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New Orleans, LA – Reconcile New Orleans, Inc. has been awarded a $250,000 grant by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The grant will support Reconcile’s $5.9 million capital expansion project, which includes renovation of 12,000 square feet of existing space, a two story 1,800 square foot addition, a new outdoor dining area, and considerable site work around the property. The facility will enable Reconcile to offer a more holistic array of job training, education, and economic development services to out-of-school youth, their families, and Central City residents. Once completed, the five-story facility will house a remodeled Café Reconcile with significantly increased seating capacity, a state of the art Catering and Banquet Center (funded by the Emeril Lagasse Foundation), a Family Learning Center, a Business Accelerator Center (funded by Shell), and new office space that will house The Reconciliation Institute, a nonprofit aimed at sharing Reconcile’s innovative model with communities across the country.

Since 2000, more than 700 young people have successfully completed Cafe Reconcile’s Workforce Development Training Program, acquiring the skills and confidence they need to retain career-track employment in New Orleans area restaurants, hotels, hospitals and universities. Committed community partners like the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation provide access to greater support for job placement and long-term success.

Sr. Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director of Reconcile New Orleans, said: “The Conrad Hilton Foundation’s support of Café Reconcile is essential for the development and growth of our mission. We are honored that they have found hope in our program and we look forward to the successes we will share with them as a result of the expanded facilities.”

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels.  They provide funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the world.  Since its inception, the foundation has given nearly $900 million in  <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/grantmaking> grants.  The majority of their funding is devoted to five <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs> priority areas: providing safe <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs/water> water, ending chronic http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs/ending-chronic-homelessness homelessness, preventing <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs/substance-abuse> substance abuse, caring for vulnerable <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs/children> children, and supporting <http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/initiatives-a-programs/sisters> Catholic Sisters. For more information, visit http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/home

Last night, twenty-four students graduated from Cafe Reconcile’s culinary training program and the pride and joy in the room was tangible. This class is the last to graduate this year, and their achievement made 2011 the most successful year in Reconcile’s history. Ninety-two students graduated from the program in 2011 and we couldn’t be prouder!

The evening began at 5:30 as family members and friends cheered while the students’ names were announced. Board member Alice Wright opened the evening with a prayer of thanks and the Director of Development, Dave Emond, followed with a brief history of the program.

Bill Banta, long-time volunteer and close friend of Reconcile, was the guest speaker. He spoke of the importance of a good attitude in the workplace and the need for motivated young men and women, like our graduates, to take initiative in our city. He finished his speech with a quote from Elie Wiesel: “Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.” Our students certainly inspire hope.

Right before certificates of completion were distributed, “the original” Gingerbread sang for the graduates and their families. And after each student received a diploma, a handshake, and a hug from Sr. Mary Lou and David Giardina, graduates Ashley and Bjorn stood up to reflect on their experiences. As Sr. Mary Lou closed the ceremony, one more graduate, Satrell, asked for the mic and ended the evening with a beautiful offer of thanks.

It was a beautiful, pride-filled night. This class has students employed throughout the city at restaurants like Byblos, Salu, and the Irish House. Some students found jobs in hotels like the Intercontinental, while others are working in construction. Whatever they are doing and wherever they are, they should know that they are dearly loved. Cafe Reconcile’s doors are always open. Congratulations, graduates!

Jalisa is nothing but smiles as she walks to the front!

Many families came to support our graduates!

Bill Banta speaks to the graduates about hope

Tatyana pauses for a hug!

Terrell shows off his certificate of completion

The last graduating class of 2011!!

Champagne, Crystal, and Nakubi show their beautiful smiles!

Brothers Ryan and Bjorn make graduation a family affair!

As Americans across the nation prepared for their Thanksgiving feasts, the CBS Early Show aired a special story on our very own Cafe Reconcile last Thursday morning. Watch the video below to see our students in action!

