The Trumpet - May/June 2012 by Neighborhoods Partnership Network

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May/June 2012 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 6 Volume 3

OO H R O HT B H G NEI POTLIG S

L A R T N CE ITY C

INSIDE • Summer camp programming • Reflections on youth mentorship • Capacity College Symposium • Food justice organizing • “Favorite Fathers” 2012 Awards

Neighborhoods Partnership Network’s (NPN) mission is to improve our quality of life by engaging New Orleanians in neighborhood revitalization and civic process.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

Letter From The Executive Director

Modeling Good Mentorship Photo by: Odd but Complete

veryone has a story about the teacher, boss, or mentor that made a difference in their lives. I grew up a middle child in the family with two older sisters. The age difference between my siblings and I are what old folks called two generations of children, but my older siblings and I are not many years apart as I see it now. From the time I was born, or at least as long as I could remember, my oldest sister has always been responsible for me. My mom enrolled in college when I was in kindergarten and each teenager was responsible for a little one. My eldest sister took her role very seriously. She was responsible for not just caring for me while mom was away, but always being there even when I didn’t want her to be present. We shared a room together. I was the one who would hear her come in late at night after going to school fulltime and then going to work at the neighborhood Walgreens. She was my role model, and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. My other sister and I were not as close as Petrice and I growing up. She was the disciplinarian. She made the rules when my mom wasn’t home, and unlike my eldest sister, her rules stuck. She was the (best) cook of the family and could braid the most unruly hair to perfection. Yet when I reflect, Dede, as we called her, was just as influential on who I am today as Petrice. Dede took me to church musicals, taught me how to start my own business, and made me know and understand that self-esteem starts with self. A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. I am the woman, mother, friend and all the other roles I play today because of not just one person, but a multitude of individuals, and two special individual who lived right amongst me on a daily basis. I share this story of my two sisters, and the impact that they had on my life, because currently in this time and place, we seem to have glamorized the concept of mentorship. That mentorship is something requiring a lot of time and energy, when in reality, mentoring is just allowing someone to share in your experience of life with the possibility of having an impact on theirs. Mentoring programs should not serve as a substitute for a caring family, community support, or a concerted youth policy agenda. We should ensure that mentor programs are adequately implemented and evaluated, while broadening our efforts to strengthen the caring capacity of adolescents’ families, schools, and communities. However, the value of a good mentor is immeasurable when it comes to learning how to navigate through life’s twist and turns. A good mentor offers advice and support and helps you avoid any unnecessary feelings of incompetence and isolation. A successful mentor demonstrates and upholds the values and ethics of what being a member of this human society means. I was blessed with a loving family, a supportive church and a community that, for a long time, valued my existence. As we continue to encourage mentorship in our city, let’s also build a community where our teens don’t have to look far for a caring adult to help them succeed.

Timolynn Sams

NPN provides an inclusive and collaborative city-wide framework to empower neighborhood groups in New Orleans.

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

NPN Board Members Victor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood Association Angela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood Association Benjamin Diggins, Melia Subdivision Katherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association Leslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners Improvement Association Sylvia McKenzie, Rosedale Subdivision Tilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown Neighborhood Association Wendy Laker, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Darryl Durham, St.Anna’s Church Rashida Ferdinand, Sankofa CDC Sylvia Scineaux-Richard, ENONAC Third Party Submission Issues Physical submissions on paper, CD, etc. cannot be returned unless an arrangement is made. Submissions may be edited and may be published or otherwise reused in any medium. By submitting any notes, information or material, or otherwise providing any material for publication in the newspaper, you are representing that you are the owner of the material, or are making your submission with the consent of the owner of the material, all information you provide is true, accurate, current and complete. Non-Liability Disclaimers The Trumpet may contain facts, views, opinions, statements and recommendations of third party individuals and organizations. The Trumpet does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information in the publication and use of or reliance on such advice, opinion, statement or other information is at your own risk. Copyright Copyright 2012 Neighborhoods Partnership Network. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Neighborhoods Partnership Network is expressly prohibited.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

N E I G H B O R H O O D S

P A R T N E R S H I P

Contents

The Trumpet

6 Be Yourself with NORDC 8 Recreational Equity 10 Rebuilding and Fortifying Individual Strength 12 Reflecting on Youth Mentorship 14 Youth(Nited) We Stand! 19 Recommendations for a Safer Intersection at Tulane and Broad 21 A Quiet Force in Community Building 29 Social Magic Sous-Sous

N E T W O R K

2012 Favorite Fathers Award

NEIGHBOR OOD SPOTLIGH HT

YEP Gets A New Youth Center

CENTRAL CITY

Neighborhood Spotlight: Central City

On the cover: photo by Jennifer Williams, taken on Super Sunday 2012

The Trumpet Editorial Board

The Trumpet Editorial Staff

Jim Belfon, Gulf South Photography Project

Tara Foster, Editor

Scott Bicking, Art Director

Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor

Barbara Blackwell, Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association Christy Chapman Vincent Fedeli, Global Green

Mark Hambrick, Policy & Advocacy Editor Patricia A. Davis & Greg Lawson, Associate Neighborhoods Editors

Rashida Ferdinand, Sankofa CDC Jessica Goins, Spears Consulting Heidi Hickman Elton Jones, New Orleans Rising Linedda McIver, AARP Ray Nichols, Maple Area Residents Inc. Brian Opert, Talk Show Host, WGSO 990AM Cathy Puett, Hands On New Orleans Valerie Robinson, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation Melinda Shelton

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

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The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) Gets a New Youth Center

What’s more joyful and important than the sounds of happy kids at play? That’s one of the simple but powerful ideas behind the Youth Empowerment Project’s (YEP) imminent purchase of a new Central City-based Youth Center at 1529 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard.

tarting in May, when YEP acquires the Youth Center, YEP will expand their free camp and afterschool programs for youth ages 7-15, and add a third location for our GED program, New Orleans Providing Literacy to All Youth (NOPLAY), for out-of-school youth ages 16-24. YEP will also start to host a variety of community events in the Youth Center, including holiday celebrations and parenting workshops.

