Through Lunch & Learn, participants not only receive tan- gible information about specific policies that impact youth, but they also engage in meaningful conversations with their colleagues and with city policy makers. of the newly created New OrleansYouth Alliance, a youth development intermediary that houses NOLA-YPQI as its first signature program. As the intermediary moves forward, plans include adding other types of supports, such as practice-driven learning, shared best practices and expanded networking opportunities for youth workers. In her short tenure, Andrea has already secured grants from new supporters beyond BCM and has launched a Lunch & Learn series that brings together youth workers and policy makers.“Youth workers aren’t often seen as intellectuals, and we want to engage their expertise fully,”says Zayas. Through Lunch & Learn, participants not only receive tangible information about specific policies that impact youth, but they also engage in meaningful conversations with their colleagues and with city policy makers. Zayas adds, “Everything the intermediary does and will do is toward building a stronger sense of‘We’within the community of youth-serving organizations.” Improving Life Outcomes The newly formed intermediary presents an opportunity to honor the hard and real work youth workers provide every day by treating them as the community assets they are. BCM believes that if workers are fully supported, and programs are fully resourced, over time we will see changes in life outcomes of our city’s youth, which is what matters the most. “Everythingthe intermediarydoesandwill do istowardbuilding astrongersenseof‘We’ .” — Andrea Zayas Founding Executive Director, New Orleans Youth Development Intermediary