Illumination Centers (IC) are a project of the Youth Rescue Initiative (YRI), the New Orleans Public Library Foundation (NOPLF), and the New Orleans Public Library System (NOPLS).
The goal of the Illumination Center Project is to bridge the digital divide that prevents many in low income neighborhoods from taking full advantage of the offerings of modern technology and to provide structured educational programming through the NOPLS.
Each center will have one to two recycled shipping containers that are retrofitted with computer work stations and networked to the New Orleans Public Library. Library staff will monitor each center and guide students to use various educational software for resume building, job search, homework assistance and general research.
The area around each center will be landscaped as a partially shaded park for use by neighborhood residents as well as students.