WDSU: NOCC trainees build tiny house for Thrive New Orleans
NOCC Building Trades trainees recently handed over the keys to a 288-square-foot tiny house built from the ground up for Thrive New Orleans. Featured by WDSU, the project highlights how hands-on technical training prepares high school students and young adults for high-demand careers while meeting real community needs. The home will support Thrive New Orleans’ transitional housing efforts, turning classroom learning into a tangible investment in workforce development, stability, and opportunity.
City Business: NOCC-built tiny house to provide transitional housing in New Orleans
NOCC Building Trades trainees built a fully code-compliant tiny house that will now serve as transitional housing through Thrive New Orleans. The project combined hands-on workforce training with meaningful community impact, demonstrating how career education can create opportunity both for trainees and for New Orleans residents in need of housing support.
NOCC TRAINEES CONVERT CONSTRUCTION TRAINING INTO HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
Tiny house built from the ground up will provide transitional housing through Thrive New Orleans
(June 9, 2026) – Many of the high school students and young adults who walked into New Orleans Career Center’s (NOCC) Building Trades program last August had never picked up a drill, read a blueprint, or stepped onto a construction site. On Thursday, June 11, 2026 they will hand over the keys to a fully code-compliant tiny house they built from the ground up – transforming months of training into a tangible home for someone in need.
NOCC is donating the tiny house to Thrive New Orleans, an NOCC workforce development partner. Thrive plans to use the home as transitional housing for participants working to rebuild stability in their lives while completing workforce training.
“This is a win-win in every sense,” said NOCC Chief Operating Officer Harold Juluke. “For the past year, our trainees have been learning real-world construction skills and earning valuable industry-based certifications, all while knowing the end result would become a home for members of the community. They weren’t just preparing for their own futures — they were building opportunity for someone else, too. And each of them can now say they helped build a real house that someone will actually live in.”
The 288 square foot tiny house rose piece by piece inside NOCC’s collaborative courtyard, where trainees across multiple construction pathways worked side-by-side to bring architectural plans to life. Over nine months, trainees framed the structure, wired lighting and outlets to meet code, installed an HVAC system, and completed a gabled, shingle-clad roof — gaining hands-on experience that mirrors the demands of today’s construction workforce.
Thrive New Orleans plans to move the house to a property in Bywater where they offer temporary housing for people in their workforce training program.
“This tiny house represents more than a structure. It represents opportunity and a path forward,” said Chuck Morse, Executive Director of Thrive New Orleans. “We are honored to partner with NOCC on a project that not only equips young people with valuable workforce skills, but also creates a real solution for individuals working to rebuild their lives. By providing transitional housing alongside workforce training, we can help participants achieve the stability they need to secure employment, strengthen their futures, and ultimately move toward permanent housing. This house is a powerful example of what can happen when community investment comes together to serve a greater purpose.”
The project comes as Louisiana faces growing demand for skilled construction workers. The state’s upcoming industrial and infrastructure projects could require more than 20,000 construction workers at peak activity later this decade. GNO, Inc., in recent workforce reports, has emphasized the need for training pipelines aligned with high-demand occupations such as construction trades to support regional economic growth — pipelines like those offered at NOCC.
NOCC trainees framed the house for one bedroom with a closet, a bathroom with shower, and a compact kitchen/living area with lighting fixture designed and 3D printed by NOCC Engineering trainees. Thrive participants will complete the finishing details, such as installing kitchen cabinets and appliances, plumbing, and painting.
The project was designed by Alex Sixt-Hresko, an NOCC mentor and architect at SCNZ Architects, giving trainees the opportunity to work from professional architectural plans while learning directly from industry partners. NOCC purchased construction materials thanks to a generous donation from The Palmisano Foundation. NOCC trainees will complete a second tiny house next school year.
About New Orleans Career Center
The New Orleans Career Center is the city’s flagship workforce training hub for high school students and adults, offering industry-aligned programs in building trades, healthcare, engineering, and culinary arts. NOCC has prepared more than 2,800 New Orleanians for mid-skill careers with living wages, benefits and opportunities for growth since 2018, ensuring every graduate has the power to shape their own future and the future of New Orleans.
