“Self Portrait” by Katie McDowell (18), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts "An Old Man in Military Costume" by Simone Wuttke (18), Dartmouth College (recent Benjamin Franklin High School graduate) "This oil on canvas painting is inspired by Rembrandt's 'An Old...
I have sat with anger ingrained in my ribs night after night. I know the five stages of grief. Why am I so stuck on anger? Denial was the first one. It hit when I stood in front of my fridge all alone in my house with my knees wobbling, staring at the screen on my...
Partner Yoga Poses by Laurie Azzano of Lolo’s Youth StudioYaaaas, finally! Hello, summer! Inhale deadlines. Exhale freedom. If you’re like most, summer represents one big sigh of relief. No more early morning alarm clocks, homework, tests, school drama, or crazy,...
Makes 20-24 brownies (depending on how big you slice them) BAKE TIME: 30 minutesIngredients 6 eggs 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 2 sticks butter 1/2 cup Crisco shortening 1 1/2 cups baking cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons...
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or any form of mental distress, reach out to someone right away who can be there for you. Professional help is always an option when your psychological well-being is at risk. There is zero shame in...
Teen-Friendly NOLA ClinicsClinics that serve adolescents usually focus on the reproductive health needs of adolescents and young adults but may also provide primary care services. The ages served vary depending on the clinic, but they usually include preteens (11 or...
Have you ever wondered how you can apply astrology to your everyday life but don’t know where to start? Astrology can be very complex and sometimes overwhelming to interpret, so I have compiled a quick guide to help you consciously incorporate daily practices to...
Did you know clothing isn’t biodegradable?That means it doesn’t decompose once it’s dumped in the trash—it just sits in a landfill and creates nasty greenhouse gases in our environment. “We have to think longer and harder about the clothing we wear, where it came...
New Orleanians love their glitter, and, more than ever, we all deserve a little extra sparkle in our lives. Addie Ellis of the local biodegradable glitter company Glitter Nymph shared with us how to make shimmery oil that is good for your skin and nature. Since you...
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea What it’s about: Laure will do anything to prove a Black girl can be a star in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet, even make a deal with a primordial power she finds in a pulsating river of blood in the...
Are you looking for inspiring ways to volunteer in the local community while fulfilling your school’s service hour requirements? We’ve talked to some great organizations in the area that rely on volunteers to help their wonderful programs run. Learn more about each...
Imagine that you just found out you are pregnant. For some young people, this may be exciting news; for others, it is not. Questions swirl: How can I take care of a baby and finish school? How can I afford to be a parent if I don’t finish school? How will my parents...
Lucy Scholz is my “shero” because she ran 300 miles from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, as part of The Speed Project. That’s roughly like running to Houston, Texas, or Seaside, Florida, from New Orleans! Not only did she win the 2023 competition and...
Careers in Skilled Trades With the cost of college continuing to rise, skilled trade careers are a great alternative pathway to stable, well-paying work and upward social mobility. Many trade workers provide essential services and help build and maintain important...
ABOUT ricRACK:
ricRACK is part fabric store, part thrift store, and part community space that offers sewing classes with a mission to repurpose fabrics and breathe new life into otherwise wasted materials. Since ricRACK opened in 2012, they’ve saved over 7.5 tons of clothing and textiles from being dumped into landfills.
Every Friday night they host a freestyle sewing class for teens from 5:30 to 8 p.m. You can walk in without any sewing skills and learn the basics (use a sewing machine for the first time, thread a bobbin) or bring in any work-in-progress projects or patterns, and get guidance from a skilled sewing teacher along the way.
Every summer they host a two-week intensive fashion camp at the Ogden Museum (for ages 8-14) with a focus on sustainable fashion. In addition to learning about the bigger picture of textile recycling, campers learn from fashion designer/ricRACK owner Alison Parker how to measure, trace, and cut out patterns, use a sewing machine, and stitch by hand. The camp culminates in a fashion show where campers get to show off what they’ve made. (How fun, right?)
ricRACK also offers a New Sewer scholarship program, which includes one-on-one classes to teach you basic sewing skills.
“Learning to sew at ricRACK has inspired me to make my own prom dress. I want a corset top, mermaid-type dress in emerald green that’s blinged out with diamonds and rhinestones. I’ve been taking classes here the last couple years, and now I’m part of the internship program. It’s given me new skills that I’ll take with me into the future. I plan to make a career out of it.”
Kenbrionne Legendre (18), Warren Easton High School
“I’ve tried using a sewing machine before, but I didn’t really know how. I want to learn how to make costumes. I like how independent we can be at ricRACK, but also that help is available. Threading a bobbin for the first time was so satisfying.”
Ellie Gardner (16), Benjamin Franklin High School
“Sewing is a life skill. They’ve removed home economics from many schools, so I got computer class instead—which is fine, but it means you don’t learn basic things like how to fix buttons, or how to do basic mending. At ricRACK you can learn these important life skills.”
Jasmine Reine-Walker, ricRACK sewing teacher
“Every time I walk into ricRACK, I feel inspired to create something—a new retro outfit or new accessories using recycled materials. I’m so grateful to Ms. Alison for what she’s doing for the community, the environment, and how she has helped me, as a junior volunteer, get outside my comfort zone through self-expression.”
Allyson Bradley (16), St. Mary’s Dominican High School
Learn more and complete the application at ricracknola.com.
You can apply anytime; they accept applications on a rolling basis.
ricRACK is located at 1927 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
and open Wednesday–Sunday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Follow @ricracknola
Want to show other NOLA girls your talents and submit your writing or visual art?
Have questions or want to share content ideas with us?
Contact us to support your business or project (and Geaux Girl!) by advertising with us.