This year was Cafe Reconcile’s first time participating in the Oak Street Po-boy festival and it is bound to become a beloved tradition!  Reconcile staff and students arrived bright and early to our booth on Leonidas Street to prepare for the massive crowds the festival is known to draw.

As brass bands went wild and the sun beamed down, lines started to form and hungry customers stopped by for our famous Smothered Chicken Po-boys and Bananas Foster Bread Pudding.  Loyal customers and tourists alike raved about our unique po-boys and licked their paper plates clean of the bread pudding’s rum sauce.  One family even told us that they had left the festival, gotten nearly all the way home, and turned around to come back once they realized that they had missed our booth!  That’s the power of the po-boy.

It was a beautiful day full of music and food and we’re already excited for next year!

Some current students and graduates smile with Mr. Hiram

Hard at work!

In celebration of their return to pre-Katrina operating levels, Carnival Cruise Lines has awarded Reconcile New Orleans with a $25,000 grant.  The generous donation will support our students through the Reconcile life skills class and culinary training program.  Carnival’s celebration of the Elation’s departure from the New Orleans port is a joyous one, as it marks the return of a great industry that creates jobs and fosters economic development.  Their donation is just one more step toward improving the New Orleans economy and the lives of its citizens.

Since 2000, more than 700 young people have completed the Cafe Reconcile Culinary Training Program, learning skills to help them acquire and retain employment at New Orleans area restaurants, hotels, hospitals and universities.  Committed community partners like Carnival Cruise Lines provide our students with access to greater support for job placement and long-term success.

Rob Huffman, Carnival Cruise Lines’ regional vice president of sales for the southeast region, remarked, “We are proud to support such a wonderful organization as Reconcile New Orleans, which has helped so many kids in the community build a better future through essential job and life skills training.”

Sr. Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director of Reconcile New Orleans, added: “Carnival Cruise Lines has been helping our community for years, providing jobs and generating revenue for our city.  Now, with this generous donation, they are continuing to prove their dedication to New Orleans by empowering our youth.  We are honored to be associated with such a wonderful organization!”

About Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines is “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line”, with 23 “Fun Ships” operating voyages all over the world.  And yet, Carnival believes that being a member of a community means giving something back. As such, the company and its employees support a variety of charitable and arts-related organizations. Although Carnival’s contributions are wide-ranging, the company primarily focuses on organizations that are based in its homeport communities throughout the U.S.

During times of crisis, Carnival works closely with various national and international relief organizations, coordinating corporate and employee donations for emergencies such as hurricanes in the U.S. and Caribbean.

In the past five years alone, Carnival and its employees have contributed more than $30 million in financial contributions and in-kind donations to a variety of local and national charities, endeavoring to make its homeport communities better places to live and work.

For more information, visit http://www.carnival.com/

Life Skills Students enjoy some hors d'oeuvres in the VIP Lounge

Board Members, Kevin Guitterrez and Alice Wright

Life Skills Students smile as the room cheers for them

Sr. Mary Lou and Rob Huffman, Carnival Cruise Lines’ regional vice president of sales for the southeast region

State Representative, Austin Badon, speaks to Reconcile students

Reconcile students get a private tour of the facilities

Enoying the weather from the top deck of the cruise ship

Chef Travis Johnson and  Chef Michael Uddo of Sodexo arrived at Reconcile this morning armed with dozens of trays of chickens, green beans, and cornbread stuffing.  They were visiting the cafe to demonstrate to our students how to make Stuffed Chicken with Smoked Mushrooms & Pan Gravy in Bacon-Cornbread dressing with Fresh Green Beans (yes, it tastes as good as it sounds!).  As the students anxiously awaited the chickens to finish cooking so that they could get their sample plates, the chefs spoke about their own experiences in the culinary world.  Their many years of hard work and dedication clearly paid off, as the students practically inhaled the final product that is now being served in the Cafe today.  Come and get your taste of the rich and savory special!

