Jefferson Parish Government: New Orleans Resilience Corps Jobs Program Expands To Combat Coronavirus

Press release from the Jefferson Parish Government:

October 7, 2021

Resilience Force Recruits Ten New Community Health Workers For Jefferson Parish

JEFFERSON, LA – Resilience Force, an organization dedicated to strengthening our country’s response to disasters including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related damages following major hurricanes, fires or floods, announces a partnership with Jefferson Parish to expand their reach. This news comes after the creation of the New Orleans Resilience Corps last year.

“I’d like to thank Resilience Force for their important work and commitment to the residents of Jefferson Parish,” said District 3 Councilman Byron Lee. “We look forward to this partnership filling a critical void, enabling our community to rebuild stronger.”

“The data shows that the pandemic has particularly exacerbated issues in the young and underprivileged communities in our parish,” said Executive Assistant Keishelle Jones. “The key to effective recovery is to meet the community where they are through deliberate communicative education and access.”

In this partnership, community health workers will work alongside with the Resilience Corps, in tandem with Jefferson Parish, to carry out community wellness checks across neighboring cities spanning Gretna, Harahan, Kenner, Marrero, Harvey and Westwego. Ranging from ages 18-35, this ten-person team will provide the community with COVID-19 vaccine educational resources as a means to deter the spread and protect its population.

“The expansion of the New Orleans Resilience Corps Program into Jefferson Parish underscores the need for this type of programming not only within New Orleans but nationwide,” says Louisiana Director of Resilience Force LaTanja Silvester, “As COVID-19 continues to surge across the country, it is crucial that we address the public health needs of our communities. This program will help to combat the spread of the pandemic in deeply impacted areas and provide jobs and financial stability for those who critically need it.”

The New Orleans Resilience Corps is a diverse workforce development and jobs program that has been strengthening the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic while creating economic opportunities for those who have lost jobs over the last month. The Corps members have been performing critical functions in limiting the spread of COVID-19 including coordinating with contact tracers, conducting door-to-door canvassing and wellness checks, delivering necessities, connecting residents with city and state services, and more. For communities that have been impacted by the active hurricane season, they have been assisting those who have relocated to ensure they have food, supplies, and shelter. For more information on the New Orleans Resilience Corps please visit https://resilienceforce.org/.

This press release was produced by the Jefferson Parish Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.