park It is a project that aids in the revitalization of New Orleans' parks by identifying struggling areas and revamping local green spaces (picking up litter, mowing, trimming, edging, painting, pulling weeds). Park It will provide for the long-term maintenance for the green spaces by partnering with local businesses and neighborhood organizations. Park It's goal is to beautify the City of New Orleans and inspire community pride. Leaders: Kirsten Vaselaar (kvaselaar@hriproperties.com) and Amy Walters (amyewalters@hotmail.com).

Project Greenlight:

This project, adopted in the Spring of 2007, is working with the City's Public Works department to both inform the department of downed street signs and non-operational lights and tarffic signals as well as work with the department to get the issues fixed. This includes volunteers surveying parts of the city as well as putting up new signs in place of the missing ones. Funds are also being raised to hire professional crews to repair traffic signals at certain intersections. Leaders: Brooks Branham (brooksb@bb-cpa.com), Stephanie Pedro (spedro@norpc.org), and Derrick Rogers (derrick.rogers@sheraton.com).

Power Ties

A project organized by the Young Leadership Council and New Orleans Outreach which involves middle school students in career planning and job training. Leader: Jennifer Durkin, jenny@nooutreach.org.

Project Prodigy:

Project Prodigy is a collaborative effort of the Young Leadership Council of Greater New Orleans and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra working to minimize the impact of budget cuts on music education.   Each summer, approximately 125 students attend this four-week long summer music camp. Throughout the year, Project Prodigy also sponsors field trips for the elementary students on music-related topics. Leader: Lee Reid (lee.reid@arlaw.com)

Teacher Assistance Network:

This outreach program that brings area-wide teachers together to share experiences and resources. Also includes a Wish List Registry where teachers register for classroom supplies and members can pledge to buy them. Click here for more information about TAN.

YLC Toastmasters Club:

Toastmasters Club is a small group of young professionals that meet twice a month to develop public speaking and leadership skills through practice and feedback. Contacts: Scott Mason (smason@pmpllp.com) and Beau Read (beauread@msn.com).

YLC Building Project:

The YLC Building Project is a committee of YLC members working to renovate a blighted property in Central City that will become the permanent home of the YLC offices and a gathering place for YLC activities. Contact: Chris Reade (readec@carrolltontech.com).