What is YEP? The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), a community-based non-profit organization, has been a fixture in Central City since 2004. YEP founders started the organization in order to assist young people returning to New Orleans from correctional facilities, starting the first-of-its-kind re-entry program for juvenile offenders in Louisiana. Annually, YEP now serves nearly 1,000 youth between the ages of 7-24 through six programs that run out of three community sites. Through these programs, YEP provides afterschool enrichment programming; academic support and tutoring; summer programming; mentoring; GED and literacy instruction; intensive case management; and assistance with basic needs. YEP is thrilled to further expand its work in Central City, because as the organization’s client base and programs have grown over the past

eight years, some YEP programs have moved out of the area due to space constraints. When YEP started its educational program, NOPLAY, after Hurricane Katrina, the program initially took place in the back of YEP’s administrative offices at 1604 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City and served 40 youth. Due to the staggering need for educational services for out-of-school youth, however, NOPLAY quickly outgrew the space and in 2007, through a partnership with Criminal District Court and Delgado Community College, moved into the Tulane Tower Learning Center in Mid-City. NOPLAY now provides educational services to over 700 youth annually. Through a partnership with Urban Strategies, YEP brought a satellite of NOPLAY back to Central City in 2011 – where the organization provides educational services to adult learners out of the Harmony Oaks Community Center. The new Youth Center will enable YEP to bring a second NOPLAY satellite location to Central City, which YEP Co-Founder and Executive Director, Melissa Sawyer, is thrilled about, “We have always been committed to serving Central City, and we were all sad when space constraints meant that we had to move such a valuable community service out of the neighborhood. We are elated to bring back NOPLAY’s educational services to Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard – right across the street from where we started NOPLAY in 2006!”

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YEP Community Center Will Address Multiple Needs of Kids

YEP will kick off the first of these community events at the Youth Center with its annual crawfish boil and barbecue on June 8th!

Acquiring the new Youth Center in Central City will enable YEP to expand its afterschool and summer camp programming. These programs provide at-risk youth, ages 7-15, with homework assistance, individual tutoring, healthy snacks, fun field trips and educational groups on an array of relevant issues that include self esteem and conflict resolution. YEP works closely with area schools, including KIPP Central City, New Orleans College Prep, James M. Singleton, and ReNEW’s Batiste Cultural Arts Academy to ensure that the needs of youth in the community are being met, both during and after the school day. Beyond the programs for youth that the YEP Youth Center will house, the building will also serve as a vital community hub. YEP plans to host regular community events, which will include fun gatherings for youth and their families (including holiday celebrations, as well as more formal workshops for parents and guardians). YEP will kick off the first of these community events at the Youth Center with its annual crawfish boil and barbecue on June 8th!

YEP: Helping Youth Make Positive Transitions To Adulthood

YEP believes that owning the Youth Center, and the adjoining outdoor basketball court and play area, will not only create a permanent safe space for at-risk Central City youth, it will also add value to the neighborhood and is an integral part of the health and safety of our larger community. Youth are at the highest risk of committing crimes or being the victims of violent crime in the four hours following the end of the school day and during the summer months, and there is a direct correlation between the attainment of a GED or high school diploma and a reduced risk of engagement in crime and a life of poverty. YEP’s programs address these challenges by providing youth with the support, opportunities, and array of skills they need to make positive transitions to adulthood.

To learn more about the Youth Empowerment Project, or to make a contribution to support YEP’s programs or the capital campaign for the Youth Center, please visit: www.youthempowermentproject.org

Rebuilding Central City With Cooperative Creativity The OCH Art Market By Nina Luckman

entral City, and especially the Oretha C. Haley Boulevard corridor, is undergoing a major change, and it could bring some much-needed recognition to this often overlooked area. The emerging OCH arts district is located just a few blocks off of the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, but outdated concerns about crime have proved an obstacle to getting the word out about the lively community of art, restaurants, businesses and local produce. The OCH Art Market, located at 1618 Oretha C. Haley Boulevard inside the Zeitgeist Theatre, is at the forefront of revitalizing the neighborhood, and seeks to provide a foothold for returning Central City and Dryades Street to its former glory as a thriving commercial district second only to Canal Street. Since its beginnings in November 2010, the OCH Art Market has risen to the occasion and provides a venue for not only New Orleans citizens to explore what Central City has to offer, but also for visitors, and anyone else who cares to stop by. The family friendly atmosphere and easy to access location provide important exposure for artists of all mediums in Central City and New Orleans as a whole, and gives a starting point for burgeoning artists to showcase their work in an easy to reserve vendor format. The OCH Art Market takes place the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and each market has a theme. Past themes have included a New Year’s Market, Valentine’s Market and Wellness Market. Each market also features fresh, local vegetarian food from pop-up TSAI Nola, and live music. The upcoming market on May 12 will carry the theme of Student Art, and will feature pieces of various mediums, all created by local student artists from Tulane

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University, NOCCA and Young Audiences. In addition, the market is working with the new Central City Grower’s Cooperative to offer fresh vegetables and herbs grown right in the neighborhood. While the OCH Art Market is definitely emerging as a draw for locals and visitors to patronize Central City, its efforts are supported by other key commercial projects currently in progress. The report of developments on O.C. Haley by the Economic Development Committee of the Faubourg Lafayette Neighborhood Association totals $42.8 million. Construction includes two restaurants: a $6 million expansion of Café Reconcile (which donates door prizes to the market) and a $450,000 Mexican café due to open this summer called Casa Borrega. A yoga studio, library, elementary school and numerous residential properties are also on the list, as well as the Franz Building, a $1.6 million non-profit network and small business incubator space with eight small storefronts, which seeks to aid entrepreneurs with business training and low interest loans. As investment increases in O.C. Haley and commerce kicks into high gear, we can expect that Central City will soon have an attitude similar to that of Freret Street and its revitalization as a trendy, local business driven district. The Freret Street Market greatly aided the success of that area between its founding in September 2007 and today, with the Freret Street Festival (produced by the Freret Market) displaying this fact. The OCH Art Market, with help from artists, restaurateurs and business-people committed to Central City, can boost the district and its residents to even greater heights, while also benefitting New Orleans as a whole.

The upcoming market on May 12th will carry the theme of student art, and will feature pieces of various mediums, all created by local student artists.

I Can Be Me At NORDC By Christina Pappion

The NORDC Main office at 800 Race Street is filled with the hustle and bustle of youth excitement, parent anticipation, and staff enthusiasm. Summer is here and there is no time to waste. The children are almost ready for their three month thrill of summer programming and the staff here at NORDC is gearing up for a great season! The City is counting on us to provide the services that youth deserve, at its best, and like Christmas, we feel this is the most wonderful time of the year.