Students watching the demonstration

Chef Michael explaining how to cook the chicken

Chef Michael bringing the cornbread stuffing around to the students

Chef Michael gets help stuffing from Sonita

The final product!!

Joseph, Nakiva, and Gerard dig in! Yum!

As the holidays approach, Cafe Reconcile celebrated the start of the season with a lavish meal provided by Chef  Jared Tees of Besh Steak.  Guests began the evening with a sweet “French Sparkler” signature cocktail made with flavored Chamborde vodka, sparkling water, and a twist of lemon.  As they found their seats at the beautifully-set tables, Reconcile students delivered an asparagus and scarlet frill salad that set the tone for what would be an exceptionally opulent dinner.

The second course, Besh BBQ shrimp, spiced up the menu with a bit of a heated kick.  Next came the winter squash agnolotti with brown butter sage that had Sr. Mary Lou’s vote as the best course of the evening.  But it was the fourth dish,the Tournedo of beef with crab béarnaise, that had our guests raving and ranting about the absolute success of the night.

In keeping with the extraordinarily decadent menu, Chef Jared capped off the night with a bread pudding with whiskey ice cream and crunchy candied pecans.  What a finish!

As always, Reconcile students and graduates served our guests at the event and introduced themselves at the end of the evening.  Met with wild applause, they shared their stories and experiences in the Reconcile program.  It was a blessed and beautiful celebration that will be remembered as a truly phenomenal addition of the Eat Well Do Good Dinner Series.

What a menu!

Sheldon and Chef Tees

Preparing the aspargus salads!

Sinead ALWAYS has a smile for the camera

The students, taking their well-earned accolades

November 1, 2011 – Reconcile New Orleans has received a $50,000 grant from Shell.   The grant will support Reconcile’s $5.9 million capital expansion project, which includes renovation of 12,000 square feet of existing space, a two story 1,800 square foot addition, a new outdoor dining area, and considerable site work around the property.  The facility will enable Reconcile to offer a more holistic array of job training, education, and economic development services to out-of-school youth, their families, and Central City residents.  Once completed, the five-story facility will house a remodeled Café Reconcile with significantly increased seating capacity, a state of the art Catering and Banquet Center (funded by the Emeril Lagasse Foundation), a Family Learning Center, a Business Accelerator Center (funded by Shell), and new office space that will house The Reconciliation Institute, a nonprofit aimed at sharing Reconcile’s innovative model with communities across the country.

Since 2000, more than 800 young people have successfully completed Cafe Reconcile’s Workforce Development Training Program, acquiring the skills and confidence they need to retain career-track employment in New Orleans area restaurants, hotels, hospitals and universities.  Committed community partners like Shell provide access to greater support for job placement and long-term success.

Sr. Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director of Reconcile New Orleans, said: “Shell’s support of Café Reconcile is essential for the development and growth of our mission.   We are honored to have their name associated so prominently with our expanded facilities, and we look forward to the future successes that their support will enable.”

About Reconcile New Orleans

An innovative, community-based organization with an entrepreneurial spirit, Reconcile New Orleans, Inc. works to resolve the deeply ingrained social ills of poverty, violence, and neglect by providing at-risk young people, ages 16 to 22, with the skills and confidence necessary to get and retain career-track jobs in New Orleans’ thriving hospitality sector. Our holistic workforce development training program provides life skill, culinary training, work experience, job placement, and case management service for out-of-school youth, and it serves as a cornerstone of economic development in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood. For more information, visit: www.reconcileneworleans.org.

Cafe Reconcile is honored to be this month’s featured member in the CVB publication, “Tourism Matters.”  We are proud to have such a strong community base of support, but we are always looking to expand our clientele so that we can spread our mission.  Pick up a copy of the publication on a newsstand today, or check it out here.  Learn more about our story and read about Michael, a graduate who is now successfully employed at the Rib Room in the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel.  Thank you for the support, New Orleans!

Learn how to make Chicken and Andouille Étouffee.

Courtesy of Eric Cormier, Makes 6-8 servings.

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