The Hispanic population of New Orleans area is booming, nearly doubling in size since 2000, and with that growth comes an increased presence of Hispanic-owned workers and businesses in the area. While this growth is exciting, many members of this expanding community still encounter roadblocks on the way to employment — some lack the English skills and resources necessary to find jobs, while others may need additional training to progress in their careers.
To pave the way for professional success in the Hispanic community, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Foundation (HCCLF) has rolled out several educational and business development initiatives, including English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, career counseling, resume and cover letter writing assistance, and interview preparation courses. These are all free of charge and open to the public, and many are bilingual. The Foundation also maintains a wide network of local businesses as part of its membership, so that when employers are looking to hire, they have access to a preexisting database of workers with the right skillsets for their companies.
One such program comes from the Chamber’s longstanding partnership with Delgado Community College, where Hispanic students are the fastest growing population on campus. Recently, Delgado recognized a problem: While the fishing industry has long been a core economic stimulant in the region, the school saw that workers tend to age out early, at around 50 to 55 years old. This left many able and qualified workers without a logical next step, even when they were still able to serve as drivers of further growth and development. Delgado turned to the HCCL Foundation for advice.
After assessing the current needs of local industry, the Foundation helped Delgado develop welding and safety courses taught in Spanish, allowing older workers in the fishing industry — and anyone else that was interested in starting a new career — to acquire an in-demand skill and remain competitive in the job market.
“The response has been strong,” said Delgado Chancellor William Wainwright. “When you work with the Chamber and have their support and advocacy, you have a deeper penetration in the market, and we’ve seen the results of that firsthand.”
Delgado and HCCLF plan to double down on the success of the welding classes by creating a dedicated Hispanic training academy for construction and electrical skills, with further courses in hospitality and commercial drilling in the works. By helping workers acquire these new skills, Delgado and HCCLF hope to lengthen the career trajectories of current industry professionals while paving the way to success for new and incoming workers.
Dr. Wainwright stressed the importance of HCCL President Mayra Pineda’s diligence and knowledge of local businesses; without the partnership with the Chamber, he said that identifying these needs and finding solutions would have been much more difficult.
“We’re very proud of the partnership with Mayra and her eagerness and willingness to do more.” Dr. Wainwright said. “We depend heavily on her counsel, because we must ensure that what we deliver is relevant to the needs of industry. We know that our students are receiving holistic support, and when they leave, they’re engaged in high-wage, high-demand occupations.”
The success of the Delgado partnership is just a sample of the Foundation’s achievements — the Chamber also hosts a variety of other programs that serve to connect workers with new opportunities and continued education, like job fairs and financial literacy seminars.
“Our momentum is increasing, and it’s becoming an energetic driving force,” said Blanca Robinson, HCCLF Chairperson. “We can only more forward.”
In that regard, Blanca said the Foundation is looking to expand its reach beyond the New Orleans metro area in order to serve and assist more communities in the state, and they will be looking to create more partnerships along the way.
Dr. Wainwright agreed that such educational initiatives, like the ones offered by the Chamber and its Foundation, are among the best ways to empower workers and to give them the tools they need for lasting success.
“You can’t be a life-long earner if you’re not a life-long learner.”