ecreation is essential to living. It gives us a time to enjoy life, have fun and learn essential life lessons while not even knowing it. So that is why here at NORDC, we take recreation seriously. We know that if we want to affect positive change, we need to continue to provide quality programming and facilitate a constructive social growth environment. NORDC has made the commitment to be a paramount recreation department; one of the best in the nation, and with the help of Mayor Landrieu, City administration, NORDC staff and commission, and residents, this commitment is becoming a reality. Summer time as a child is something you look forward to. It’s a time to take a break from all the structure and daily monotony that life brings. When I think about summer, I can’t help but reminisce about my own summer experiences. When I think back on my childhood, the experience that stands out the most is how much fun I had during the summer months: swimming, meeting new friends, and learning new things. Summer months brought a time of rejuvenation, the unexpected was welcomed. Each day at camp, we embarked on a new adventure, whether it was exploring the world or creating new friendships. It was a place where I could be me, and I was accepted for that. I was different and that was cool. And being different was accepted and that was cool. When I was twelve, I was very insecure. I was very skinny and wore really thick glasses. I did not feel cool, that was for sure. Well, each day at camp we covered a new theme, whether it was Silly Sick Day or Best Costume, one day was never the same. On one particular week, I looked at my camp calendar and saw that the Best Joke Day was coming up, and I wanted to enter the contest. So I started my brainstorming session

thinking of all the cool jokes I could do, and then I got a bright idea. My grandpa was the funniest person in my family and everyone always enjoyed his jokes. So I decided to do a joke my grandfather told me one day while I was riding in the car home from school. All I could think of was that this is my moment to shine! But I didn’t realize that I would have to tell the joke in front of everyone. The funny thing was that I was not scared nor afraid, because I knew we were all there to have fun. So I told my joke and everyone fell out laughing, even the counselors were laughing hysterically. In that moment, I felt accomplished and proud; I was beaming from ear to ear. You see academics was not my thing. I was ok in school, but nothing to write home about. So for me, being surrounded by peers, mentors and school staff, recognized for something positive that was not academics, was a big deal and helped my self-confidence by leaps and bounds. This is why I am excited about summer and what NORDC has to offer youth and residents in this city, because, like my performance, it is something to be proud of. Summer is in the air, it’s approaching very quickly. Summer was something I looked forward to because it was a happy time in my childhood, where I got to be me. This is why our summer logo is called NORDC: Where I Can Be Me. Because being you is what will make NORDC the best that it can be. Leisure activities help you grow in so many ways. Summer Camp is not just a three month experience; it builds fundamentals and foundations that last for a life time. Youth and adults build new friendships and relationships, learn and explore brand new things, and is the ultimate stress reliever. Summer camp is a place where youth make lifelong relationships, whether you are a youth, teen, adult or senior, NORDC has programs to offer you for the summer. Summer programming is a great way to spend time to participate in enriching recreation activities.

This year the city will operate a total of 3 pools and serve 7,700 youth through the aquatics programs, which is 1,000 more than the previous summer.

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For children ages 5-12, we have the NORDC Kiddie Camp. Kiddie Camp offers a variety of academic and recreation summer activities for kids. We have numerous camps located at various sites throughout the five districts of the city. We are happy to collaborate with many Community Organizations, Schools and businesses throughout the community to help serve the community by encouraging meaningful camps with continued success. At Kiddie Camp, children learn how to work as team, socialize, explore, be honest and open to new things, and most of all have fun. In the last two years, the NORDC budget has doubled, creating better opportunities for our children to learn and grow is safe environments. This year, NORDC will offer 34 kiddie camps, which is 5 more than we offered last year and 20 more camps than we offered in 2010. Kiddie Camps offer an array of academic and recreational summer activities for kids to provide quality camp experiences which encourage children and youth to develop the whole child. Our Camp’s purpose is to lay the foundation for a life-long journey of self-accomplishment. Campers come together to share in a community of fun, learning, and friendship. We look to providing quality camp experiences. We invite your child or someone you know to join us for a camp experience they will not forget! NORDC also offers programming opportunities for teenagers ages 13 –17. NORDC’s Teen Camp is an initiative which helps teenagers reach their full potential and achieve future success through career exploration. We offer 7 teen camps; two years ago, not a single teen camp existed. This showcases a renewed commitment to all of the children of New Orleans. We collaborate with other agencies in the development of Life Skills, Job Readiness, and Career Exploration to serve 1,000 youth across the City. While all teenagers desire jobs during their summer months, there are not enough jobs to go around. Consequently, teen camp fills the gap by offering career exploration, job and life skills training and recreation with a stipend. The goal is to increase participants’ awareness, use of life skills and job readiness skills which will ultimately prepare them for future success in their personal lives and careers. Teen Camp offers a highly participatory personal skills development that allows students to increase awareness and application of knowledge in several domains, including personal development, nutrition,

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health decisions and behaviors, and career planning. Participants are positively engaged as they learn to become better citizens. The program also focuses on exposing participants to occupational experiences and career exploration while engaging them in recreational activities, economic education, career & industry field trips, job shadowing, and roll-playing activities. It is essential for participants to learn local and stay local. In an effort to make participation well-rounded, teens will be exposed to participate in non- traditional leisure life-skills activities such as: tennis, swimming, and golf through NORDC’s athletic program. The opening of 5 new pools last summer was the result of a partnership with the City and the American Red Cross which created aquatics programs citywide, under the direction of NORDC. This year the city will operate a total of 3 pools and serve 7,700 youth through the aquatics programs, which is 1,000 more than the previous summer. The NORDC Summer Aquatics program offers recreational swim and other aquatics activities. In addition to different levels of swim instruction classes offered, private lessons, recreational swim, and lap swim. Through our partnership with the American Red Cross, we are providing quality training for all water safety instructors, lifeguards and the aquatic staff. There are aquatic programs available throughout the year for the entire community for youth, adults, and seniors. During the summer, we have full implementation of aquatic programs at all pools. The pools are scheduled to open June 4th, which is another reason to look forward to summer! Overall, the motto for our staff is to foster lifelong memories, share stories & experiences, have fun, inspire citizens of this community to live to their full potential, and to express their creative side through structured programming. Our new slogan is befitting of just that: I can be me at NORDC!

For more information on NORDC Summer Programming log onto our website at www.nola.gov/residents/NORD to access the 2012 Summer Programming Brochure.

Harmony Oaks Neighborhood Association’s

Summer Youth Employment Program By Jocquelyn Marshall, President, HONA; Community Center Operations Manager Harmony Oaks Neighborhood Association (HONA) will launch it’s third year of the Summer Youth Employment Program this coming summer, in partnership with the Housing Authority of New Orleans. The program caters to youth ages 14 to 21, with youth between the ages of 18 and 21, being given the opportunity to be hired as a supervisor. Prior to employment with HONA, it is mandatory that the youth partake in a “Youth Employability and Life Skills Program,” which teaches job readiness skills from a training curriculum prepared by HONA and facilitated by an Urban Strategies Workforce Coordinator. The youth are placed with a department head in a field of their choice within Harmony Oaks Neighborhood Association and their community partner, Urban Strategies and McCormackBaron Ragan. Employment is scheduled to start on June 4, 2012. From the desk of Harmony Oaks

Neighborhood Association President: Jocquelyn Marshall, Harmony Oaks Community Center Operations Manager

For more information regarding services offered through the Harmony Oaks Community Center, please call (504) 894-6626

Recreational Equity By Yvette Thierry, Executive Director,Safe Streets/Strong Communities

afe Streets/Strong Communities is a grassroots community organization whose mission is to build collective power and leadership within communities of color and poor communities in order to transform the criminal justice system. Safe Streets combines community organizing with media and policy advocacy to create safe streets and strong communities for everyone, regardless of race or income. One of safe streets present campaigns is recreational equity; we are entering our third year of the campaign. Safe Streets conducted community surveys surrounding issues of recreation activities, park safety and community support for public funds to be used towards reinvestment into parks and recreational centers. Surveys targeted the communities we serve, which are primarily low income African-American men, women, and children. Safe Streets will be

VIET Summer Advantage Program VIET Summer Adventure Program 2012 will feature innovative and creative classes that will keep learning fun and exciting for Pre-K — 8th grade students. VIET has been providing summer camp for over 10 years and continues to implement fun-learning activities. VIET Summer Adventure Program 2012 is registering campers. First come first serve. Seats are limited. $70.00/one-time camp fee. Camp starts on May 29 and will end July 31.

