Oliver Thomas, Community Relations Director at Covenant House- a program that provides transistional housing for at-promise youth- delivered the commencement address to 52 graduates of the New Orleans Job Corps Center on Saturday.

Mr. Thomas, a member of the Center’s Community Relations Council, encouraged the graduates to do their best in their new careers and to work to make the city, state, nation and the world a better place for all.

When faced with adversity in life, Mr. Thomas challenged the trainees to follow the example of the city’s National Football League – the New Orleans Saints. ”

” The Saints went four decades without winning anything,” said Mr. Thomas. “They never gave up and neither should you. Perseverance equals success.”

Career training areas at New Orleans Job Corps Center, just minutes away from the city’s historic French Quarter, include: culinary arts, carpentry, electrical, medical office support, health occupation technolgy and clinical medical assistant.