NEW ORLEANS –The New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission’s Teen Council recently sent 50 teens to North Carolina to visit five different universities through its Chevron Future Leaders Program. During the trip, the teens visited UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina State and the Living Arts College.
Teens received guided tours of Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering, North Carolina A&T School of Nursing, and UNC Chapel Hill’s College of Education. They also had the unique opportunity to complete a parks beautification project with Durham Parks and Recreation. The tour included stops at many of the rich historical sites the capital city has to offer, including libraries, museums and ended with a stop at Carowinds Amusement Park.
In addition to the annual college tour, the Chevron Future Leaders program offers an array of monthly learning activities and events for select Teen Council members. The program is designed to support skills development and enable early career exploration, NORD reps said. To participate in the Chevron Future Leaders program and receive rewards, students must meet GPA, school attendance and leadership requirements throughout the school year.
The NORD Teen Council was designed to empower young people by developing a social growth environment through structured NORD teen programs. These emerging leaders actively participate in civic and community engagement by designing and implementing city-wide teen programming including recreational events, social action projects and community service in addition to the annual college tour, NORD reps said. Teens represent many of the City’s high schools including Benjamin Franklin, Brother Martin, St. Martin’s Episcopal School, Warren Easton, Lusher Charter School, Jesuit, Holy Cross School, Cabrini, Ursuline Academy and home school programs.
NORD Teen Council is open to any youth ages of 12 -17 who reside in Orleans Parish.
L to R: Chevron Future Leaders at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering receiving a tour from Alexis Harrell and Chevron Future Leaders during their stop at Pratt School of Engineering