For more information, visit Nolacc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn
About Thrive New Orleans
Thrive New Orleans is a social enterprise working to strengthen communities through economic opportunity, environmental resilience, and sustainable development. By advancing innovative solutions and local partnerships, Thrive helps create stronger, more vibrant communities in the face of environmental and economic challenges.
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Watch Fox 8: Jake Gleghorn and 431 Exchange
FOX 8 featured The 431 Exchange, highlighting the power of connection, community, and care in supporting individuals and families across New Orleans. The segment explored how organizations and community partners are creating spaces where people feel supported, valued, and connected to resources that strengthen long-term wellbeing. Through collaboration and relationship-building, efforts like these continue to demonstrate the impact of community-centered support systems across the region. (fox8live.com)
Biz New Orleans: Giving Back
The New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) prepares high school students and young adults for high-demand careers through hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, and direct connections to employers. By partnering with industry leaders and education institutions, NOCC bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunity—launching graduates into well-paying careers in fields like healthcare and the skilled trades.
NOLA.com: New Orleans Career Center CEO sees big demand for building trades, health care training
New Orleans Career Center CEO Claire Jecklin discusses the surging demand for skilled labor in the building trades and healthcare sectors. Learn how the center is expanding its facilities and training programs to bridge the workforce gap in New Orleans.
Biz New Orleans: NOCC Showcases Real-World Engineering
NEW ORLEANS – In celebration of National Engineers Week (February 22–28), the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) is showcasing how its trainees gain hands-on experience and direct exposure to engineering careers through its partnership with the ACE Mentor Program of America, a nationally recognized program connecting high school students with professionals in architecture, construction, and engineering.
Through the ACE Mentor Program, NOCC trainees work alongside local engineers, architects, and construction professionals throughout the school year to tackle real-world design challenges that address community needs in New Orleans. The NOCC trainees will present their final projects at the annual ACE Mentors banquet later this spring.
New Orleans Career Center Celebrates National Engineers Week
NOCC trainees and ACE Mentors showcase real-world engineering projects
New Orleans, LA (February 24, 2026) – In celebration of National Engineers Week (February 22–28, 2026), the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) is showcasing how its trainees gain hands-on experience and direct exposure to engineering careers through its partnership with the ACE Mentor Program of America, a nationally recognized program connecting high school students with professionals in architecture, construction, and engineering.
Through the ACE Mentor Program, NOCC trainees work alongside local engineers, architects, and construction professionals throughout the school year to tackle real-world design challenges that address community needs in New Orleans. The NOCC trainees will present their final projects at the annual ACE Mentors banquet later this spring.
This year, NOCC trainees are developing two transformative projects that they envisioned themselves:
Reimagining a Former Bank Building in Old Algiers – In collaboration with their ACE mentors, NOCC trainees are designing the conversion of a vacant bank building into a vibrant community center. The project requires students to apply structural engineering principles, architectural planning, sustainability strategies, and construction budgeting to re-envision the space as a neighborhood hub.
Designing a Greenhouse and Garden Teaching Center at Crescent Park – A second team is working to integrate a greenhouse and outdoor learning space into Crescent Park. The project emphasizes environmental engineering, site planning, climate-responsive design, and community-focused programming to expand access to green space and hands-on agricultural education.
“These projects allow our trainees to step into the roles of engineers, architects and contractors to solve real problems in their own city,” said Carlin Jacobs, Chief Programs Officer at NOCC. “Through NOCC’s training and ACE mentorship, students gain technical knowledge, industry insight, and professional confidence that prepares them for postsecondary pathways and careers in high-demand engineering and construction fields.”
