September 16, 2020

The Mayor’s Office of Youth and Families is excited to announce the launch of the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) fall session.

PLTI is a free program seeking to enable parents to become better leading advocates for children. This program helps parents develop the civic skills necessary to connect with government, analyze critical issues and bring about change.

Parent leaders participate in an intensive and rewarding 20-week course that includes courses such as “Parents as Change Agents,” “The Life Cycle of a Child and the Functions of the Family,” “How the City Works,” and “Municipal Budgeting.”

“Now more than ever it is so important for parents to have a platform for their voices to be amplified,” said Emily Wolff, Director, Office of Youth and Families. “We are excited to welcome this next group of parent leaders into the PLTI family and equip them with the tools and network to bring about change that is urgently needed in our community.”

Participants from cohort 6, had this to say about their recent experience:

“My experience in the Parent Leadership Initiative has been an eye opener to the how city, state and national government operate and (are) funded. I developed an appreciation for other members’ views on issues that might not be mine. We also did break out in small groups to discuss ideas.”

“Gracias porque en este programa hemos tenido el espacio para poder conocernos más como comunidad, para aprender unos de otros, para darnos cuenta que no importa la raza ni el color de la piel, los problemas no son tan diferentes unos de los otros, que en realidad luchamos por los mismos intereses, y que si abrimos nuestros corazones podemos entender y conocer más a nuestros bacanos!”
Translation: “[Thank you because through this program we had the space to meet each other deeply at the community level, to learn from one another, to realize that race or skin color are not important, that problems are not as different for one another, that in reality we fight for the same interests, and that if we open our hearts we can understand and get to know our people better!]”

NOLA_PLTI is committed to language justice and will provide interpretation services. Additionally, the class will be conducted virtually until further notice, and technology assistance will be provided to those who request it. The session begins Oct. 17, 2020, and will run until April 13, 2021. Deadline for registration is Oct. 2.

Interested parents may apply at https://nola.gov/office-of-youth-and-families/parent-leadership-training-institute/.

A Taste of PLTI Information sessions via Zoom will take place on Friday, Sept. 18, from 6 p.m.-7:45 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. You must register for the information sessions by filling out this form in order to receive the Zoom link.

To register by phone for A Taste of PLTI, to apply by phone or for more information, please contact Mischell Davis via phone at 504-231-8485 or via email at Mischell.Davis2@nola.gov.