Dozens of local residents gathered in Chattanooga for a question and answer session from Louisiana.
Using a computer hook-up, founders of the group "Reconcile New Orleans" explained their program targeting at risk youth.
People from the ages of 16 to 22 are taught life and job skills in the culinary field, and end up working at an on site restaurant in New Orleans.
Craig Cuccia is a co-founder of the program.
"Learning by doing, and putting your hands on something, and then you bring in the academic piece."
The Glass House Collective, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise, and the YMCA sponsored this event.
Organizers want to bring the program here to Chattanooga.
Nick Wilkinson is the Director of Development for Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise.
"Collaboration is really going to be the key for having this replicated at the local level. We need collaboration among our corporate partners, our foundation partners, amongst our government partners and amongst individuals who are willing to support great restaurants, great food, great efforts like this. If we're going to be pursuing economic revitalization of communities, why don't we also marry that with the opportunity for kids to break a poverty cycle, break an education cycle, break an unemployment cycle."
The program has given more than 800 young people in New Orleans the chance to change their lives, and find stable employment.
Organizers hope they can get sponsors excited about bringing the program to Chattanooga.