National Engineers Week, founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers, celebrates the contributions engineers make to society and aims to inspire the next generation of innovators. At NOCC, that inspiration is paired with direct workforce preparation. By working with practicing professionals from local engineering firms, architecture studios, and construction companies, trainees:
Apply classroom learning to real design scenarios
Develop skills in CAD, structural planning, and project management
Practice presenting proposals to industry professionals
Build professional networks and explore postsecondary engineering pathways
ACE mentors guide trainees through every phase of the design process — from concept development and feasibility analysis to budgeting and final presentation — mirroring the collaborative model used in professional engineering projects.
For many trainees, the experience provides their first exposure to engineering as a tangible and attainable career path. The program also helps build a local talent pipeline for Louisiana’s growing engineering and infrastructure sectors.
At the conclusion of the program year, trainees will present their completed design proposals to industry leaders and community stakeholders, demonstrating both technical proficiency and civic-minded innovation at the annual ACE Mentors culminating banquet.
“National Engineers Week is about recognizing the power of engineering to shape communities,” added Jacobs. “Our trainees are already learning to do that — designing spaces that reflect the needs and potential of New Orleans.”
***Editors Note: See photos and captions here.
About the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC)
The New Orleans Career Center prepares high school students and adults for high-wage, high-demand careers through industry-based training programs, professional mentorship, and hands-on learning. NOCC partners with local employers and industry leaders to create meaningful career pathways in fields including engineering, construction, healthcare, digital media, and skilled trades.
For more information, visit Nolacc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn
About the ACE Mentor Program of America
Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program is a free, after-school program that connects high school students with professionals in architecture, construction, and engineering to inspire and prepare the next generation of industry leaders. Learn more at www.acementor.org.
TALK DAT: NOLA Education
In this episode of "Talk That NOLA Education," host Dr. Ja'Quil Ross takes listeners inside the workforce revolution happening at the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC). Broadcasting with a full house of guests, Dr. Ross interviews the leadership team transforming how New Orleans high schoolers prepare for high-wage, high-demand careers.
In this episode of "Talk That NOLA Education," host Dr. Jahquille Ross takes listeners inside the workforce revolution happening at the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC). Broadcasting with a full house of guests, Dr. Ross interviews the leadership team transforming how New Orleans high schoolers prepare for high-wage, high-demand careers.
Highlights from the discussion:
“Over the last five years, we've more than doubled. So 300 trainees from 17 different high schools to 660 high school students from all the open enrollment public schools in New Orleans… We've got 11 different programs but the overarching pathways... biggest pathway right now is Healthcare... We also have a Pharmacy Tech program... Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, and Welding... Digital Media and a really awesome Culinary program aligned to the chef pathway." - Claire Jecklin
"During the design process, our leadership was very, very deliberate when working with the architects and working with industry pathway leaders just to ensure that everything in the building ties back to industry… We use the building as a teaching tool. So if you walk through the hallways, you'll see exposed ceilings, you'll see clear glass tiles... everything for trainees to see how the sausage is made.” - Harold Juluke
"So far we've partnered with roughly 24 different local construction companies. And the main goal behind that is that they come alongside us to support training and hire our trainees.” - Terrance Payne
Verite News: ‘Yes, chef’ — How New Orleans is preparing its youth for success in its hospitality industry
Last year, Brianna Blunt was hired at Cochon, an upscale Cajun restaurant in New Orleans. As a prep cook, she spent hours each day prepping ingredients for a range of Louisiana delicacies they might offer on a given day: catfish, crawfish, gator, rabbit, gumbo, oysters and all types of pork.
She worked alongside seasoned cooks, some with decades of experience in culinary arts around the world. It was nerve wracking. After all, she had only graduated high school two weeks prior. Her coworkers were initially skeptical of this teenager tasked with keeping up in the James Beard-nominated restaurant. Last year, Brianna Blunt was hired at Cochon, an upscale Cajun restaurant in New Orleans. As a prep cook, she spent hours each day prepping ingredients for a range of Louisiana delicacies they might offer on a given day: catfish, crawfish, gator, rabbit, gumbo, oysters and all types of pork.
She worked alongside seasoned cooks, some with decades of experience in culinary arts around the world. It was nerve wracking. After all, she had only graduated high school two weeks prior. Her coworkers were initially skeptical of this teenager tasked with keeping up in the James Beard-nominated restaurant.
