Café Reconcile Celebrates Another Graduation!
On a sparkling evening, students, friends, family, and staff gathered at Café Reconcile to celebrate the graduation of eight more young men and women. After a welcome by one of the night’s graduates, Wayne Gettridge, the graduates smiles glowed as they processed to their seats.
After Judy Wallace offered an opening prayer, General Manager David Giardina offered a brief history of the café.He was followed by Bishop Germaine Davis, one of the newest members of the Board of Directors of Reconcile New Orleans. Bishop Davis played the keyboard as he sang “Thank you, Lord,” an inspiring number about the blessings in our lives. Another graduate of the night, Jasmine Cox, introduced the night’s keynote speaker, Maurice Ruffin, Esq. Mr. Ruffin talked about his life and how he realized that with hard work and focus almost any goal could be accomplished. Mr. Ruffin graduated from the Loyola Law School in 2003, and he has since become one of the more prominent young lawyers in the city. He ended his speech encouraging the graduates to give back and mentor youth because of the positive influence just one person can have on another.
Certificates of Completion were then handed out to the students by Executive Director Sister Mary Lou Specha, PBVM, Program Director Donna Bowie, and General Manager David Giardina. Following the certificates were reflections by Tyriane Madding and Brandon Sabatier. Tyriane told the crowd that she came to Café Reconcile with a friend who constantly made her late and was holding her back. Realizing that she would be unable to change with this friend in her life, Tyriane made the choice to take a different path. She now works for the banquet staff of the Loews Hotel. Brandon talked about personal changes during his time in the café, such as the realization of the importance and reward of hard work. He also changed his appearance, making the decision to cut off his dreadlocks when he had the opportunity for employment at the Loews hotel. He now runs his own station in the kitchenat Café Adelaide, one of the City’s finest restaurants..
For the first time at a graduation employers who have created a partnership with Café Reconcile spoke. The first was Ray Bruce, the Director of Human Resources for the Loews Hotel, who spoke about the quality of workers the café produces and how rewarding it is for the hotel staff to build on the training Café Reconcile students receive. Amy Landry, Human Resource and Training Manager of the Roosevelt Hotel, spoke about how proud she was that five of the evening’s eight graduates completed their internship at the Roosevelt. She said she was highly impressed with their eagerness to take on new tasks, and she as inspired by their sense of team spirit. Mr. Bruce and Ms. Landry were followed by Sister Mary Lou Specha and Donna Bowie who offered words of encouragement and Congratulations.
Congratulations to our graduates: Ebony, Jasmine, Demetrius, Wayne, Tyriane, Jasmine, Kenione, Brandon, and Dominique!
