The Sewerage and Water Board, Veolia Water, Limitless Vistas and BFA Partner on Water and Wastewater Treatment Job Training
The Sewerage and Water Board, Veolia Water, Limitless Vistas and BFA Partner on water and wastewater treatment job training. The students have started Phase II of the training program which will prepare them for entry level jobs in the water and wastewater treatment utility sector.
New Orleans, LA August 22, 2011 - Earlier this month at-risk youth from Limitless Vistas (LVI), a job training non-profit, started the second phase of a summer internship program designed to introduce them to real and sustainable entry level job opportunities in the water and wastewater utility sector. This program was designed by LVI and partner BFA Environmental, as a way to help fill the tremendous employment needs in the environmental utility industry as baby boomers enter retirement age.
“The effort began over a year ago,” recalls Patrick Barnes, founder of LVI and president of BFA, in a meeting with the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (S&WB). The S&WB through Executive Director Ms. Marcia St. Martin first expressed an interest in assisting LVI by providing training facilities and staff. Their interest quickly expanded into support, culminating in internships for 10 students at Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC (Veolia) and S&WB facilities.
Limitless Vistas is an organization that was founded in 2006 to train inner city youth for careers in the environmental and green jobs industry. “This program exists for the benefit of our students, not for profit,” said program Director Matilda Tennessee. Students are introduced to the technical aspects of environmental work as well as the value of working in their communities, through service learning. LVI’s training techniques include classroom and hands on application in the following areas; home weatherization, construction, coastal restoration brownfield site assessment and clean up, and since 2010, water and wastewater treatment operations. This is the only youth program in the New Orleans area that is preparing inner city youth for jobs in the water and wastewater industry.
The first Planters Grove was opened today, March 23rd, 2011, in New Orleans’ historic Central City. The Corps Network, with its local member Corps, Limitless Vistas, Inc., the Louisiana Green Corps/ARC of Greater New Orleans and Planters worked together to create a public green space designed to provide a natural, inspirational place for the community to enjoy.
“The Corps Network would like to thank Planters, our member Corps, community partners and the incredible people of Central City for helping us make this a reality,” said Sally Prouty, president and CEO at The Corps Network.
We were excited to play a part in creating this Planters Grove,” said Patrick Barnes, founder of Limitless Vistas, Inc. “This natural park will not only be a place for the community to enjoy shared experiences, but will also serve as a teaching tool about the environment and local agriculture.”
The Corps Network's local member Corps will lead the maintenance, ongoing programming and seasonal planting of each Planters Grove with additional community partners including New Orleans Neighborhood Development Collaborative, Central City Partnership and Faubourg Lafayette Neighborhood Association...read more...
Limitless Vistas-Planters Grove New Orleans in the Media
Limitless Vistas founder, Patrick Barnes along with Beata Gutman and Mr. Peanut discussing the opening of Planters Grove New Orleans on Good Morning New Orleans on channel WGNO-TV an ABC affiliate.
Limitless Vistas member Johnathan Nordelus on WDSU-TV on the opening of the Planters Grove park
Additional media coverage of Limitless Vistas and Planters Grove New Orleans:
Limitless Vistas Prepares for Planters Groves Project in New Orleans
Environmental workforce training non-profit organization, Limitless Vistas, Inc., has been selected by the Corps Network to work with Planters, the Kraft Foods-owned peanut company, to provide services to transform unused land into natural, green spaces called Planters Groves in New Orleans, Louisiana.
New Orleans, LA - February 25, 2011 – Limitless Vistas, Inc., has been selected by The Corps Network to work with Planters, the Kraft Foods-owned peanut company in New Orleans, Louisiana on the Planters Groves Project. The Planters Groves Project is an initiative with The Corps Network and Planters to transform neglected urban land into natural spaces called Planters Groves. The first Planters Groves in 2011 will be developed in New Orleans, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and New York City.
The natural spaces are more than community gardens; they will include horticultural elements, rain water installations and other design elements, including reuse of salvage/reclaimed materials, art work, etc. Ken Smith, renowned landscape architect, is being tapped to design the prototype space, which will then be tailored to each city based on geographic and climatic considerations.
