From Struggling Freshman to Straight-A Student: Partnership Between Volunteers of America North Louisiana and SWEPCO Helps Change Lives Across Caddo Parish
SWEPCO Foundation’s $110,000 investment will help Communities In Schools continue removing barriers to learning for thousands of students.
SHREVEPORT, LA (September 4, 2026) — When Cristal entered high school, she struggled with attendance, discipline, and grades. She often skipped class, got suspended, and admits she simply didn’t care much about school.
Today, the Woodlawn High School graduate finished her senior year earning all A’s, arriving on time, and is actively focusing on her future.
Cristal credits much of that turnaround to the support she received through Communities In Schools, a Volunteers of America North Louisiana (VOANLA) program that connects students with caring adults, essential resources, and individualized support designed to help them succeed.
Stories like Cristal’s are why the SWEPCO Foundation has awarded $110,000 to Volunteers of America North Louisiana to support Communities In Schools in Caddo Parish schools.
“We are incredibly grateful to SWEPCO for investing in the success of students across Caddo Parish,” said Carolyn Hammond, President and CEO of Volunteers of America North Louisiana. “This generous grant strengthens our Communities In Schools program, allowing us to provide critical resources, individualized support, and meaningful connections that help students overcome barriers and stay on the path to graduation. Together, we are creating brighter futures for the young people in our community.”
For more than a decade, Communities In Schools has helped students in Caddo Parish overcome challenges both inside and outside the classroom. Site coordinators work directly on school campuses, connecting students and families with resources such as food assistance, school supplies, clothing, hygiene products, mentoring, and academic support.
Last school year alone, the program provided supportive services to more than 5,300 students and delivered intensive case management services to 848 students facing significant barriers to success. The overwhelming majority improved attendance, behavior, academic performance, or social-emotional skills, and every student receiving intensive support remained in school.
The grant aligns with SWEPCO’s Power for Good initiative, which focuses on creating stronger communities by supporting education, workforce readiness, essential services, and community resilience.
“At SWEPCO, we believe energy powers more than homes and businesses. It powers opportunity,” said Amanda Nottingham, Vice President of External Affairs for SWEPCO. “Through Power for Good, we’re investing in programs that help students build brighter futures, strengthen families, and create long-term community impact. Communities In Schools does exactly that by meeting students where they are and helping them overcome barriers to success.”
The funding will support the cost of a Communities In Schools site coordinator, allowing VOANLA to continue providing direct support to students in local schools.
“The outcomes are impressive, but what matters most are the lives behind the numbers,” said Michael Corbin, External Affairs Manager for SWEPCO. “Students like Cristal demonstrate the impact a caring adult, the right resources, and consistent support can have.”
In addition to Communities In Schools, Volunteers of America North Louisiana offers a wide range of services for children, teens, families, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those in need of housing, behavioral health, and care coordination support. As part of its Children, Youth and Family Services outreach, the organization operates LightHouse after-school programs and Camp GLOW, a summer enrichment program serving more than 300 children through academic activities, enrichment experiences, meals, and mentorship opportunities.
Together, VOANLA and SWEPCO are working to ensure more students have the support they need to stay engaged, stay in school, and succeed long after graduation.