New Orleans Career Center prepares high schoolers and adults for success in the workforce

Te’Mon Crawford’s interest in a career as an electrician might be traced back to 2021, when he saw Entergy employees making repairs to bring back electricity after Hurricane Ida.

“I saw what Entergy was doing to help restore power, and I thought that this was something I could learn more about,” said Crawford, a graduate of Warren Easton High School.

“I felt by learning about electricity, I would be able to make a difference to help the community.”

Crawford will receive his electrical license next May thanks to a program offered by the New Orleans Career Center. The nonprofit NOCC, at 1331 Kerlerec St., New Orleans, opened in the fall of 2018, offering tuition-free career and technical education to high school students and adults.

The first year, two programs were offered: medical assisting and engineering/manufacturing, with 134 trainees enrolled.

Today, there are nearly three times that number. They’re high school students and adults who have enrolled in more than a dozen programs to learn culinary arts and hospitality management, patient care technician, licensed practical nursing, digital media, building trades and pharmacy tech.

Amy Ferguson is an independent consultant. NOCC is a client.

“The high school trainees are from 25 New Orleans high schools and attend half-day every weekday, morning or afternoon, for the entire school year,” Ferguson said. “Adult training is also held every weekday, but hours vary by the career path they have chosen. Training is offered throughout the year, and the certificate varies depending on the area of study.”

Care and kindness

Amarie Jones’ sister, Thayri, was born with a heart murmur. While her sister was being treated by the doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital, Jones said she was moved by the care the staff gave her sister and the kindness that was shown to her family.

“It was so hard to watch my sister go through this and especially before and after her operation,” said Jones, who is studying in NOCC’s licensed practical nurse program. “The staff at the hospital were amazing … it was then I thought about going into nursing.

“I was very nervous when I started at NOCC, but my instructors have encouraged me so much. They are giving me the confidence to move forward with my studies.”

After her studies, she’s looking to the future. 

“When I become a nurse, I want to give my patients the same kind of care and comfort like the nurses who took care of my sister,” Jones said. 

Carlin Jacobs is NOCC’s chief program officer. He attributes the increase in enrollment to the additional programs available and to word-of-mouth.

“Our high school students are talking to their friends about what they are studying and that is helping to spread the word,” Jacobs said. “Our completion rate is 93% among high school students. And our instructors are industry professionals in their fields who we train to be instructors.”

Practical experience

This will be the first year Lee Stevenson will serve as an instructor at NOCC. An electrician by trade for 10 years, he will teach a core curriculum in building trades.

“This is a base level course for students in all areas of construction including identifying the types of tools, safety rules, names of equipment and trade terms,” explained Stevenson, a junior at the University of New Orleans majoring in electrical engineering.

“I look forward to watching the students grow in their knowledge in whatever area of building trades they have an interest in while sharing my own knowledge and job experience. I prayed for an opportunity like this.”

Ferguson said all trainees attend NOCC free of charge thanks to support from members of industries, corporations, foundations and individuals throughout the New Orleans area including Acadian Ambulance, Boh Brothers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union 130, the Link Restaurant Group, Ochsner Health, LCMC Health, the Omni Royal Orleans, Lil Dizzy’s, The Roosevelt, the Kern Family Foundation Café Reconcile and Pro Bono Publico.

There is a big need in the community, Jacobs said, for trainees to enroll in the programs at NOCC.

“We know there are New Orleanians whose lives could be changed by what NOCC offers,” Jacobs said. “They will receive high quality training programs and will be equipped with the technical skills, workplace knowledge and the professional networks to succeed.

“We are hyper-focused on providing students the experience they need for their chosen career path while meeting the needs of the community.”