Limitless Vistas, Inc. (LVI) will be instrumental in managing park operations, facilitating outreach to local partners, city officials, community and neighborhood associations, volunteers for maintenance and teaching youth about the values of environmental sustainability using the parks unique features. LVI’s mission is to help disadvantaged young people enhance their education and learn the necessary skills to become gainfully employed and help build a more hopeful future for themselves, their families and their communities.
One key way LVI achieves its mission is by educating and training young people through the use of Community Environmental Service Learning Projects. “With the help of our partners, we teach our participants to give back to their community as they develop a sense of pride and become stewards of their communities and the larger environment – all while developing soft skills and earning technical credentials”, said Patrick A. Barnes, President of BFA Environmental Consultants and founder of Limitless Vistas, Inc., “– which is a perfect match for the Planters Groves Project.”
Naturally, LVI is very excited about the New Orleans Planters Groves Project. “We are particularly enthusiastic because, this project will be located in the predominantly African-American Central City area”, says Executive Director Matilda Tennessee. This is a location of desperate need that LVI is already dedicated to serve with an EPA Brownfields Job Training Grant. In the past 2 years, LVI has trained over 200 participants to function as entry level technicians in an environmental or related field. The Planters Groves Project will give Limitless Vistas, Inc. an opportunity to further expand its service outreach and continue to make a positive impact in the community.
About Limitless Vistas, Inc.: Limitless Vistas, Inc. (LVI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to creating opportunity for disconnected youth. It was founded in 2006 by Patrick Barnes, President of BFA Environmental Consultants, with the premise that the greatest opportunity coincides with the greatest need. LVI realizes that the infrastructure repair and environmental restoration needs are greatest in poor communities, and think that the most effected individuals should have a viable opportunity to participate in the on-going the Gulf Coast Restoration effort and establish careers in industries with a proven present and future marketability. Through focused, high skills job training, LVI has provided pathways to successful careers for youth in the environmental and construction industries through participation in several large, federal grant programs, building strong community consensus and participation.
Contact: Patrick A. Barnes, P.G. President/CEO, BFA Environmental, Inc. pbarnes [at] bfaenvironmental.com http://www.bfaenvironmental.com 407-353-4200
Matilda Tennessee, Executive Director, Limitless Vistas, Inc. 1215 Prytania Street, Suite 370 New Orleans, LA 70130 matennessee [at] bellsouth.net http://www.limitlessvistas.org 504-529-4301
About The Corps Network: Established in 1985, The Corps Network is the voice of the nation's 150 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in 48 states and the District of Columbia, The Corps Network enrolls more than 30,000 young men and women annually in service in addition to mobilizing approximately 227,000 community volunteers each year.
About Planters: Planters, America’s leading snack nut brand, has a long history of pioneering industry firsts. This inventiveness is delivered through a diverse portfolio of nutritious and delicious plant-based snacks such as peanuts, cashews, almonds and other nuts. Planters NUTrition offers a distinctive line of nut mixes that focus on specific nutritional needs. Planters almonds and pistachios are roasted with real herbs and spices, delivering extraordinary flavor. Planters Trail Mix blends roasted nuts, delicious fruit and other wholesome ingredients to help fuel an active lifestyle.
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Patrick Barnes Speaks at Beyond Recovery Panel Discussion
The report analyzed the Gulf coast restoration efforts; both its challenges and opportunities. Finally, it provided recommendations for a regional ecosystem restoration plan to help coastal communities. The report is available for download at the Center for American Progress website.
Panel II's discussion focused on "Regional Recovery Through Economic, Environmental, and Social Innovation". Panel II was moderated by Paul O’Brien, Vice President of Policy and Campaigns, Oxfam America and Members consisted of Mr. Barnes, along with Robin Barnes, Executive Vice President, Greater New Orleans, Inc., David Gauthe, Program Director, Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing, Van Jones, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, and Anne Peek, Assistant Director, Project Directorate, NASA John C. Stennis Space Center. A short excerpt of the discussion can be found on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IZncsCSIAY. Keynote remarks and more information can be found at the Center for American Progress, http://www.americanprogress.org.
