Shreveport Citizens United outlines community rallies, health screenings and April vocational program for young adults

Representatives of Shreveport Citizens United updated the Juvenile Justice Committee on Feb. 19 about ongoing community events that connect families to nonprofits, health screenings and job resources, and they described a vocational training initiative scheduled to begin in April.

A speaker for the organization said their rallies draw "about anywhere from 300 to 500 families" and include nonprofits, police officers and providers offering services such as diabetes and blood‑pressure screenings, food distribution and referrals. The group reported distributing nearly 200 bags of food at a recent rally and said its outreach has touched more than 5,000 community members.

The organization outlined a vocational partnership with North Louisiana Technical Community College and Volunteers for Youth Justice to offer no‑cost vocational training and hands‑on trade instruction. A Shreveport Citizens United representative described a two‑year program aimed at 17‑ to 19‑year‑olds, beginning with eight months of classroom instruction and followed by 16 months of paid on‑the‑job training. The program will include basic trade skills (roofing, flooring, drywall, painting, plumbing and electrical work), and the presenters said vehicles, a 25‑passenger van and equipment have already been secured.

The representatives said they will work with community partners to prescreen students and emphasized that the program is intended to address gaps in workforce training and offer alternatives for young people who have struggled in traditional academic settings. "It's big. It's audacious. It's bold," one presenter said, urging commissioners to support scalable, collaborative efforts.

Committee members thanked the presenters and said they would invite the group back for a longer briefing to discuss implementation details.

No formal committee action was taken on the Shreveport Citizens United presentation during the meeting.