Michele Seymour is the Director of the Reengagement Center at New Orleans Youth Alliance, where she helps young people ages 16 to 24 reconnect with education, employment, and long-term opportunities. We sit down with Michele alongside hosts Maya McGee and Monique Robinson to discuss how the Reengagement Center grew from a referral-based model into a hands-on support system designed to address the real barriers young people face, from transportation and caregiving responsibilities to finding the right school or workforce program.

We also explore the power of collaboration across New Orleans, including how the Opportunity Youth Collaborative brings organizations together to share data, coordinate services, and advocate for greater investment in young people. Michele shares how data has helped strengthen funding efforts, why flexible and individualized support matters, and the story of one young woman whose journey through multiple partner organizations shows what is possible when an entire community works together.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Jerome Jupiter is the CEO of the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), a New Orleans nonprofit helping young people access education, workforce training, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities. We sat down with Jerome to talk about how YEP has grown from a juvenile reentry program into a broader resource for opportunity youth across the city, and how programs like YEP Works and Bike Works give young people hands-on experience while building skills and confidence for the future.

We also explore YEP’s partnership with Café Reconcile and why collaboration between nonprofits is so important, especially as organizations face limited funding and growing community needs. Jerome shares how strong partnerships can connect young people to the right resources, create clearer pathways to employment and education, and make a greater impact by allowing each organization to focus on what it does best.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Kheri Billy is the CEO of Café Reconcile, and Monique Robinson is the organization’s Chief Program Officer, helping lead a workforce development and training program that supports young people ages 16 to 24 across New Orleans. We sat down with Kheri and Monique to talk about how Café Reconcile uses its restaurant as a real-world training environment where young people can build professional skills, gain confidence, explore career paths, and connect with opportunities both inside and outside of the hospitality industry.

We also discuss why strong community partnerships are essential to supporting young people beyond employment, from transportation and education to financial stability and long-term career growth. Kheri and Monique share how Café Reconcile helps young people discover what is possible for their future, develop transferable life and workplace skills, and find pathways that allow them to grow, thrive, and build a life here in New Orleans.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Sorby Grant is the President and CEO of Climb Hire, a nonprofit helping working adults build the skills, confidence, and professional networks they need to access better career opportunities. We sat down with Sorby to talk about why social capital can be just as important as technical skills in a job search, how Climb Hire helps participants strengthen and activate their networks, and why relationships and referrals often play such a major role in getting hired.

Sorby also shares how Climb Hire combines career navigation with training in areas like IT support, medical assisting, paid marketing, AI literacy, and cybersecurity. We explore the organization’s approach to partnering with employers and community organizations, the importance of building long-term professional relationships, and the opportunity Sorby sees for bringing Climb Hire’s model to New Orleans while strengthening the workforce development resources already serving the city.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot.

Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Olivia McCoy is the founding director of We Help NOLA, a nonprofit connecting New Orleans hospitality workers with accessible mental health and wellness resources. We sat down with Olivia to talk about how her own experience in the hospitality industry inspired the organization, the mental health challenges facing service industry workers, and why reducing financial, cultural, and accessibility barriers to care is so important.

We also discuss how We Help NOLA partners with hospitality businesses to provide no-cost counseling and other wellness services, the impact those resources can have on employee well-being and workplace culture, and why supporting the people who power New Orleans’ hospitality industry ultimately strengthens the entire community.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Antonio Travis is the Leadership Development Manager and Cameron Dumas is the Leadership Development Coordinator at Friends and Families of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), an organization working to transform the systems that impact Louisiana’s young people and families. We sat down with Antonio and Cameron to discuss FFLIC’s advocacy, the lasting effects of punitive school discipline, and how policies within schools and the juvenile justice system can push young people further away from the support and resources they need.

We also talk about their personal experiences with school discipline, the connection between education and incarceration, and FFLIC’s Youth Leadership Cohort, a 12-month program that helps young people develop leadership skills, understand how systems affect their communities, and become advocates for change. Antonio and Cameron share why listening to young people, investing in communities, and creating more supportive systems are essential to building better outcomes for Louisiana’s youth.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Melanie Richardson is the co-founder and executive director of Training Grounds, a New Orleans nonprofit helping parents and caregivers build stronger foundations for children during their first five years. We sat down with Melanie to talk about why those early years matter so much, the challenges families face when early learning and developmental support are hard to access, and how Training Grounds creates welcoming spaces where parents can learn, play, ask questions, and connect with resources.

We also discuss Training Grounds’ free programs, including parent classes, breastfeeding support, developmental activities, family navigation, baby showers, and hurricane preparedness resources. Melanie shares why reducing isolation and stress among parents is such an important part of supporting children, and how building relationships with families can create stronger outcomes for the entire community.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/

Dr. Kimberly Clay is the Founder and CEO of Play Like A Girl, a nonprofit working to help girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and explore pathways into STEM and other careers. We sat down with Dr. Clay to talk about how Play Like A Girl grew from a small support network into a national organization, and how sports, mentorship, workplace exposure, and early intervention can help girls see what is possible for their futures.

Dr. Clay also shares why the middle school years are so critical for confidence and career development, how partnerships with schools, companies, sports organizations, and professional mentors support the organization’s work, and what Play Like A Girl hopes to build as it expands into more communities, including New Orleans.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. Missions Bayou is hosted by Maya McGee and Brenna Gourgeot. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Brenna Gourgeot is a community organizer and data analyst focused on socioeconomic and environmental justice in Southeast Louisiana. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

Follow Comfy Stone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfystonefilms/

Website: https://www.comfystone.com/