VAYLA New Orleans

Mission Statement: VAYLA is a progressive multi-racial community-based organization in New Orleans that empowers youth and families through supportive services and organizing for cultural enrichment and positive social change.

Young community leaders founded VAYLA in 2006 as a means to reach out to the larger community to create a voice and organize to address the needs in the local community. Committed to youth development, community empowerment, higher education, and cultural awareness, VAYLA is composed of young leaders, high school and college students that want to engage and empower others educationally, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Vision Statement: We envision a world where young people have the academic foundation, leadership skills and opportunities to affect change for a vibrant and thriving community. Value Statement VAYLA exists to reinforce and uphold integrity, empowerment, inclusion, tradition, leadership and critical consciousness in a passionate and youth-centered way. These are our collective values:

• We value the power of social change as a just means to meet our community needs.
• We recognize youth has a voice, so we equip them with the confidence to speak for themselves and the skills and knowledge to do it effectively.
• We hold ourselves accountable by acting with honesty and humility.
• We promote healthy and meaningful relationships to ensure we have the greatest impact on our young people.