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NEW ORLEANS — The Office of Youth and Families, in partnership with the Children and Youth Planning Board (CYPB) and New Orleans Youth Alliance (NOYA), announced that the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) voted unanimously in favor of a resolution in support of the city’s first-ever Youth Master Plan. As part of the resolution, the OPSB supports the vision of the Youth Master Plan and encourages school leaders from across the school district to utilize the resources developed and offered in collaboration with the Youth Master Plan.
The Youth Master Plan will serve as a 10-year, comprehensive roadmap for improving child well-being in New Orleans and contains a series of solutions across multiple sectors to improve child well-being including health, education, youth voice, and economic stability.
The OPSB resolution follows another key milestone achieved when Mayor LaToya Cantrell signed an Executive Order in July 2021, formalizing the City’s commitment to executing the strategies outlined in the Plan while calling upon City agencies and departments to participate in the plan’s implementation.
"I'd like to thank the Orleans Parish School Board and New Orleans Public Schools for their support of the New Orleans Youth Master Plan,” said Candice Henderson, Deputy Director Office of Youth and Families. “As we recover from COVID-19, it is critical that schools, City agencies, community organizations, and residents work together to improve outcomes for children. This is an important step in that direction and will increase coordination and break down silos between partners."
“It is great to see our community come together like this to help raise up our city’s children to build a brighter future for all of us,” said Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr., the NOLA Public Schools Superintendent. “It is a mission we share and hold sacred here at NOLA-PS, and we are excited for our students to enjoy the benefits of this thoughtful approach.”
The support of NOLA-PS and OPSB is an important step in ensuring collaboration and coordination between City agencies, schools, and community organizations. Many of the solutions outlined the plan focus on education and school-related supports including:
- Implement restorative justice programs in schools
- Expand youth voice within schools and public agencies
- Create free and accessible transit options for youth
“We are excited to formally partner with the Orleans Parish School Board, and are reassured that the system stands in agreement with youth to envision a successful and empowered future,” said Karen Evans, Executive Director Children and Youth Planning Board. “With the support and implementation of the Youth Master Plan, thousands of young people who attend public schools can do so with the expectation that their hopes and dreams will be achieved in schools.”
“I want our youth to know that they are capable of implementing change and that their voices are being heard,” said Samarah Bentley, a Youth Advisory Board of CYPB member, in response to the launch of the Youth Master Plan for implementation. “If we as youth have innovative, effective, and brilliant ideas, why not implement them? Why not strive to create the positive environment that we want?”
“We have so much to offer politically, artistically, and socially, and we deserve to make decisions about our health, education, and our place in this community, ” said Abigail Hu, a Youth Advisory Board of CYPB member.
Join the CYPB November 2021 Virtual Board Meeting / Youth Master Plan Action Tables Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. to learn about next steps in the implementation of the Plan.
Explore Phase 2 of the Youth Master Plan here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE YOUTH MASTER PLAN AND YMP PARTNERS IS AVAILABLE AT:
Youth Master Plan
https://nolayouthmasterplan.org/
New Orleans Youth Alliance
https://www.neworleansyouthalliance.org/
New Orleans Children & Youth Planning Board
https://www.nolacypb.org/
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