City Encourages Residents to Visit Satellite Service Offices
The City of New Orleans is encouraging residents to take advantage of satellite office hours offered through the Office of Business and External Services.
Satellite services began June 17 and are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday at the East New Orleans Regional Library (5641 Read Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70127).
“The Mayor has always focused on meeting people where they are,” says Peter Bowen, Deputy CAO, Office of Business and External Services. “The Office of Business and External Services is pursuing numerous avenues, including satellite services within our library system and making investments in the City’s digital front door, to provide accessible, transparent, and accountable City services to all residents and businesses. We’re excited to launch our new space in partnership with the East New Orleans Regional Library as we continue the planning phases of future offices in Algiers and Gentilly.”
Residents are encouraged to visit the library for staff assistance from the following: the Office of the City Planning Commission, the Department of Safety and Permits, the Office of Workforce Development/JOB1, the Office of Economic Development and the Department of Code Enforcement.
The Vieux Carre Commission (VCC) is operating a satellite office at 400 N. Peters St., Suite 206C, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays as well. Services include intaking new permit requests, issuing permits, providing consultation and planning, addressing questions and concerns about VCC matters, and discussing violation abatement.
The Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) will begin satellite office hours once satellite services begin at the Cita Dennis Hubbell Library in Algiers Point.
The Office of Business and External Services are among other agencies offering satellite office hours, including the District Attorney’s Office and the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO).
Delgado Resumes In-Person Classes in Fall 2021
The faculty and staff of Delgado Community College have returned to campus as a result of the easing of public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Delgado is now open, our offices are fully staffed, and our faculty is ready to teach students face-to-face this fall—in addition to offering the convenience of online and virtual classes,” said Larissa Littleton-Steib, Delgado chancellor. “The past 16 months have been difficult for many students and potential students who are more comfortable in the traditional on-campus environment. We would like everyone to know that Delgado welcomes you back to campus for the fall semester.”
Registration for fall semester classes at Delgado is now underway, and classes begin on Aug. 14. For more information on enrollment, visit www.dcc.edu, or contact the Admissions Office at delgadoadmissions@dcc.edu or by calling 504-671-5012 or 1-855-215-8247.
For safety and convenience, the College will continue to offer online and hybrid classes. For students who would like to enroll in online classes but do not have access to a computer at home, Delgado’s laptop computer loaner program has been expanded.
“Delgado Community College recognizes that many students continue to be concerned about their health and safety as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes,” said Steib. “We urge them to get the free vaccination as soon as possible, and to continue practicing safe social interaction and taking the basic precautions of washing hands frequently and wearing face coverings—for an extra measure of protection from the coronavirus,” she said.
Delgado offers instruction online and at seven locations, including the City Park, West Bank (Algiers), Sidney Collier, Charity School of Nursing, and Maritime and Industrial Training Center locations in New Orleans, the River City Site in Avondale, and the Jefferson Site in Metairie.
STEM NOLA Returns to In-Person Programming with Fun-Filled, Educational Event
STEM NOLA launched its return to in-person programming on July 10 with an extraordinary Rocket Day STEM Saturday at the UNO Lakefront Arena. It marked the non-profit’s first on-site STEM event in 15 months moving to virtual-only programming in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic limited live events.
“The thirst for this event has been absolutely amazing. You could tell that people wanted to come out and be out to see their children engaged in skills with other children,” said STEM NOLA Founder Dr. Calvin Mackie. “The critical skills needed in STEM are communications, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration, so to see kids working together, building a rocket together, and watching it launch, you realize our children are yearning to be back together.”
With help from supporters and sponsors, such as the Entergy Corporation, Dr. Mackie created STEM NOLA in 2013 and brought STEM into New Orleans communities with hands-on programs at churches, schools and community centers. When COVID-19 struck, the organization adjusted and expanded to digital offerings so the learning would continue not only in New Orleans but in cities across the region and country, ultimately reaching kids in 47 states and five countries. In the last eight years, STEM NOLA has impacted 65,000 students, 17,000 families and 2,150 schools.
In partnership with Boeing, STEM NOLA provided an exciting experience to more than 300 K-12th grade students at the recent event in the New Orleans community, who have anxiously awaited the return to monthly in-person STEM programming.
“The number one thing I want the kids to take away from today is to have fun. We have fun while we’re building our rockets. It’s tough yes, but have fun,” said Jennifer Boland-Masterson, Boeing’s Director of Operations at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. “The other thing I want them to take away is how important math and science is to build something like a space launch system rocket, so getting those basics and learning that will get them even more excited to potentially be that next rocket scientist for us.”
During the free three-hour event, students learned about rocket proposition, trajectory and thrust before building and launching their own rockets.
With their STEM programs rapidly expanding, the organization this month is re-branding to STEM Global Action, a network and campaign committed to pursuing the advancement of STEM education for children and communities everywhere. Participants in STEM Global Action programs receive a unique interactive, hands-on learning experience that allows children of all ages to deepen their knowledge in STEM studies, gain confidence in their abilities and chart a course for career opportunities in STEM fields.
