Nunez Community College seeks to gas up St. Bernard Parish’s economic engine with the Fuel Your Future Conference on Nov. 8.

The college is calling all adults who lack a high school diploma or a college credential, along with the community members who are in regular contact with those people, to learn about the Workforce and Adult Education options available at Nunez. The five-hour conference is an opportunity for the community to familiarize itself with everything Nunez has to offer, and gain some insight into how those courses will help individuals, their families and the entire community.

Fuel Your Future will take place Nov. 8 in Nunez’s Student Testing and Career Counseling Center. The free conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs through 1:30 p.m. During that time both breakfast and lunch will be provided, Nunez will host an employer panel discussion, and guests will have time to tour Nunez’s facilities.

The event is open to walk-ins, but guests are asked to register at Nunez.edu.

Bradley Narcisse, Director of Adult Education for Nunez, has been trying to find ways to alert the community to the resources available at Nunez, often at low or no cost.

“Adult Education offered through a community college is fairly standard as a concept. What we’re attempting to do is invite those potential students to campus, introduce them to the faculty and the programs, and provide some familiarity to make them comfortable taking the next step,” said Narcisse. “And if we can’t speak directly to the student, we want to share this information with social program administrators, pastors, employers, anyone who is in regular contact with potential students. We want to equip them to articulately describe the benefits of our programs.”

The benefit, says Nunez Workforce Director Brian Gibson, is that students who achieve their high school equivalency or earn an industry-based certificate become more employable and stand to earn significantly higher wages.

“We’re not asking people who have been out of school for years to enroll in college. At least not yet,” said Gibson. “Our programs meet people where they are. Some classes only take a day or a few weeks. Some are offered in Spanish. Some classes are free or heavily discounted through scholarships. But these are the details people typically don’t know until they interact with the college on some level.”

In order to help Nunez reach as many people as possible, St. Bernard Parish Hospital is sponsoring the Fuel Your Future Conference to maximize its potential. Officials from SBPH will also take part in the Employer Panel Discussion.

About Nunez Community College
Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution that delivers relevant and innovative curriculum integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez serves a vital role in the community by engaging with partners to support student success and personal growth. Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.