For more information, please contact the office at 504-255-0400

releasing a report in the fall from data collected throughout the year at community events and other outreach efforts. Safe Streets continues to be active participants at New Orleans Recreation Department Commission (NORDC) meetings. As a result of our attendance and outreach efforts, we have garnered support from new allies, including former and retired NORD employees, NAACP, Senior Citizen, and A Community Voice. This support has led to the beginning of a new community coalition around recreational equity. We are blessed to have representation from all 5 Council districts. This kind of diversity will level the playing field that we were promised with this new NORD reform. We have yet to see the playing being level, and the community is growing very weary that the playing field will only be level if we join forces and hold this Commission accountable to what they promised.

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Food Matters

Lower 9th Ward Residents Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands By Jenga Mwendo

he Lower 9th Ward is considered a “food desert” by the USDA. There is no grocery store. The stores that do sell food items offer a limited variety of junk food, processed foods, and prepared foods. Since Hurricane Katrina, the community has struggled with redevelopment and one of the core issues has been lack of food options. Businesses are hesitant to open in an economically depressed neighborhood with a drastically decreased population. And yet, the residents need access to quality food to maintain and grow a strong, healthy community. The Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED) is now organizing Lower 9th Ward community leaders and residents to develop a Neighborhood Food Plan for the community. The first meeting took place on Friday, April 27th in the Lower 9th Ward. “Our vision is to have the Lower 9th Ward speak as one voice on what we want for food access in our neighborhood. As a community, we must define what it is that we want, whether it be a grocery store, an urban farm, or better food policy and take the steps to attain it.” says Jenga Mwendo, CSED Food Security Coordinator. Access to quality food is critical to the sustainability of a neighborhood. Studies show that limited access to supermarkets may reduce consumption of healthy foods, resulting in poor nutrition and increased prevalence of obesity. Hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as obesity, are all diet-related illnesses that disproportionately affect the African-American community. The neighborhood-to-supermarket distance for the Lower Ninth Ward, a low to middle income majority African-American neighborhood, is nearly double the city average. Despite all the health implications, the CSED is not trying to control what people eat. Beverly Jackson, the CSED’s Food Planning Committee

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Coordinator and Lower 9th Ward resident, puts it best: “How can we make choices, if we don’t have options?” she asks. Jackson, like many other Lower 9th Ward residents, believes that her community deserves to have options – including quality fresh produce and meats. “To have choices on what kind of food we have available to us, allows us to make decisions about what we eat, and making decisions allows us to manage our family’s and our own personal health. The exciting aspect of this effort is that the L9 community will be defining those choices that are important to them and creating a road map as to how our community can help to make that happen,” says CSED Executive Director Tracy Nelson. The CSED is proposing a series of 8 planning meetings where Lower 9th Ward residents will craft this plan. Professionals in the areas of planning, business and food, as well as representatives from the City will be invited to serve in support and advisory roles. The first meeting of the proposed Lower 9th Ward Neighborhood Food ACTION Planning Committee was held Friday, April 27th at a Lower 9th Ward community space. Ray Bolling of the city’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement, and Jim Hatchett, of Sterling Farms, as well as special guest Malik Yakini, of Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, were in attendance. All Lower 9th Ward residents are invited to these meetings, and only Lower 9th Ward residents will have decision-making powers in regards to the Food Plan.

All Lower 9th Ward residents are invited to these meetings, and only Lower 9th Ward residents will have decision-making powers in regards to the Food Plan.

For further information about the Lower 9th Ward Food ACTION Planning Committee, please contact Jenga Mwendo at (504) 994-7745 or email foodsecurity@sustainthenine.org 9

Rebuilding and Fortifying Individual Strength

The Nehemiah Restoration Program

By Tara Foster Amidst the ongoing revitalization of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City, the Living Witness Church of God in Christ, Inc. remains a beacon. For more than thirty years, since 1981, the church and its many programs have been serving various needs of the Central City community. Times have changed since Living Witness made a home in its current location. Pastor Pierre notes that, in 1981, the Boulevard (then Dryades Street), was in a “depressed condition.” The church’s founding Pastor, Louis Harrell, who passed away in 1999, began outreach in the neighborhood because he “got mad with the devil” and so decided to take “our church service to the street,” remembers current Pastor, John E. Pierre. Pastor Pierre adds that, “we brought our fight to the enemy by taking our church to the sidewalk.” In the 1980s, Living Witness began running a variety of programs, including an emergency food pantry to feed the hungry (prior to the arrival of the New Orleans Mission), financial counseling, and clothing drives and sales. In 1994, the church began their substance abuse treatment program: The Nehemiah Restoration Program. The program includes a boot camp component to encourage discipline and routine building, following in Pastor Harrell’s extensive military background. Originally, the Nehemiah Restoration Program was twelve months long, but following a federal grant from Health and Human Services supporting program analysis and capacity building, has been adapted to a six month model. While analyzing the Nehemiah Program, Living Witness staff members found that the best practices dictated a six month program to be more effective. The Nehemiah Restoration Program offers men struggling with substance abuse an opportunity to recover and rebuild their lives through substance abuse counseling, healthcare, life skills and job training, case

management, job placement assistance, and supportive housing access upon completion of the program. There is a twenty-person capacity for the program, and presently there are eighteen participants. Men enrolled in the program work with Living Witness staff and volunteers, including social work students from William Carey University of Baptist Theological Seminary, and Substance Abuse Counselors. As Pastor Pierre says, the primary goals of the program are to “reconcile them (the men of Nehemiah) back with their families and take them off the homeless rolls.” Illustrating the long-term success of the program, many past clients of the program not only return for church services, but also serve as mentors and staff members, including Deacon Bob. Since Hurricane Katrina, the church has been trying to get their residential building back up and running. The building was badly damaged in the storm, and, unfortunately, a contractor that was subsequently hired to complete the renovations defrauded the church by not completing the necessary work. Currently, the participants in the Nehemiah Restoration Program reside in what Living Witness formerly used as a public computer center. Living Witness hopes to be able to rebuild their original residential facility, and welcomes donations from the community.

