NEW ORLEANS — Without future generations, there will be no future. That's why New Orleans students need to be part of the conversation to help us all find the solution to peace.
The annual NOLALove Rally aims to encourage and inspire students to be better people and build a better city.
3,000 New Orleans students and 500 community members packed the Xavier University Convention Center.
Jamar McKneely, CEO of InspireNOLA Charter Schools, said, "This whole day was designed by our students. We were just here to support them, and we're happy to highlight them as much as possible because the students of New Orleans are great students, and we believe in them, and we're encouraging them."
Students heard from city and state leaders, community advocates, and celebrities. The goal was to empower our youth, encourage them to be better people today and motivate them to build a brighter and stronger city for tomorrow.
McKeely said, "Well, we hope that they not only become the next leaders, but we can get them involved with some voting... They can understand they will be the next change agency of our city, they can implement change, do some great things and motive around education."
Councilman Oliver Thomas, a father himself, says we as a city need to show our kids how to be great people.
He says, "Olly is making eight today, so let's include our children so they don't think they are just part of the problem, but they're part of the solution."
Rapper and songwriter Mia X says music is ingrained in our kids. She wants to see New Orleans embrace those musically talented students, saying, "Our kids need real conversations. They need to see real action."
She went on to say, "Educate them on the business and teach them that it's not just about loving to do music; music is actually a career... and more integration with up-and-coming artists."
As a student, Myriah Robbins is calling on all New Orleanians to stand up and fight for what's right; she said, "Don't sit back and keep a closed mouth because closed mouths don't get fed."
There will be NOLALove events all month.
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