Last year, Brianna Blunt was hired at Cochon, an upscale Cajun restaurant in New Orleans. As a prep cook, she spent hours each day prepping ingredients for a range of Louisiana delicacies they might offer on a given day: catfish, crawfish, gator, rabbit, gumbo, oysters and all types of pork.
She worked alongside seasoned cooks, some with decades of experience in culinary arts around the world. It was nerve wracking. After all, she had only graduated high school two weeks prior. Her coworkers were initially skeptical of this teenager tasked with keeping up in the James Beard-nominated restaurant. Read More
9 NOCC Graduates Land EMT Jobs
Nine recent graduates of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) have joined the ranks of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (EMS), bolstering the city’s emergency response workforce.
The NOCC program, developed in collaboration with New Orleans EMS, is designed to help ease the agency’s staffing shortage. New Orleans EMS reports its workforce has fallen by nearly 14% since 2019, largely due to budget cuts and retention challenges. This reflects the broader shortage of healthcare workers in the greater New Orleans region.
The EMT program at NOCC is structured as an apprenticeship in which trainees are paid as recruits during their 6-month training period.
28 NOCC Graduates Enter High-Demand Jobs
Twenty-eight recent graduates of New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) have launched careers and apprenticeships with employers across the region, filling critical roles in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and more. More than 800 young people entered or returned to career prep and technical training programs at NOCC this week.
Hired by organizations such as Ochsner Health, LCMC Health, All-Star Electric, Tulane University, Castellon Pharmacy, and The Windsor Court, these new professionals are working as apprentice electricians, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, blood donor technicians, and facilities apprentices—roles that offer living wages, benefits, and advancement opportunities.
Since 2018, NOCC has trained more than 2,100 high school students and adults for middle-skill careers in five key sectors: healthcare, building trades, digital media, engineering/manufacturing, and culinary arts/hospitality management.
28 NOCC Graduates Enter High-Demand Jobs
Twenty-eight recent graduates of New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) have launched careers and apprenticeships with employers across the region, filling critical roles in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and more. More than 800 young people entered or returned to career prep and technical training programs at NOCC this week.
Hired by organizations such as Ochsner Health, LCMC Health, All-Star Electric, Tulane University, Castellon Pharmacy, and The Windsor Court, these new professionals are working as apprentice electricians, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, blood donor technicians, and facilities apprentices—roles that offer living wages, benefits, and advancement opportunities.
Since 2018, NOCC has trained more than 2,100 high school students and adults for middle-skill careers in five key sectors: healthcare, building trades, digital media, engineering/manufacturing, and culinary arts/hospitality management.
NEW ORLEANS (press release) — Twenty-eight recent graduates of New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) have launched careers and apprenticeships with employers across the region, filling critical roles in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and more. More than 800 young people entered or returned to career prep and technical training programs at NOCC this week.
Hired by organizations such as Ochsner Health, LCMC Health, All-Star Electric, Tulane University, Castellon Pharmacy, and The Windsor Court, these new professionals are working as apprentice electricians, medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, blood donor technicians, and facilities apprentices—roles that offer living wages, benefits, and advancement opportunities.
Since 2018, NOCC has trained more than 2,100 high school students and adults for middle-skill careers in five key sectors: healthcare, building trades, digital media, engineering/manufacturing, and culinary arts/hospitality management.
NEW ORLEANS CAREER CENTER AND THE NBA FOUNDATION TAKE IT TO THE RACK
New Orleans, LA, April 21, 2025 – New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) received an assist from the NBA Foundation today in the form of a one-year grant. The grant supports NOCC’s pre-nursing career preparation and technical skills training for high school students and new graduates. High school students from across the city in the pre-nursing career pathways attend NOCC for a half-day every day of the school year for one to two years. NOCC’s career training programs are free to participants.
“New Orleans Career Center and the NBA Foundation share a common goal - increasing the economic prospects of our young people. The Foundation’s support means that New Orleans Career Center can equip more of our city’s young people for careers in healthcare, careers that offer financial stability and opportunities for further training,” said NOCC Founding CEO Claire Jecklin.
