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Threads of Opportunity to provide professional attire, workshops for Ascension Parish students
Summary
Members of the Leadership Ascension class formed Threads of Opportunity to collect interview-appropriate clothing and run resume/interview workshops for high-school students in Ascension Parish; organizers plan donation boxes, business sponsorships and pop-up drop-off events and say schools will host closed-closet distribution in October.
Threads of Opportunity, a project formed by members of this year’s Leadership Ascension class, will collect professional clothing and run interview-skills workshops for high-school students across Ascension Parish, organizers said.
Organizers described two main program elements: collection and distribution of interview-appropriate clothes, and in-school workshops teaching resume building and interview skills. They said donation boxes will be placed at local businesses, businesses may sponsor the effort, and the group plans pop-up Saturday drop-off events to gather and sort clothing.
Tanya, a mortgage loan officer with OnPath Credit Union, said the credit union opened a Highway 30 branch recently and that participating in Leadership Ascension is “what better way to get into the community.” Organizers described partnerships with local schools and said they are coordinating with APSB and working with Preville High School and Donville High to hold October workshops and a closed-closet event where teachers can select items for students identified as in need.
The group emphasized pop-up events will be donation-only — people will drop off clothes rather than shop — and that small local businesses chosen to host drop-offs may be highlighted via social media. Organizers said they will sort donated items and distribute them to the high schools for students preparing to enter the workforce.
Speakers framed the program as addressing both material and confidence gaps: alongside clothes, volunteers will teach handshake, introductions, eye contact and other soft skills organizers said are important for interview success. The project’s leaders said the current program is designed as a Leadership Ascension class project for one year with plans to expand in future years to serve other groups such as women’s shelters and college students.
Organizers encouraged residents to donate items suitable for interviews, to consider business or individual sponsorship, and to follow Threads of Opportunity on social media for locations and event dates. The host closed the segment noting the group’s social handles and the show’s on-screen information about sponsorships and donation opportunities.
