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Mayor Cantrell Celebrates Graduates of The Pathways Program

NEW ORLEANS – Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Office of Youth and Families (OYF) recently celebrated 17 graduates of the Pathways Program.

“I’m excited to celebrate the graduation of our largest cohort, and I commend the deep level of commitment from the families and community that ensures an impactful program like Pathways is a success,” said Mayor Cantrell. “Programs geared toward helping our youth are a team effort, consisting of families, nonprofit agencies and small businesses, a majority of which engaged with Pathways are minority-owned. This ‘whole village’ approach further demonstrates their commitment to serving their communities. These are young people who have touched the system and were referred to this program by the courts. The largest class indicates that the judges are using the resources the city is providing. As a result, more than 90 percent of our clients have stayed out of trouble!”

In partnership with Gracefully Mindful Wellness Institute, Pathways is a year-round workforce readiness and personal development program for system-involved youth ages 14-17. It aims to mitigate youth poverty, unemployment and recidivism by providing participants with paid internships and workshops focused on conflict resolution, mindfulness and soft skills development. Pathways also incorporates case management and mentoring to encourage a successful transition to school and work. OYF also announced an expansion of the Pathways initiative to include an alumni leadership program, scheduled to begin in mid-July. This will provide graduates with an opportunity to stay connected through ongoing leadership development and case management.

“In this program, we have learned mindful meditation, life skills and how to make better choices,” said a graduating participant. “This program has personally also taught me to become a better person, and I’m thankful for Pathways and Mayor Cantrell for this program for the youth. By coming here, I feel more prepared for the real world and for becoming a young man. Thanks to everyone that has helped us along the way.”

Since the program’s inception in 2020, Pathways has served more than 80 young people throughout the city.

To learn more, visit the OYF website.

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