NOLA YURP and The Next American City Magazine

On March 6-8, NOLA YURP and The Next American City Magazine partnered for a weekend full of events starting on Thursday, March 6th with an educational forum called "Sparking Creativity: Investing in Entrepreneurship and the Future Human Capital of New Orleans." Our panelist included Andrea Floyd, co-founder of Consciously Rebuilding, Blake Haney, creative director of Whence: the studio/Dirty Coast Press/Humid Beings/Willdo, Timolynn Sams, executive director of Neighborhood Partnership Network, and Janet Speyrer, associate dean for research and professor of economics at the University of New Orleans. The forum was held at the Historic New Orleans Collection in the French Quarter located on 533 Royal St., and moderated by Brentin Mock and NOLA YURP's Executive Director Nathan Rothstein. The event was even more special because we were joined by a group of Alternative Spring Break volunteers from Georgetown University. The students where allowed to interact with some of the young people in New Orleans that are involved in the rebuilding and participate in the forum discussion. Much thanks to the Historic New Orleans Collection, NOLA YURP intern Christopher Powe, The Next American City Magazine, and all those who help to make this event a success.

New Orleans Leadership Retreat: The Prophetic City

Thank you to the Blue Moon Foundation for their wonderful generosity and for hosting a New Orleans Leadership Retreat that brought together some of the brightest minds in the non-profit field. It was a great weekend to connect with people who are doing innovative/excellent work here in New Orleans. It was a tremendous opportunity for NOLA YURP staff and one of our Board members to get to know more personally some of the people who are working towards meaningful change here in New Orleans. Getting to talk with the leadership of the Urban Conservancy, the Neighborhood Partnership Network, Louisiana Spirit, Puentes New Orleans, Inc., and many many more was a great experience/opportunity for our organization. NOLA YURP looks forward to partnering and collaborating with as many of these great organizations as we possibly can.

NOLA YURP and THE NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Get the NOLA YURP Six Pack


2/27 vs. Phoenix
3/12 vs. San Antonio (free Hornets jersey with admission)
3/14 vs. Lakers
3/19 vs. Houston
4/4 vs. Knicks
4/15 vs. Clippers (free drink voucher)

For only $100 dollars

Invite your friends and if you sell the most packages, you will receive two courtside tickets to the 4/15 game against the Clippers


Call Remi Valda
and mention you are a "YURP" member

Remi Viada

Group Sales Account Executive

New Orleans Hornets

1250 Poydras St., 19th Floor

New Orleans, LA70113

O 504.593.4965 - C 985.966.0568 - F 504.593.4702

Remi.Viada@Hornets.com

Bringing it All Together

Last night we had a great panel discussion with a group of volunteers from different parts of the northeast. The panel consisted of Tiffany Joseph (Homeland Security Senior, Tulane University), Amanda Winfield (Accounting Senior, Dillard University), Joel Ross (Licensed Architect), Nathan Rothstein (Co-founder, Executive Director, NOLA YURP), and myself (Kendrick Pullen Co-founder, Program Director, NOLA YURP). As the panel discussed their experiences in pre and post-Katrina New Orleans, it led to a Q and A series that really made me think about how NOLA YURP is helping bring the synergy to young people who really want to change this city for the better. The panel represented all phases of the recovery effort here in New Orleans. As I looked to my left and right, I saw the future leaders of this city and realized that with leaders like this New Orleans may finally get it right.

"Life After College" at Loyola University

NOLA YURP recently conducted its 5th Life After College workshop on the campus of Loyola University, February 14th in the University's Danna Center. About 20 students attended the discussion to find out about options available to them after graduation in the city of New Orleans. Our panel consisted of two Loyola Alums (David Robinson-Morris and Leigh Thorpe) and the staff of NOLA YURP. The workshop at Loyola University was the 5th "Life After College" Workshop that the NOLA YURP Initiative has conducted since October. Yale and Spring Hill College are two of the other schools, just to name a few, that has hosted NOLA YURP for this workshop.

NOLA YURP Staff @ Allan Houston Foundation Event

Yesterday will go down in history as the day I had the most fun in my life. The last couple of months I have had very little time to enjoy the one activity which gives me the greatest joy i.e. interacting with kids! I am one of the biggest kids at heart and to have an opportunity to spend the afternoon with some of the greatest kids in the world at Harry S. Truman Middle School truly did this "old man" (according to the kids) some good. I got an opportunity to have this interaction due to the great work of the Allan Houston Foundation and his Young Entrepreneurs Class, which Nathan (Director of NOLA YURP) is a participant in. From basketball to sack races, I got a chance to do it all! The goal of the event was to reward the high achieving kids and their parents with fun events and games to continue to build the family unit. I met some bright, intelligent, energetic, and wonderful kids which has me excited about the future of New Orleans. My hats off to the teachers, parents, staff, and administration at Harry S. Truman Middle School you guys are doing an excellent job! In the picture below you will notice me exploding past Nathan to capture 2nd place in the Sack Race! I LOVE KIDS! If anyone knows of any youth sports coaching opportunities please send me an email @ kendrick@nolayurp.org.

NOLA YURP's Financial Literacy Workshop

NOLA YURP kicked off the month of February with our first financial literacy workshop. We had a great turnout and our experts where able to answer a lot of peoples financial questions. I want to personally thank Natasha and Louis Riley, Christopher Johnston, Daniel Simpson Jr., and Kerry Foley-Kessler for providing their extensive knowledge on financial topics ranging from real estate to insurance to ROTH IRA's. I always want to thank all the people who showed up and participated in the workshop. NOLA YURP owes a big debt of gratitude to Shantrelle Lewis curator of the McKenna Museum of African American Art for being such a gracious host. We look forward to many more workshops to continue to engage the young professionals of this city. If you have more ideas on programs that you would like to see here in New Orleans please feel free to send me an email at kendrick@nolayurp.org or info@nolayurp.org.