Entergy partners with YEP to support New Orleans East youth

08/26/2022

NEW ORLEANS – On Aug. 13, Entergy Corp. announced a commitment of $500,000 over the next 3 years to help fund the opening of the New Orleans East Opportunity Center. The center is the latest venture by Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) to provide education, support services and enrichment activities to young people in New Orleans.

“We’re proud to contribute toward the growth of this powerful project to support families in New Orleans East for years to come,” said Deanna Rodriguez, President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. “Youth Empowerment Project continues to make an impact for so many young people in our area, and this project is just another step in continuing our partnership to bring education and mentorship to the next generation.”

YEP’s core purpose is to empower young people to improve their lives and the lives of others. For the last 18 years, YEP has been doing this by engaging young people aged 7-24 through community-based education (YEP Educates), mentoring (YEP Mentors), employment readiness (YEP Works), and enrichment programs (YEP Enriches).

As a community-based nonprofit, YEP continues to develop programs in response to unmet community needs that align with their mission. Currently, YEP provides services in five locations, including Central City New Orleans, Mid-City New Orleans, Algiers, St. Charles Parish, and most recently in New Orleans East.

“When business and nonprofits come together to make a difference in our community, the answer is YEP!”, said Oliver Thomas, District E Councilmember. “The members of the New Orleans East community are grateful to Entergy and Youth Empowerment Project for this center and this support.”

The New Orleans East Opportunity Center, launched in partnership with Educators for Quality Alternatives (EQA), is located at 12000 Hayne Boulevard (formerly Frances Gaudet Elementary School). Many of YEP’s current participants reside in New Orleans East. The goal of this center is to remove barriers to success and ensure that programming is accessible to as many young people as possible.

"It has been a long-time goal of YEP’s to provide services to residents of New Orleans East,” said Jerome Jupiter, YEP’s COO, who is leading the new site expansion. "Because of Entergy, YEP can expeditiously and intentionally build out programming that is both mission-aligned and responsive to expressed community needs. YEP looks forward to being in New Orleans East to help empower residents to improve their lives and the lives of others.”

“I am thankful to YEP for expanding into New Orleans East,” said Dawn Hebert, President of East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission. “YEP’s experienced and dedicated staff will improve the lives of New Orleans East citizens and ensure that all participants benefit from programs offered at this location.”

The new project in New Orleans East will provide in and out-of-school programming where young people and families can access quality education, wellness services, employment readiness training and enrichment programs. Because YEP’s programs are all offered free of charge to participants, YEP relies on the generous support of local businesses, individuals, and foundations to sustain these critical services.

"Entergy has always been at the forefront of impactful corporate investment,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “This multi-year support of YEP and New Orleans East continues this tradition by adding value to an area of our city that often lacks for investment. I am grateful that Entergy answered the call of the NOLA Coalition by making this sizable investment in our city’s future.”

About Entergy New Orleans

Entergy New Orleans, LLC provides electricity to more than 207,000 customers and natural gas to more than 108,000 customers in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,500 employees.

About YEP

Founded in 2004, Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) provides individuals with community-based education, mentoring, employment readiness, and enrichment programs to help them develop skills and strengthen ties to family and community. YEP annually engages over 800 individuals ages 7 and up from across the Greater New Orleans region. YEP’s core purpose is to empower young people to improve their lives and the lives of others. For more information, visit youthempowermentproject.org and follow @YEPNOLA on social media.