Tayla Cenance’s story demonstrates what support and opportunities can look like for youth. We know that frontend investments in youth prevent incarceration; yet oftentimes, community members aren’t able to imagine what kinds of programming and services are needed. Tayla’s family has been impacted by youth incarceration, so she knows firsthand the harm and trauma caused by prisons, and also has insight as to the solutions. That’s why we want to highlight Tayla’s thoughts and experiences about Cafe Reconcile New Orleans, a program that “supports young adults as they transform their lives by encouraging their personal growth, providing workforce development and training, and equipping them with tools to achieve their potential.”
Tayla is twenty years old, and she is currently attending the University of New Orleans and majoring in business administration. This past summer she decided to apply to Cafe Reconcile’s fourteen-week restaurant and hospitality industry training program after her family members had learned about it and recommended it to her.
“My grandmother said, ‘’Your passion is cooking, so let’s get you started somewhere,” explained Tayla.
She described the knowledge and skills that the program offered her, including learning how to make sure food is properly prepared in the kitchen, food running and bussing, preparing and serving tables, hosting, and other forms of customer service. During the course of the program she also did a six week internship at the Four Seasons hotel, which has four different restaurants where she was able to work as a prep cook and prepare pastries.
“My favorite part of the experience was meeting people, getting different life perspectives, and also having the chance to do resume building and mock interviews,” said Tayla. “I also liked when the chefs shared their stories about their mistakes in the kitchen and how nervous they were.”
Most of all, Tayla was impressed with the holistic supports that the program offered, including social workers that were able to help address challenges such as with transportation, housing, mental health, and intra-family conflicts. She felt she could see the difference it made in her and in the other program participants. She described the support as a “positive experience for the whole family.”
“A lot of people had a change in attitude, they were more mature after the program. For example, I don’t like speaking in public, but now I’m able to raise my hand and share my thoughts,” explained Tayla. She also described how she saw how participants who went to a therapist change the way they carried themselves.
“They became more open and bubbly. We were able to connect on a deeper level. And I saw some of the boys come out with a better attitude.”
Tayla is also excited that she learned a few new cooking skills, including how to blanch vegetables and make a crawfish sauce. She enjoys cooking and so it was difficult for her to name her favorite recipes, but a few that came to mind were: birthday cakes, macaroni and cheese, gumbo, and stuffed pineapple salmon. Although she graduated from the program on September 18th, she is also glad that they encouraged her and other participants to stay connected through their alumni program. She is also excited about how the experience will enrich her studies and the youth around her. She believes that if more youth had opportunities they would be less likely to become involved in the criminal justice system.
I am more confident. The program helped me speak up for myself, and put myself out there more,” she said. “It gives youth a chance to see there is more than just the fast life, and I can be something, and I will be something. If somebody was having a hard time, I think this would help.”
Tayla’s experiences reinforce what we already know: we must invest money into our communities and organizations that can create stability and safety for our families and children. These programs are less costly and more impactful than punishment, and they help youth on the path to success. We are proud of Tayla and the other youth who are building up themselves and their communities. They are worth the investment!