For more information about Living Witness Church of God in Christ, Inc., the Nehemiah Restoration Program and other community outreach programs, and to make a donation, please contact Supt. John E. Pierre, Pastor at (504) 524-2959 or jpierre@lwcss.org

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Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children

(FFLIC) in Motion

amilies & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) has had a very busy year! We are currently celebrating our 10 year anniversary, which we kicked off with a successful gala fundraiser in September of 2011. Besides it being a fundraiser and celebration of our work so far, it was also a way to raise awareness around parents whose children have been impacted by the juvenile justice system and the current public education climate that actively suspends and expels children. Currently, FFLIC is still involved in the fight is to hold the Office of Juvenile Justice accountable to its promise of reform. This reform would implement a less punitive and more rehabilitative system and its policies would be beneficial to youth. Louisiana continues to have a high percentage of youth in detention centers that abuse them mentally, emotionally and physically. FFLIC continues to push for more communitybased alternatives to detention and for an environment that promotes our youth reaching their full potential. In conjunction with this, we continue to educate and inform legislators on the School-to-Prison Pipeline and laws that criminalize our children. Last year FFLIC helped craft a bill, State Senate Bill 67 (SB 67) that demanded www.myamerigroup.com/LA a reduction in suspensions and expulsions, and that alternative methods be used as a part of school disciplines such as positive behavior supports. More than 25% of Louisiana’s children are pushed out of school for minor infractions that include habitual lateness/tardiness and being out of uniform. When Governor Bobby Jindal vetoed the bill, he denied our children their right to be educated and not abused by our education system.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

By Ruth S. Idakula & Damekia Morgan

FFLIC has a new program called the Parent in Schools Leadership program that’s designed to empower parents to advocate for their children through training them on Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), and its implementation in their children’s schools. We currently have three lead parents at three New Orleans schools that are responsible for supporting the development of a parent council at their school to help organize other parents around their concerns. We will publish a report documenting the impact of the Parent in Schools Leadership program in the coming months. The report will not only measure the impact, but it will also include the expertise and opinions of our parents. Please contact our office at (504) 522-5437 if you are a parent whose child is facing: • Suspension, expulsion or unfair disciplinary actions at school • Incarceration or possible incarceration We provide advocacy, organizing training and overall support for families who are facing with regards to juvenile justice and public education. You can get more information by visiting our website at www.fflic.org

Ruth Idakula is the Parent in Leadership Coordinator and Damekia Morgan is the Statewide Education Policy and Campaign Director at Families & Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children

By Charles Anderson, Artist, “New Orleans,” Graphite, 2012

His Eyes. The First Thing I Noticed About Damon Was His Eyes. They were so brilliant and bold, yet they had some mystery behind them, and sadness. This 10 year old little boy had gone through some things. Those eyes have seen some stuff. I took the team on a trip to Zephyrs Field, and on that day I finally received some understanding. While we were talking about violence in the city, one of Damon’s teammates yelled out, “Damon’s brother was kilt.” “Is that true, Damon?” I asked. “Yeah, he was my big brother. I miss him.” That’s all I got from him. I coach and mentor a lot of kids in New Orleans like Damon. His sadness turned to madness alarmingly quickly. One sunny, summer evening, Damon went about his business in the outfield, quietly distracted by the other people in the park. Then one of his fellow outfielders, Brandon, a known gang member, said something to him. If something happened and Damon felt offended, all bets were off. Damon snapped. Before I had time to react, Damon threw his glove down and charged Brandon. I rushed into the outfield and scooped Damon up in my arms. I comforted him with my words, but his eyes looked through me. He was set on getting back at Brandon. All my actions and good intentions seemed useless to calm his storm. Some days, I questioned if I could even help Damon. As a coach, I tried not to get down when a kid turned on me. Truth be told, though, words and actions hurt. Even if they were from a frustrated little boy. For example, I had a system with my team. If they listened, did their best and refrained from fighting, they were rewarded with baseball cards. Damon loved those cards. He collected them and kept them safe in his book bag. One practice, he came onto the field with a snarl on his face. He fussed at every one of my directions. At the end of practice, when he realized that he did not earn any cards, he took his collection from out his bag and tore them up right in front of me. “I don’t care ‘bout no cards,” he yelled as he stomped off the field. I learned in my time with Damon, that if a mentor stays with a child long enough, and is faithful, forgiving, peaceful and patient, the child will eventually show the mentor the gold within his soul. In the last game of our season, my team (of 11 and 12 year olds), faced a high school team. We were facing some good, old fashion Louisiana giants. My kids’ heads reached the other teams’ belly buttons. Yet even when I suggested that we call the game on account of the rain,

the kids would not back down. Damon stepped forward and adamantly stated, “Yeah, Coach Charles, let’s play. It will be fun.” Despite our severe disadvantage, the game remained close. In the final inning, with two men on base, Damon stepped to the plate. His big, bold eyes focused on the pitcher, a six foot behemoth who threw 80 miles per hour fastballs. Damon appeared un-phased and confident. The pitcher reared back and threw a strike down the middle of the plate. Damon stuck his bat out and dropped down a bunt. The ball skipped down the third base line into left field as the tying run scored. Damon pumped his fist as he ran. Standing on first base, Damon had a winning smile on his face. Later that night, I reflected on my time with Damon. If I decided Damon was hopeless, I would not have seen such hope fill his eyes. This is what I tried to capture in this piece. In the drawing, we can see, reflected deep in Damon’s eyes, there are dreams, there is love, there is hope. We only see that hope if we sacrifice time for New Orleans youth and place importance on building relationships. At first impression, a youth’s sadness and madness might be overwhelming, but if a mentor shows love through sacrifice, the mentor sees them quell their anger, pick up a bat and get a hit. I believe wholeheartedly that mentorship saves lives. We all need a real, breathing, living guide in this world. We all need people who can take our hand, show us how to throw a ball, how to walk away from a fight, and how to save for the future. If we are to have peace in the streets of New Orleans, we must all sacrifice for the kids of our community. We must sacrifice our time to build relationships, and we must also sacrifice our money to fund programs that help those youth who need greater guidance. This is why I give 25% of my merchandise profits from my art to programs like CeaseFire New Orleans, which helps change the lives of our highest risk youth. In art, the more attention the artist focuses on the picture, the more real the picture becomes. Like art, the more time and focus a mentor puts into a child, the more we see the best from that child. Charles Anderson is artist and activist. He draws the people of his movement that work for peace on the streets of New Orleans. His work can be viewed at www.charlesoart.com.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