The NBA Foundation exists to promote economic empowerment of under-resourced youth by funding high-impact programs that generate successful transitions from school to meaningful employment. The NBA Foundation launched in 2020 with a commitment from the NBA Governors committed to invest $300 million in NBA team market organizations over 10 years.
Currently, 280 New Orleans young people are training to enter healthcare careers at NOCC.
New Orleans, LA, April 21, 2025 – New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) received an assist from the NBA Foundation today in the form of a one-year grant. The grant supports NOCC’s pre-nursing career preparation and technical skills training for high school students and new graduates. High school students from across the city in the pre-nursing career pathways attend NOCC for a half-day every day of the school year for one to two years. NOCC’s career training programs are free to participants.
“New Orleans Career Center and the NBA Foundation share a common goal - increasing the economic prospects of our young people. The Foundation’s support means that New Orleans Career Center can equip more of our city’s young people for careers in healthcare, careers that offer financial stability and opportunities for further training,” said NOCC Founding CEO Claire Jecklin.
The NBA Foundation exists to promote economic empowerment of under-resourced youth by funding high-impact programs that generate successful transitions from school to meaningful employment. The NBA Foundation launched in 2020 with a commitment from the NBA Governors committed to invest $300 million in NBA team market organizations over 10 years.
Currently, 280 New Orleans young people are training to enter healthcare careers at NOCC.
ACE MENTOR PROGRAM STUDENTS REPURPOSE A HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS BUILDING
(April 14, 2025) – New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) engineering trainees participating in the ACE Mentor Program have worked the entire school year to redesign and repurpose the historic General Laundry Cleaners and Dyers building in the Treme-Lafitte neighborhood. In addition to repurposing the old laundry, the trainees designed new housing at the rear of the historic structure with views of Lafitte Greenway. All of the trainees’ work has been in collaboration with architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) professionals who volunteer their time in the ACE Mentor Program of New Orleans.
One of those professionals is Max Murret, Project Manager at RNGD, a New Orleans general contracting company. “This year marks a milestone for the ACE Mentorship Program at the New Orleans Career Center—our largest group of students yet. Over the past four years I’ve been involved, it’s been incredible to watch the program thrive and evolve,” said Murret. “Each week, our students bring curiosity and creativity into the classroom, and they’re guided by top-tier mentors from some of the most respected firms and companies in New Orleans. This direct connection to industry professionals gives them a unique, hands-on perspective on real-world careers in ACE fields.”
The General Laundry Cleaners and Dyers building, built in 1930, is considered one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. The building's stucco facade includes terracotta depictions of lush tropical vegetation and brightly colored, eye-catching tiles. The building which has sat dormant and neglected for many years, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The NOCC trainees will present the end result of their project at the ACE graduation ceremony and banquet on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom on the campus of UNO.
Trainee-led project guided by professionals in
Architecture Construction and Engineering
(April 14, 2025) – New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) engineering trainees participating in the ACE Mentor Program have worked the entire school year to redesign and repurpose the historic General Laundry Cleaners and Dyers building in the Treme-Lafitte neighborhood. In addition to repurposing the old laundry, the trainees designed new housing at the rear of the historic structure with views of Lafitte Greenway. All of the trainees’ work has been in collaboration with architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) professionals who volunteer their time in the ACE Mentor Program of New Orleans.
One of those professionals is Max Murret, Project Manager at RNGD, a New Orleans general contracting company. “This year marks a milestone for the ACE Mentorship Program at the New Orleans Career Center—our largest group of students yet. Over the past four years I’ve been involved, it’s been incredible to watch the program thrive and evolve,” said Murret. “Each week, our students bring curiosity and creativity into the classroom, and they’re guided by top-tier mentors from some of the most respected firms and companies in New Orleans. This direct connection to industry professionals gives them a unique, hands-on perspective on real-world careers in ACE fields.”
