In conjunction with the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, EPTA felt the need to do more for the greater community. Knowing that there were so many children who were young when their homes were destroyed during Katrina--we began a dialogue with two incredible organizations who were already helping the youth in New Orleans. By providing the talents and resources of our event industry volunteers, we created opportunities for the youth to experience both mentorship and fun.
EPTA’s Youth Project Initiative began its work in NOLA with two incredible organizations, Covenant House NOLA and Liberty’s Kitchen. To this date we have continued to cherish our partnership as we with worked alongside Covenant House in Los Angeles and Houston.
Liberty’s Kitchen is leading an opportunity revolution for New Orleans’ vulnerable youth. Their Youth Development Program helps disconnected young people thrive both in the workplace and in life. They provide paths to self-sufficiency and stability through life skills training, referrals to essential services, and foodservice-based workforce training. Since their start in 2009, they have helped over 350 young people move themselves towards productive, independent adulthood.
Liberty’s Kitchen School Nutrition Program provides freshly prepared, healthy meals to area school children and educates them on the importance of healthy food. As an innovative supply chain intervention, they address the scarcity of socially responsible food providers in New Orleans schools and have prepared over one million meals in the last five years – and more than 3,500 meals daily. By ensuring better nutrition in school, Liberty’s Kitchen contributes to the fight to end the epidemic of childhood obesity and increase youth achievement.
EPTA partners with Liberty's Kitchen when on mission in New Orleans and provides mentorship and learning from event industry leaders in various areas of expertise.
In the months leading up to our visit, our EPTA volunteers worked behind the scenes to create a special afternoon for the residents and staff of Covenant House. With "Cov Carnival", EPTA underwrote the costs of carnival games including a bounce around, mechanical bull, dunk tank and more. With a DJ, face painting and many more activities and food, the day was filled with laughter, dancing and hugs. In the end the residents enjoyed an escape from their daily routine and the staff found new ways to interact with them in an environment that encouraged trust and hope for the future.
Rich Arnold, Director of Development and Communications at Covenant House NOLA commented, "When our youth population develop a sense of trust with their case workers, we experience the most success in their outcomes. Cov Carnival 2015 provided a perfect opportunity for meaningful interaction which built a trust that continues to this day".
Even without EPTA's presence Cov Carnival now continues annually, and EPTA is there whenever possible.
Covenant House California (CHC) is a non-profit youth homeless shelter that provides sanctuary and support for homeless and trafficked youth, ages 18-24. We believe that no young person deserves to be homeless; that every young person in California deserves shelter, food, clothing, education … and most importantly, to be loved. Now serving over 4,700 youth a year, CHC provides a full continuum of services to meet the physical, emotional, educational, vocational, and spiritual well-being of young people, in order to provide them with the best chance for success in independence.
