Building Skills, Transforming Lives

Together, we can change lives, uplift communities,
and build a better future for New Orleans.

Together, we can change lives, uplift communities, and build a better future for New Orleans.

A New Beginning Starts Here

Help Us Empower individuals and Former Felons with Skills, Education, and Mentorship for Sustainable Careers in Construction Resulting in Community Impact.

NOLA’s Intervention and Reformation Center, Inc. our mission is to empower individuals without direction and former felons by providing them with comprehensive training in the construction trade, including home rehabilitation, renovations, and repairs. We aim to foster personal and professional growth, supporting their journey to becoming successful business owners. Through education, mentorship, sustainable employment, and community development projects, we are committed to breaking the cycle of unemployment and recidivism by offering a second chance to those in need.

Why Your Support Matters

New Orleans is a city rich in culture and history, but it also faces persistent challenges with crime, unemployment, and recidivism. High incarceration rates, particularly among Black males, have left many individuals trapped in cycles of punishment with limited access to the resources and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives. According to recent studies, nearly half of those released from Louisiana’s prison system will return within five years, largely due to the lack of job opportunities and support systems in their communities.

NOLA’s Intervention & Reformation Center, Inc. exists to break this cycle by providing real solutions through vocational training, mentorship, and sustainable employment opportunities. The root causes of crime often stem from poverty, lack of education, and limited access to economic opportunities. Our programs focus on addressing these very issues—empowering individuals with trade skills that not only provide a pathway out of poverty but also give them the tools to contribute positively to the local economy.

In New Orleans, the construction industry is booming with new developments and home renovations, but many of those who would benefit most from these job opportunities lack the necessary skills and certifications. By supporting our nonprofit, you are helping individuals acquire the expertise needed to join this thriving industry, turning potential liabilities into assets for our city. You are investing in a safer New Orleans, one where people have the skills, dignity, and opportunities to succeed, rather than return to a life of crime or incarceration.

Your support helps us provide:

Hands-on training in high-demand fields like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, giving participants a chance to secure stable employment.Mentorship from experienced professionals who guide participants not only in their trades but in personal and professional development.Second chances for individuals who are ready to change their lives and give back to the communities they once harmed.

In a city where crime often overshadows hope, your contribution makes a difference by offering a sustainable path forward for individuals who need it most. By helping us equip people with marketable skills, you are contributing to the broader solution—reducing recidivism, creating economic opportunities, and ultimately making New Orleans a safer, more prosperous place for all.

Help us secure NOLA'S future with $1 Million

Support tools, space, expert instructors, and outreach to transform lives.

$800,000: Purchase of the Building
$100,000: Building Renovations and Setup
$50,000: Tools and Equipment
$30,000: Staffing and Trade Instructors
$20,000: Administrative Costs and Program Expansion

We’re aiming to raise $1 million to provide individuals and former felons with the resources they need to thrive in the construction industry. Your support will fund critical elements like advanced tools and materials, a dedicated training space, expert instructors, and outreach efforts. Every dollar contributes to skills development, mentorship, and sustainable employment, helping participants break the cycle of unemployment and achieve lasting success.

MEET THE VISIONARY

Mr. Washington is the driving force behind NOLA’s Intervention and Reformation Center, Inc., knows firsthand the challenges of breaking free from a life of mistakes and hardship. Once a former felon, Mr. Washington turned his life around through sheer determination, resilience, and a newfound passion for the construction trades. He discovered that skills in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work not only provided him with a sustainable income but also a renewed sense of purpose. Hear His Story & Testimony.

What’s up, family? Yes, we’re family according to our Creator’s divine order. He said, “If you don’t love your brothers and sisters on Earth, you never knew Me.” I would like to save some lives by teaching trade skills. This is what saved my life, so I want to pay it forward.

I was arrested 36 times by age 14 and had three drug convictions as an adult. My last time being locked up, I said to God, “Kill me if I sell drugs again or if I use cocaine again.” I was tired of being a slave to a substance that can’t walk or talk. I was 30 years old then, and I am 61 now. By His grace, there’s victory over that merry-go-round of madness and self-destruction.

If you really, really want it, you can break free. I see my young brethren in the streets—they don’t know it’s a setup by the Prince of Darkness. If we count the killings, it’s clear to see it’s genocide, from New York to L.A. and all the cities and states in between. Somebody’s got to stand up and do something. God says, “My people perish from a lack of knowledge.” I don’t want to die with all this knowledge—I would like to teach as many as I can, God willing.

Everybody can’t go to college. My school is free. Just show up, and we will equip them with the skills to survive, provide, and sustain themselves for the rest of their lives.