History
In 1996, under the leadership of the late Rev. Harry Tompson, S.J., a group of concerned people of faith gathered together to began a course of prayer, study, research, observation and dialogue regarding the witnessed challenges facing out-of-school youth in New Orleans. The newspapers, police reports, television news, research and personal experiences all pointed to a multitude of young lives spiraling into destructive and violent behaviors.
In an effort to stem that tide, to effect a glimmer of hope in the near-downtown community of Central City, this group of concerned and motivated people began the planning and research necessary to establish a safe and supportive place where at-risk youth could have the option of receiving the life, work and educational skills necessary to turn their lives on a productive path toward thriving and complete citizens of this city.
Our founder, Father Tompson, died in 2001, but his living legacy flourishes in the daily activities of the Reconcile programs. Housed in a five-story, 12,000 square foot building reclaimed in the economically distressed Central City neighborhood of New Orleans, the work of Reconcile New Orleans is to provide at-risk youth an opportunity to learn life and interpersonal skills and operational training for successful entry into the hospitality and restaurant industries; to provide an economic development cornerstone for the blighted and declining but slowly returning Central City neighborhood, and to provide services to address unmet neighborhood needs (such as quality family-based literacy instruction for adults and children) until such time as other local organizations can establish their own programs in the community.
In the first four years of operation, Reconcile New Orleans’ Youth Workforce training program has successfully enrolled over 250 youth between the ages of 16 and 25 to learn basic life skills, interpersonal skills and work skills to enable and empower them to successfully enter the second-largest non-governmental workforce in New Orleans – the entertainment and hospitality industry.
"I’m proud of myself! My momma did the best she could, but the drugs got in the way. I had to do this to better me, and I did it on my own!"
- Joshua, age 18, recent Reconcile graduate