Artistic Icon

Elizabeth Catlett By Jennifer M. Williams, Director and Curator The George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art

“Art must be realistic for me, whether sculpture or printmaking. I have always wanted my art to service my people — to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential.”— Elizabeth Catlett “We have to stop thinking we have to do the art of other people. We have to create an art for liberation and for life.” — Elizabeth Catlett “I wanted to show the history and strength of all kinds of Black women. Working women, country women, urban women, great women in the history of the United States.”— Elizabeth Catlett “Accessible art was also important to her, she told Sculpture magazine, “I have never thought about getting myself in museums or making a lot of money. I was thinking about people. I still am. Like the people you see in the subway or walking up and down the street...I wanted to work for people... who didn’t have access,” adding that she is always mindful of accessibility when creating.”— Kjerstin Johnson article Portrait of Elizabeth Catlett at the New Orleans Museum of Art, during her 2010 life long retrospective entitled “Beyond The Blues.” Photo: Jim Belfon/Gulf South Photography Project

Elizabeth’s Early Life (1915) On April 2, 2012 Elizabeth Catlett passed away in Mexico. An artist and activist of African American descent, her work graces galleries and museums around the world. She has inspired artists for generations. Elizabeth Catlett was born in Washington D.C. in 1915, and her life spanned many decades that included the Harlem Renaissance, World War II, and the Civil Rights movement. During her formative years, she faced many adversities because of discrimination. She received a scholarship to the Carnegie Institute of Technology that was later revoked when the administration found out she was Black. Upon learning the news, she decided to attend Howard University in the early 1930s where she studied drawing, printmaking and design. There Elizabeth met James Porter, a writer, professor, and pioneer in African American art history whose work sparked her interest in artists of the African Diaspora. Soon after graduating from Howard in 1935 with a B.S. (cum laude) in Painting, she went on to study sculpture at the University of Iowa School Of Art and Art History. Encouraged by professor and painter Grant Wood, of American Gothic fame, to work with themes close to her experience, she began her focus on African American life. As a printmaker and sculptor, the artwork she created included various media; prints made using the technique of linoleum-block and screen printing, lithography, sculptures made of clay, wood, stone, and metal, such as bronze. Her graduate thesis, a sculpture of a mother and child, received first prize in the African American Exposition held in Chicago in 1940. She would become the first student to graduate with a MFA in Sculpture from the university.

New Orleans Connections (1940-42) Moving to New Orleans for two years, Catlett accepted a position at Dillard University as the Chair of the Art Department. While at the university, Catlett arranged for her students to view an exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s work at the Delgado Museum of Art (currently known as the New Orleans Museum of Art). By doing so, Elizabeth Catlett challenged City Park’s segregation laws by organizing a trip for her students through the park, closed to African Americans at the time. The visit exposed her students to artwork in museums for the first time. Xavier University Art professor Ron Bechet mentioned in a recent article about her passing that,

“she was a mother to all of us,” Bechet said, “showing us a way through this art thing that was straight and true.” Even after Elizabeth Catlett’s move to New York for a teaching position in Harlem, her connection with New Orleans continued. In 1976 she was commissioned to complete a large bronze sculpture of Louis Armstrong for a park of the same name, and in 2010, she added a sculpture of Mahalia Jackson.

Fellowship in Mexico (1946) Continuing to work on her art, she studied everything from ceramics, lithography to wood carving with various artists around the country during the early 1940s. After receiving a grant from the Rosenwald Foundation, she completed a series of prints, paintings, and sculptures on the theme of Black women. The artwork reflected the lives of women, mothers, and children. Later she would produce a bust of her young granddaughter, Naima Mora. A fellowship to study in Mexico would change her life. She began working at Taller de Gráfica Popular (People’s Graphic Arts Workshop), a print shop dedicated to social justice. Her participation in the collective further influenced her to create artwork that addressed the needs of people. In 1947, she married artist Franscio Mora and would live in Mexico for the remainder of her life. The Amistad Research Center notes that, “she became the first female professor of sculpture and head of the sculpture department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City in 1958, and taught there until retiring in 1976.”i For many years, she traveled back and forth from Mexico and New York City while exhibiting work around the world. In 2010, the Amistad Research Center and the New Orleans Museum of Art collaborated on the first major exhibition of the Center’s fine arts collection. One of Elizabeth Catlett’s best known prints, Sharecropper, 1970 (color linocut 55/60, 18x24 in), was featured in Beyond the Blues: Reflections of African American in the Fine Arts Collection of the Amistad Research Center. Beyond the Blues presented over 125 years of art with nearly 150 works illuminating the contributions and challenges faced by African American artists from the late 19th century to the present day. Elizabeth Catlett lived to be 96 years old, creating art well into her 90’s. She is survived by three sons and many grandchildren. Her art work will continue to inspire for many years to come.

Sources: Amistad Research Center http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/index.php/art • Interviews with Elizabeth Catlett http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2012/04/artist_elizabeth_catlett_sculp.html

http://blackartinamerica.com/video/elizabeth-catlett-sculpting • Elizabeth Catlett website (for retrospective of sculpture) http://elizabethcatlett.net/ Adventures in Feminstory (lots of images) http://bitchmagazine.org/post/elizabeth-catlett-african-american-artist-history • “African American Art and Artists” (Revised) Samella Lewis 2003 pgs 134-137

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Youth (Nited) We Stand! By Miguel Nunez

On Saturday, March 24th, 2012, youth from around the city of New Orleans came together for the first ever Power of a Million Minds (POMM) Youth Summit at Dillard University.

OMM is a youth led, youth organized, and youth run collaborative comprised of five youth serving organizations in the city of New Orleans. The youth come from all over the city including the African American, Latino, and Vietnamese American communities. Our five groups include Fyre Youth Squad (FYS), The LatiNola Youth Leadership Council (LYLC), Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools (Rethink), Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA), and Young Adults Striving for Success (YASS). These five youth groups have been working together for over three years to build crosscultural relationships and increase diversity in dialogue on critical issues that our young people are facing in New Orleans, including issues of equity in education, employment, juvenile justice, and advocating for more youth voices and community involvement. The goals of the collaborative are to problem solve issues that impact youth in our community, improve the quality of the educational system in New Orleans, create and sustain local youth organizers, and create positive working relationships between organizations and residents. POMM hosted its first Youth Summit for middle school youth to college age participants. Over 100 youth came together for a full day of consensus building, workshops, and live entertainment. The goal of the summit’s theme, “Youth Nited We Stand,” was to allow dialogue between the different communities of youth, identify the key issues that are plaguing our city, and identify the possible solutions to these issues. The general assembly provided a space for youth to identify the problems they face and the solutions to those problems. Youth participated in “harvesting the genius from within themselves.” Common problems identified included the need for better schools, more big sister/big brother programs, drug dealers in neighborhoods, lack of access to text books, lack of practical sex education classes, the need for better teachers, additional youth programs, innocent children being killed, boys don’t have anywhere to go for recreation and socializing, a lack of role models, the need for more playgrounds, recreational centers need to be repaired, the lack of vocational programs, trash in the neighborhoods, no jobs for the youth, low wages for youth, not enough community centers, existing community centers need to be repaired, the lack of communitybased drug rehabilitation programs, increased parent involvement, and community sports teams.

