Thousands of Students Discover What’s Possible at the 2026 Career Expo

What is the best career path for me?

For thousands of high school students who gathered at the UNO Lakefront Arena on March 18, that question became something tangible, real, and within reach.

At the 2026 YouthForce NOLA + Junior Achievement (JA) Career Expo, students did not just hear about careers. They experienced them. With nearly 80 industry and education partners present, students stepped into the worlds of healthcare, maritime, skilled trades, digital media, finance, and more. They competed in CPR races, watched downed powerline demonstrations, tested film equipment, and explored the behind-the-scenes of industries that power our region.

Because the truth is simple and powerful. You can’t be what you can’t see.

For many young people, especially those navigating systems without clear access or exposure, career possibilities can feel distant or undefined. The Career Expo exists to change that. It creates a moment where students can see themselves in these roles, ask questions, make connections, and begin to imagine a future they may not have known was possible.

And that future is here. This region is filled with opportunity, with major investments in high-growth, high-wage industries. At the same time, we have thousands of eager young people ready to chart their own path, make meaningful choices about their education, and build lives rooted in purpose and economic mobility. The bridge between those two realities is exposure.

Industry partners understand the importance of showing up early and often. As RNGD shared, “We don’t just build projects. We build the future of this industry, and that starts with getting students exposed early to real opportunities in architecture, engineering, and construction. This is how the next generation gets built.”

Associated Terminals echoed that commitment, highlighting the power of direct connection. “These conversations are an important part of helping students better understand how their skills and interests can translate into meaningful careers right here at home. Events like the  Career Expo play a critical role in bridging the gap between education and industry.”

For students, the impact is immediate. Morris Jeff Community School reflected on the experience of their ninth graders, noting that the Expo helped turn “big dreams into real-world possibilities,” giving students the confidence to begin envisioning their future paths. LCMC Health, which engaged more than 1,700 students alongside dozens of partners, shared how meaningful it was to introduce students to healthcare careers through hands-on learning like CPR demonstrations.

This is not a one-day experience. It is the beginning of a journey.

Following the Career Expo, YouthForce NOLA and JA continue to build on this momentum through Future Connect, a series of experiences that deepen career exploration through workplace visits, job shadowing, career speakers, and direct employer engagement. These programs ensure that exposure leads to action, and that curiosity turns into informed decision-making as students choose courses, credentials, and career pathways.

The Career Expo is made possible by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers and the leadership of generous sponsors, including Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), Hancock Whitney, Visit New Orleans, Ochsner Health, and Gallo Mechanical, LLC. Their investment is not just in an event. It is in the future of our region’s workforce.

Because when young people can see what is possible, they begin to believe in what is possible. And when they believe, they begin to build it.