The General Laundry Cleaners and Dyers building, built in 1930, is considered one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the city. The building's stucco facade includes terracotta depictions of lush tropical vegetation and brightly colored, eye-catching tiles. The building which has sat dormant and neglected for many years, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The NOCC trainees will present the end result of their project at the ACE graduation ceremony and banquet on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom on the campus of UNO.
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NEW ORLEANS CAREER CENTER RECEIVES SUPER BOWL LIX PHOTO SET
New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) received a delightful surprise post-Super Bowl LIX: a vibrant fan photo opp display, inspired by the city’s iconic colorful porches, was donated to its Treme campus. Originally located in Jackson Square, this set now enhances NOCC’s Collaborative Courtyard, providing trainees in building trades and other fields with authentic working conditions. As a key player in workforce development, NOCC was actively involved in pre-Super Bowl events, including receiving a grant from the Impact 59 Powered by Entergy initiative, participating in the “Taste of the NFL,” and packing food at Second Harvest. Additionally, NOCC Building Trades trainees and staff had the unique opportunity to interact with NFL players and sports media at the Super Bowl Breakfast.
New Orleans, LA, Feb. 13, 2025 – As crews pack up in the wake of Super Bowl LIX, New Orleans Career Center (NOCC), the city’s flagship career and technical education (CTE) provider, received a surprise donation to its Treme campus: one of the Super Bowl LIX décor elements that popped up throughout the city prior to Sunday’s game. The fan photo opp display, modeled on New Orleans’ colorful porches, had been in Jackson Square as a complement to the stunning visuals projected onto St. Louis Cathedral.
The set now lives in NOCC's Collaborative Courtyard, where trainees in the building trades and other disciplines come together to train in true-to-life working conditions.
NOCC, which sits at the epicenter of workforce development in New Orleans, was recognized by and involved in numerous pre-Super Bowl initiatives. NOCC received a grant from the Impact 59 Powered by Entergy initiative. Trainees from NOCC’s Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management program cooked and served participants during the “Taste of the NFL.” At Second Harvest, NOCC staffers packed unopened food and drinks recovered from Super Bowl events. And NOCC Building Trades trainees and staff mixed and mingled with NFL players, coaches, owners, and sports media at the Super Bowl Breakfast.
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About NOCC
New Orleans Career Center is the city’s flagship career and technical education provider for both high school students and adults. NOCC transforms lives through accessible high-quality, industry-informed career prep and technical education, equipping trainees for local mid-skill jobs offering living wages, benefits, and pathways to career advancement and economic stability. NOCC offers training in healthcare, building trades, digital media, engineering/manufacturing, and culinary arts. Since 2018, at NOCC more than 2,000 New Orleanians have gained the technical skills, workplace knowledge, and professional networks they need to succeed.For more information, visit our online Newsroom or follow us onFacebookorInstagram.
NOLA.com: LCTCS builds the future of Louisiana healthcare by transforming workforce training
Delgado collaborates with Ochsner Health System and other healthcare providers to ensure that graduates are job-ready immediately following graduation. Delgado's partnership with Ochsner led to a $20 million investment. This included $10 million towards the Ochsner Center for Nursing and Allied Health, featuring a fully equipped simulated hospital, and $10 million in scholarships to upskill Ochsner’s incumbent workforce.Delgado also recently added an LPN Dual Enrollment program in partnership with the New Orleans Career Center, creating one of the first such offerings in Louisiana and providing an opportunity to prepare Louisiana youth for success in nursing careers.
Delgado collaborates with Ochsner Health System and other healthcare providers to ensure that graduates are job-ready immediately following graduation. Delgado's partnership with Ochsner led to a $20 million investment. This included $10 million towards the Ochsner Center for Nursing and Allied Health, featuring a fully equipped simulated hospital, and $10 million in scholarships to upskill Ochsner’s incumbent workforce.Delgado also recently added an LPN Dual Enrollment program in partnership with the New Orleans Career Center, creating one of the first such offerings in Louisiana and providing an opportunity to prepare Louisiana youth for success in nursing careers.