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What happens when young people lead the conversation about their city’s future? Voices of I Am New Orleans is a new audio series from the I Am New Orleans initiative that puts youth front and center, amplifying their stories, experiences and visions for change. Produced in partnership with Be Loud Studios, the series features W.K. Kellogg Foundation grantees and the young leaders they work alongside to address urgent issues like food access, economic opportunity and more.
Listen to Episode One:
“Your Lived Experience is Enough”
The debut episode explores how students are organizing to address food insecurity, particularly on college campuses. Listeners meet student advocates from Xavier University of Louisiana’s FATE (Food, Advocacy, Training, and Education) program and learn about their partnership with the New Orleans Food Policy Action Council (FPAC), a coalition working to create a more just and equitable food system. Together, they’re shaping policy solutions to ensure all New Orleanians have access to affordable, nutritious food.
“Everyone has the opportunity and the right to advocate, but it is so much more impactful when you have other people to do it with,” said XULA FATE member Meah.
In honest, real conversations, this episode shows how personal experiences drive powerful change — and why young people’s voices matter. Their stories push back on old ways of doing things and offer new ideas for building a fairer future.
“I’m here in this space as a continuation of the people before me who have made it their mission to advocate for communities that are often neglected, disregarded or just not often considered,” Meah added.
Why It Matters
Voices of I Am New Orleans was created to spotlight the powerful work happening at the intersection of youth leadership and community change. By elevating the voices of young people and the organizations supporting them, the audio series aims to deepen understanding, spark conversation and inspire action toward a more equitable New Orleans.
Each episode is paired with a companion guide featuring discussion questions, behind-the-scenes moments and tools for deeper community engagement. New episodes are released every other Tuesday exclusively at iamneworleansvoices.com/listen.
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