MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Kheri Billy
In 2025, Reconcile celebrated its 25th Anniversary, marking a milestone in the work of supporting young people as they build skills, confidence, and direction for what comes next.
That moment created space to reflect on what has been built and to move forward with clarity.
To mark the year, Reconcile introduced an updated brand, including a refined mission, vision, and values to reflect the direction ahead. Reconcile is innovating how workforce training is delivered through hands-on experiences in the café and across the community, where young people build confidence, explore their strengths, and take steps toward their future.
The vision is a community where every young person has access to opportunity and the support needed to pursue it.
This work is guided by clear values. Collaboration builds strong partnerships. Access removes barriers. Respect centers each young person’s voice. Excellence drives results that matter.
Thank you for being part of this work and investing in what comes next.
In 2025, Reconcile marked its 25th Anniversary with a year that reflected both impact and momentum. Young people, Alumni, partners, and supporters came together to celebrate what has been built and the opportunities still ahead.
Milestone moments included 25th Anniversary celebrations with the community, a 25 Years of Growth storytelling series, and a three-part digital podcast collaboration with WDSU, Does Your City Love You Back, highlighting Reconcile’s approach to helping young people connect to work and education.
The year reinforced a shared belief that when young people have access to support and opportunity, they move forward with confidence and contribute to the strength of the community. With your ongoing support, young people continue to grow and create pathways for what comes next.
Safe, Stable, & Ready
Across New Orleans, many young people are ready to reconnect to education and employment but face barriers that make access difficult. Reconcile addresses this gap by focusing on the full experience of each young person, ensuring access to the relationships, resources, and guidance needed to stay engaged and move forward.
This whole-person approach is how Reconcile innovates workforce development. Wraparound support makes it possible for young people not only to enter training but to sustain participation, build consistency, and gain momentum.
Top Barriers | Personal Identification, Housing, Mental Health enrollment
82 referrals made to 25 community organizations for services including mental health, housing assistance, family support, legal aid, transportation, and other critical resources.
Career Exploration & Job Readiness
In 2025, Reconcile’s 14-week Workforce Training Program connected 65 young people to employment and 21 to educational pathways. These outcomes represent young people taking the next step toward careers and continued learning with the skills, confidence, and support to move forward.
As new entrants to the workforce, young people benefit from opportunities to explore, discover, and better understand how their strengths align with different career pathways.
With your support, Interns gain hands-on experience through Café Reconcile and externships with employment partners. They build workplace skills, grow in confidence, and identify opportunities that reflect their interests and goals.
Training is directly connected to opportunity. Young people leave prepared to make informed decisions about their future and move forward with direction. 65
interns connected to employment
21
interns connected to education
employment partners
101 alumni connected to employment
32
alumni connected to education
Alumni Pathways
Connection to work or education is just the beginning. After completing Reconcile’s 14-week Workforce Training Program, young people continue into their first year as Alumni, where they receive ongoing career coaching, navigation, and support.
In 2025, 101 Alumni connected to new employment opportunities and 32 connected to new educational pathways. These outcomes reflect young people continuing to build momentum during their first year as Reconcile Alumni.
The transition from training to employment is where growth is put into practice. Your giving ensures Alumni have continued coaching and support as they navigate workplace culture, learn new skills, and adapt to new environments. It also helps Alumni build consistency early in their careers through access to quality employment opportunities within Reconcile’s network of employment partners, many of which offer wages of $15 per hour or more. The Alumni Advisory Council amplifies this impact through peer support and continued learning.
Because of you, Alumni are building financial stability, increasing their independence, and creating a foundation for long-term success.
Chassidy began training at Reconcile in September 2022, ready to explore what her future could hold. She had already made one important decision, leaving college after realizing it was not the right fit. She knew she was interested in culinary arts, but like many young adults navigating into the workforce outside of traditional structures, she was faced with a set of overwhelming questions.
What options exist? Are they accessible? Can I afford them? Are they designed for my goals and my life?
At Reconcile, she did not have to figure that out alone. Through career navigation and coaching, Chassidy was able to explore her interests in a way that felt clear and possible.
During her training, she excelled. Her externship at The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel allowed her to put her skills into practice, and her talent quickly stood out, leading to a full-time job.
What followed is what makes her story stand out.
With continued career coaching from Reconcile’s Alumni Services team and a community of peers alongside her, Chassidy leaned into every opportunity available. She secured a Reconcile scholarship to Delgado Community College and earned her Culinary Arts Associate degree while continuing to work. She did not just stay connected. She kept moving forward.
Along the way, she grew into her voice. Once shy and quiet, Chassidy became a leader, using her communication
skills to seek out opportunities and step into new roles.
As the inaugural Chairperson of Reconcile’s Alumni Advisory Council, she helped build its foundation, define its direction, and create space for Alumni to stay connected while informing program design. She also helped launch the first Alumni Summit, now an annual convening that brings together peers, resources, and next steps for continued growth.
Her leadership extended beyond Reconcile. Chassidy served as one of two youth ambassadors alongside Troy Carter to launch a bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus, using her voice to represent the experiences of young people navigating pathways to work and education across the country.
Today, Chassidy works full-time, holds her degree, and continues to mentor fellow Alumni, including her sister Kennedi, a 2025 Reconcile graduate now studying psychology and social work at Tulane University.
Chassidy’s journey is what your support makes possible. With your investment, she did not have to navigate these decisions alone. With continued guidance and a community alongside her, she found her voice, grew into leadership, and stepped into a future she is building for herself and her community.
Financials
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