Common solutions identified included building playgrounds, building recreational centers, cleaning up the parks, bringing concerns to the city council, using social media to communicate POMM’s message, hands on neighborhoods, planning city wide clean up days, decreasing the crime rate by providing education and employment, creating community service programs, taking care of our playgrounds, putting recreational centers in many diverse communities and not in one location or neighborhood, investing and creating neighborhood community businesses, creating personal treatment programs for youth, student peer education programs, helping stop the drug use, and identifying and cultivating relationships with adult mentors. After the general assembly, break-out sessions were held on a variety of topics. The Youth Summit held workshops including the “School to Prison Pipeline,” “Know Your Rights,” “Equity in Education,” “How Haterism towards Youth Hurts the Future of New Orleans,” “Theater of the Oppressed,” “Knowing Our Real History,” and a digital media workshop. Youth participated as student teachers, as each workshop was interactive and designed to tap into the knowledge base of the youth and build upon it. After the workshops and lunch, DJ AKT RIGHT kicked off over three hours of live entertainment that showcased local talent such as TEAM SNO, Michael Jackson of NOLA, K Levy, Keedie Black, NO Meezy, and featured socially conscious, local rapper Dee-1. All performers stressed the importance of coming together to solve our own problems and that we can work united towards our common goals. The goal of the event was to move more young people to become engaged in problem solving issues in their communities, while allowing for a platform that addresses the needs of youth today. The summit will be used as the catalyst to start a citywide youth movement in New Orleans. Please come out and support us! Get in touch and get involved!!

Over 100 youth came together for a full day of consensus building, workshops, and live entertainment.

For more information contact: Power of A Million Minds/ JJPL 1600 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard New Orleans, LA 70113 Office: (504) 207-4592 or (504) 645-0796 Fax: (504) 522-5430 Email: powerofamillionminds@gmail.com Website: www.jjpl.org

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

NEIGHBOR OOD SPOTLIGH HT

CENTRAL CITY

Backatown To Central City By Nora McGunnigle

entral City, once a large expanse of swamp, was pumped and developed in the 1830s and was immediately known as “back of town,” a designation that stuck until the 1950s, and is still referred as such. The boundaries of Central City, according to the Office of Policy Planning’s neighborhood profile for Central City/Magnolia (published March 31, 1981), are St. Charles Avenue, Toledano, the I-10 Expressway/Melpomene, and just past South Broad, where Toledano and Melpomene come to a point. It is a common misperception that Central City ends at South Claiborne Avenue. Even as Central City was developed, it was with the focus on rental units and residents, a trend that is still the case today. Back when Central City was being developed by contractors to build primarily shotgun homes, the many Irish, Italian, German, and Jewish immigrants involved in building the nearby New Basin Canal were in need of rental homes in the 1830s, and found their way to the back of town. These immigrants brought with them their deep religious beliefs and founded many churches and synagogues, including St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and Congregation Beth Israel. The synagogue congregation relocated to Lakeview in 1971, which reflects the “white flight” of Jewish residents in the Central City area at that time, and the original building at 1616 Carondelet is currently home to the New Home Full Gospel Ministries. After the Civil War, many African Americans settled in Central City, and in the years that followed, many Jewish-owned businesses on Dryades Street served the African American community. It was only the Dryades Street corridor and the South Rampart Street area that Black residents of New Orleans could shop comfortably and freely. By the mid-twentieth century, Dryades Street was the largest African American commercial district during the Jim Crow days, with over 200 businesses in the area at the height of its popularity. Since Central City was one area of New Orleans where blacks and whites lived in close proximity with significant economic disparities between the business owners and their clientele, it was one of the front lines for social change in New Orleans. In 1960, when activists noted the disparities in the area, over 2,000 Blacks staged the first civil rights march in New Orleans, and followed with a boycott of white merchants in the Dryades district. Although concessions were made and the crisis passed, this was an inciting incident for the years of subsequent “white flight” in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The abolition of the Jim Crow laws also led to the business district’s detriment, since African Americans were now permitted to shop in other areas of the city previously denied to them, which they did.

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“The wholesale departure of white families in the 1960s resulted in the expansion of the poor African American population to within a few feet of prosperous St. Charles Avenue. The neighborhood is now known as Central City; its artery Melpomene is now called Martin Luther King Blvd; Dryades Street was renamed Oretha Haley Castle Blvd for a local civil rights figure; the old synagogues are now Protestant churches; and no one is old enough to remember the swamp. But the landscape does not lie; the poverty of the population and blighted state of the mostly rented housing stock recall the history of exclusion in this once-and still-marginalized area.“ – Richard Campanella, Geographies of New Orleans Throughout the twentieth century, Central City was not only a business hub for the African American Community, but also a center of culture with the formation and success of the Free Southern Theater, and an important resource for health care with the Flint-Goodridge Hospital (in operation for African American patients, doctors, and staff between 1911 and 1983), the Keystone Insurance Agency (a black-owned insurance company), and other black-owned businesses such as Bucksell’s Pharmacy and the dental parlor of Reginald E. Watkins. Central City was also the location of two of the four Uptown housing projects. The Magnolia Projects (officially known as C.J. Peete) was built in 1941, with subsequent expansion in 1955. Under the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO)’s mandate, in 1998, the projects were scheduled to be vacated and demolished. However, it wasn’t until the flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that the demolition was completed, and in 2009, construction began on a new mixed-income housing development that would open in 2011 as Harmony Oaks. The Melpomene Projects, officially known as the Guste Apartments, built in 1964 on the grounds of an area of homes that was designated a slum in 1950, are the only projects in Uptown that still stand. It was one of the few in the entire city that withstood Hurricane Katrina, and although three of the buildings were razed before 2005, the others stand today. Although much of the Central City neighborhood was above the flooding that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, residents were displaced for months before permitted to return. As of June 2010, 78% of residents have returned to Central City, according to the GNO Community Data Center analysis of Valassis Residential and Business Database.

