Changemakers: Claire Jecklin

Founder and CEO, New Orleans Career Center

Drawing on her longtime background in education, Claire Jecklin recognized New Orleans students’ need for high-quality technical education. She brought together a cross-sector of professionals from the Recovery School District, Orleans Parish Schools, philanthropic and youth organizations dedicated to this work.

The resulting organization, the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC), is the first nonprofit career center model in the nation. To create the purpose-built center, Jecklin and the team visited many career centers, hospital training spaces, and similar organizations to learn their best practices.

Over Mardi Gras 2023, NOCC moved to their new home: a custom-built facility located in the former McDonogh 35 Senior High School building. NOCC utilizes the building’s enormous 140,000 square feet of space for their many educational programs.

“This building is everything we wanted. Everyone came together so we can deliver on one of the best investments in our young people, community, and employers,” said Jecklin.

In addition, one of the most striking features of the NOCC space is the way in which the building itself serves as a training tool. For instance, the building’s HVAC is located in a space large enough to accommodate students, so they can look at the machine in the building for real-world learning experiences. Furthermore, there is no tiling on the ceiling, so students can follow the HVAC components and wiring throughout the building.

For the high school program, many public schools allow students to attend NOCC for half the day. Students can choose from five career paths: Building Trades, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, Digital Production, Engineering and Healthcare. These tracts represent many of the top-growing industries in New Orleans. After their training, students can directly go to work for an employer in a high-demand field.

To meet the city’s demand for building trades, the machining lab is set up with the best practices in the field in mind. Students interact with the same types of industry-grade machines and tools they will use in real world settings. With access to welding bays, large workspaces, and a built-in vacuuming system, students get firsthand experience while they learn.

Next, the culinary arts program teaches students to become a chef in NOCC’s giant custom-designed kitchen. With plenty of grills, stoves, warming pans, fryers and six prep stations, it would look right at home on an episode of Top Chef. Students form teams to simulate the busy environment of a working kitchen.

The engineering and manufacturing section includes a maker lab with a large 3D printer, a CNC router, and more tools to help students practice engineering. With guidance from professionals at local companies, students complete year-long projects that take them through the manufacturing process from start to finish.

The healthcare rooms, meanwhile, feature an impressive simulation setup, including a hospital desk and clinic exam rooms. Students learn how to scrub in, prepare IVs, and much more in a full hospital room setup. It also allows instructors to view their progress and give feedback behind a giant window. The combination of academic content and industry experience prepare these students to enter the field right away, or continue their education with Delgado or Ochsner.

“Our students are people I would want to take care of me,” said Jecklin.

In addition, a giant courtyard allows students from different areas of NOCC to collaborate on large-scale projects. Students can learn more about what their cohorts are studying, as well as gain experience working outside in the heat.

Furthermore, the NOCC was built with the idea of growing and meeting new demands, such as solar options. Their training can adapt to meet the regional economy’s needs.

In addition to the high school programs, adult rapid reskilling programs allow community members to gain the skills for a new career path in a relatively brief amount of time. In fact, some family members of students in the high school programs have opted to take classes at NOCC as well.

Across the board, the goal is to show young people in the city their many options, as well as prepare them for a career with a stable salary and benefits by the time they reach the age of 25.

Passionate and committed to the NOCC vision, Jecklin is thrilled to get the word out about this organization and help the next generation of students find their dream careers.

“It’s so amazing to talk to the young people in our programs. It gives you hope for the future of this city. You want them building roads, maintaining the Superdome, and caring for you in the hospital,” said Jecklin.

Contact: New Orleans Career Center, 1331 Kerlerec Street, 504-372-1502, www.nolacc.org, [email protected]

GET INVOLVED

At this time the NOCC team welcomes specialty and general operating donations, as well as industry-specific tool donations. They are also seeking more industry partnerships. If your team can provide personnel and guest speakers, or host interns and apprenticeships, please contact the NOCC team.

Lastly, anyone interested in learning more about NOCC classes, or touring their impressive facility, is invited to get in touch.

New Orleans Saints Ticket Giveaway

Win 6 tickets to the August 13 home game versus the Kansas City Chiefs

Become a New Orleans Magazine partner ...