Imagine a world where jobs in Southeast Louisiana are not just about earning a living, but about fulfilling our highest potential and carrying our unique culture forward.
If we’re honest, this is the vision we as New Orleanians embrace when we talk about the jobs of tomorrow.
Why Does It Matter? Jobs are the heartbeat of any society. They connect all the dots – from science and technology to arts and humanities.
But here in Southeast Louisiana, they reflect our culture, our application of art, humanity, science and technology. Here, they are our progress and our dreams. And most importantly, those jobs shape the future of our culture.
Critical Industries Which of our industries are the most critical? It’s easy to say all of them, but let’s focus on the two most vulnerable publicly funded touchstones: education and healthcare.
These fields are the backbone of society. In our economy that supports arts and culture, we may not immediately think about how education and healthcare impact what make New Orleans New Orleans, or what makes Southeast Louisiana unique.
But if we want to feed and perpetuate our society, a unique confluence of creativity and joy, we need robust education and healthcare infrastructure. Ultimately, these are the very foundations upon which our creative culture is built, sustained and fostered.
What Has Happened? All this sounds esoteric and theoretical, so let’s talk really where we are today in Southeast Louisiana.
We’ve cultivated and inspired generations of talented artists, but we’re also facing brain drain. Pragmatically, what is here for our children?
Generational livelihoods are at stake. Young adults need a better foundation to build their futures. Luckily, this is where New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana stand apart. Our region is uniquely poised, and it can shine if we choose to make it happen.
We have the potential to become a national leader in recording, film and so many creative industries if we make the right choices.
Do we engage our legislators and protect our talent from being poached by other regions or do we let the good times roll and stand idly by because it would take too much investment to change?
The Drivers We have incredible forces leading the way. InclusivCare is starting with healthcare for all. Ready Starts are dedicated to early childhood education, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning. The American Heart Association is inspiring a diverse pipeline of healthy living. GNO, Inc., is advancing the brand of our region on the national stage. The Baby Dolls, the social aid and pleasure clubs, NOCCA and our cultural economy are perpetually breathing life into New Orleans’ music, arts and culture scenes. DXI, GE and so many others are bringing economic potential to our doorstep.
We may disparage all the efforts to make New Orleans presentable for Super Bowl company, but if we’re honest, we know these are some of the best possible fixes we could ask for, and if the stinking Roger Goodell and his road show is what makes them happen, we’ll take it.
We may face strong political barriers but name a state in the South that doesn’t. But here in Southeast Louisiana, we have key stakeholders who are authentic and committed. We have a culture no one else on this planet can compare to.
By celebrating our unique culture while at the same time embracing the changes and challenges that we must adopt to grow and succeed, we stand to achieve greatness. As a community, as a culture and as a state, we Louisianans need to think not just about culture, but also about work. What can we do to enrich our community? What can we celebrate, preserve and laud, while we also look to strive, change and build?
Our Call To Action Feeding our culture means educating the next generation and supporting non-traditional career paths. It means finding our way forward in celebration of our music, our food and our culture while we also ask ourselves how to make those superlatives sustain families, communities and industries.
Our call to action is this: We all must come together to take personal responsibility in nurturing the next generation of New Orleanians.
If we sum all this up simply, we know the jobs of tomorrow in our region are about more than just working for a living. In our culture, in our community, in our special universe, work is about creating. We are about creating music. We are about creating art. We are about creating food. We are about creating a society that values its history, its legacy and its future. These things are not mutually exclusive.
By working, and playing, together, we can build a unique future for Southeast Louisiana that is mystical, musical and magical. It can be inclusive, dynamic and prosperous for every soul in our cultural universe
The authors are all members of the 2023-24 graduating class of NORLI (New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute). This statement was presented by these local professionals at the final class meeting to share their thoughts on culture and the economy. It has been edited to fit the space.