nemiah-project-of-acadiana

Celebrating Uniqueness

jmoreau@apextech.it (Joshua Moreau) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 16:13:14 GMT

Games, Food, and Fun!

On Saturday, NPAI was part of the Uniquely U event that celebrated the uniqueness of our special needs community. The event was hosted by The Vermilion Reach Group. There were over 20 vendors that participated and we were privileged to be one of them. It was a day filled with music, games, food and laughter.

OLD CC’S CAFÉ GETTING REBIRTH

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:36:04 GMT

Nehemiah Project restores inside, kitchen for future use

The location of the old CC’s Cafe on 106 S State Street holds more than just memories of fried porkchops and sliced ham sandwiches-although those are certainly memorable-but the cafe holds the art of conversation within its walls. Municipalities, local dignitaries, community members, and stakeholders would gather within the once greasy walls to discuss politics and the latest gossip and hash out details and plans for doing something, anything to keep Abbeville thriving.

While the decor has changed into an open-aired, exposed-brick fancy eatery with a walnut wood finish, bright open kitchen and stained cement floors, the pure enjoyment of gathering and talking, talking, talking has not. Opened for private events only (for now), the Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana Inc. vowed to invest in community revitalization. That commitment to Abbeville has manifested itself in the downtown area to provide workforce opportunities through the restaurant space now named Nehemiah’s Cafe on State.

During the Rotary Club breakfast meeting, members and guests of the Abbeville Rotary Club including Mayor Roslyn White, enjoyed a breakfast cooked by returned Abbeville resident Clay Decuire and the Abbeville High ProStart Culinary team under program instructor Devon Romero. The voices echoed of coffee and conversation and the room was filled with the excited possibility of having more to love about our downton area. The Cafe on State will become a public restaurant in the near future and house the ProStart living kitchen where students can earn hours towards their certification in culinary arts, which according to Jumpstart/CTE Supervisor Lonnie Richard falls into the Hospitality Tourism Pathway. “Abbeville High School is one of only two regional ProStart programs in this area, " stated Romero, “I am honored to train these amazing kids who now have a passion for cooking and showcasing their talent.”

As part of an effort to support Vermilion Economic Development Alliance and South Louisiana Community College, the Nehemiah Projects has plans to expand workforce and education opportunities including the culinary teaching space along with offering their office and storefront space to student entrepreneurs and Master’s in the field of IT, Construction, STEM and local Manufacturing Pathways.

Lauren Trahan, NPAI’s Executive Director noted that their Board of Directors regularly discusses the importance of keeping the integrity of the cafe as one that will give the community back the breakfast space they used to gather in to debate and to dream and to remember what makes this community special. The investment that Nehemiah is making is in the next generation the students and young adults that will keep the ball rolling as they don their chef coats and hair nets and put their hands to frying eggs and making plates of delicious items while patrons’ voices echo plans for doing something, anything to keep Abbeville thriving.

Connecting Careers & Classrooms

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 20:53:37 GMT

Will Williams uses his Law Enforcement background and Public Speaking to Build Relationships in Schools

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THE NEHEMIAH PROJECTS OF LOUISIANA AND ITS GATEKEEPER

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:57:02 GMT

Lauren Trahan is the current executive director of The Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana Inc. (NPAI), a nonprofit formed to revitalize Acadiana’s communities, beginning with Abbeville.

She comes from an educational background and is passionate about seeing young men and women reach their potential and express their talents through education and dedication. She is the current gatekeeper of the organization, working to fulfill the mission that began with Pastor Walter August’s desire to give back to his hometown of Abbeville.

“I have learned that Abbeville is a unique city, wrapped in a proud heritage, a strong faith, and a tradition of taking pride in one’s ability, education, and hard work,” said Trahan.

Yet over time, as the pandemic hit and entire communities isolated, there has been a disconnect to those values in many ways that has created challenges for our youth, struggling to succeed in school and obtain necessary life-skills, creating challenges to accessing higher education and forming obstacles to those wanting a future filled with career possibilities.

Trahan came in to become a connector and do the work to build solidarity between churches, city members and community residents.

“It takes a village of committed and compassionate people to keep a child out of the school-to-prison pipeline. It’s the only way in our current reality,” she said.

When Nehemiah began the work in Abbeville, it honored the legacy of Rev. James A. Herod, who understood the importance of education and made it his mission to teach the youth how to take hold of the possibilities available to all of God’s children.

The Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana operates to serve Abbeville and the surrounding parishes to continue to bring hope to the masses and provide quality education and workforce resources to those who most need that inspiration.

NPAI recently partnered with Talitha Boudreaux and New Iberia Teen Court to establish a Teen Court and Youth Justice program in Vermilion Parish.

Alongside Teen Court, NPAI supports the second chance to learn and grow from mistakes that can impact the future of the next generation. The program has had immense support from local officials and community members to get this much-needed resource off the ground.

Nehemiah’s Executive Director works to execute the vision to bring help and hope to the community through the organization’s core values: Education, Social Services, Health & Wellness, Career & Financial Planning, and Community Revitalization.

Serving on the board of the Abbeville Coalition, Trahan and NPAI supports the Imagine Abbeville Initiative and believes in economic development and reinvestment in downtown, people, and places that radiate possibility and embody the desire to create a legacy in their hometown. While just scratching the surface, Nehemiah will continue the work to implement new pathways to success and create sustainable career opportunities through future education and revitalization projects.