NEIGHBOR OOD SPOTLIGH HT

CENTRAL CITY

Photo credits: Gulf South Photography Project, YEP, Jennifer Williams, & Tara Foster 16

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NPN’s New and Improved Capacity College! Our Capacity College program has been revamped this year to help neighborhoods not only improve their internal organization, but have greater opportunities to collaborate with each other, and have a voice in important citywide conversations. We have just completed our six core classes this semester, which began in early March. The courses covered various topics, including how to lead an effective organization; communications and media strategies; finance and fundraising; data gathering; and understanding city government, concluding with advocacy planning. All classes were taught by top professionals in the field who are committed to returning to Capacity College in future semesters. The second half of our semester is the time to showcase our new Symposium Series. Our Symposium Series is your opportunity to participate in critical citywide conversations, and NPN’s Capacity College will host 4 citywide symposiums that are free and open to the public. This year, the topics covered will be Community Benefits Agreements, Public Contracting and Disadvantage Business Enterprises, the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, and Criminal Justice. We began our first symposium last August with local organization Transport for NOLA to discuss the pathways for public participation in transit planning at the local, regional, and state levels. As a follow up, Transport for NOLA specially tailored two technical workshops that addressed issues of concern voiced by the audience at the symposium. These included the Claiborne overpass, school bus service, extended public bus service to New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward,

and the St. Claude streetcar line. These workshops took place in late April for all enrolled Capacity College participants. All those in attendance are eligible for a mini-grant workshop that will take place on May 31st, where you can bring proposals for actual projects related to any of these four issues, to be implemented with a small grant, awarded on a competitive basis. The only requirement is that your project be collaborative in nature with other neighborhoods in the city. Even if you missed this round, you can start fresh by attending the next NPN Capacity College symposium on Community Benefits Agreements on Thursday, May 10th at Andrew Wilson Elementary School. This event is free and open to the public. And it’s not too late to join the last of the spring 2012 Capacity College course offerings that will be wrapping up with four exciting elective courses starting on Thursday, May 17th! Elective courses are typically taught by NPN’s partner organizations, and we are excited to introduce Global Green, Archon Information Systems, and the Louisiana Public Health Institute into Capacity College for the first time this year. While Global Green and the Louisiana Public Health Institute are fellow nonprofit partners, Archon Information Systems is a for-profit institution. NPN is expanding its reach into the community and increasing the variety of relationships we develop so that we can provide our members with even greater resources. Capacity College is a great way to take advantage of this, so call NPN at (504) 940-2207 and speak to the Director of Programs, Mark Hambrick, to join us for the remaining spring 2012 semester classes!

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

Recommendations for A Safer Intersection At Tulane and Broad By Ross Peizer

he center of New Orleans’ criminal justice world lies at the intersection of Tulane Avenue and South Broad Street. Flanked by the New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Courts, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Orleans Sheriff’s Office, Orleans Parish Prison, and numerous legal service providers, both streets are heavily used by drivers, walkers, cyclists and transit riders alike. Both Tulane Avenue and South Broad Street are designated U.S. Highways and neither is known for being pedestrian or cyclist friendly. Cars travel at high speeds - particularly when coming off the Broad Street overpass. Parking areas without nearby crosswalks lead to pedestrians darting through traffic to cross the street. A September 2009 report from the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC), the University of New Orleans (UNO), and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD), found that pedestrian and cyclist crashes are on the rise. That’s why Transport for NOLA organized a team of volunteers to survey the area for pedestrian, bicycle and public transit rider safety this past November. Volunteers, ranging from retired teachers to young urban planners, used two different audit tools – one created by AARP and the other through a partnership between UNO, RPC and LaDOTD – to examine everything from the size and conditions of sidewalks and crosswalks to the presence of bus shelters, pedestrian crossing signals and shade trees. Survey categories included sidewalks, driver behavior, safety, and comfort and appeal. Volunteers focused on streets, sidewalks, crosswalks and intersections between Banks Street and Gravier Street on South Broad Street and White and Dorgenois Streets on Tulane Avenue. Their findings showed that the majority of the area was deemed to be in poor to good condition. Transport for NOLA compiled the surveyors’ data and is preparing a final report to the RPC and LaDOTD. Preliminary recommendations include: • Traffic calming: Pedestrian and cyclist safety would improve with designs that cause motorists to travel at slower speeds such as reducing the number or narrowing the width of travel lanes and rebuilding curbs with sharper turns.

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• Widened sidewalks: For the amount of foot traffic on the observed streets, the sidewalks are currently too narrow. In redesigning the area, widening the sidewalks would help alleviate congestion and provide for safer pedestrian travel. • Landscaping: Street trees, neutral grounds, and other landscaping would not only improve the appearance of these major corridors, but would also eventually provide needed pedestrian shade along both streets. • Bus shelter repositioning: Currently the bus shelters are placed in such a way that they block sections of the sidewalk. Re-designs of Tulane and Broad could include moving the bus shelters to bus “bump-outs” on sections of the curb that extend into what is currently a parking space. This would allow for buses to move more quickly by eliminating their need to pull out of the traffic lane and would leave the sidewalk open for pedestrians. • Driveway removal: Removing driveways or reducing their width —especially those close to intersections—would reduce the number of possible pedestrian/cyclist crash points, and could improve pedestrians’ feeling of safety in the area. • Lighting: High quality lighting along both corridors would allow pedestrians to see any potential trip hazards along the sidewalk, would help cyclists stay visible to motorists, and would improve how safe the streets appear to be for walking after dark. The good news is that federal funds have been dedicated to improve the Tulane Avenue corridor. The RPC is partnering with LaDOTD to study and plan comprehensive upgrades along Tulane Avenue between Carrollton Avenue and Claiborne Avenue. To date, a private consulting firm conducted a feasibility report for the project and the agencies are committed to making the improvements in accordance with LaDOTD’s Complete Streets Policy which promotes roadways for all users – not just drivers. The sidewalk and street audit tools used provide a great way for neighborhood groups to collect data on sidewalk and street conditions. Survey results can then be utilized as a tool for advocating for government agencies like the City Department of Public Works, Regional Planning Commission, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and City Council to improve a specific intersection or street.

The AARP Sidewalks and Streets Survey can be accessed online at: http://createthegood.org/sites/default/files/how-to/ SidewalksStreets.pdf The UNO/ RPC Pedestrian Audit Instrument can be accessed online at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/54347315/AuditingNeighborhoods-Streets-and-Intersections-for-Pedestrian-Safety More information on forthcoming Tulane Avenue roadway improvments can be accessed online at: http://www.norpc.org/ newsletter_June_2011.html#article8

About the Author:

Ross Peizer is a Communications and Mobile Engagement Intern with Transport for NOLA. Transport for NOLA is a local nonprofit whose mission is to enhance quality of life in the New Orleans region by promoting safe, convenient and affordable transportation options.

“Precious Knowledge” – Knowing Our Real History By Melissa Alba, LatiNola Youth Leadership Council; Freshman, West Jefferson High School

hen I first heard about the Power of a Million Minds (POMM) Youth Summit, I was a bit confused. After all, I had never been to a youth summit before. Being that I’m just a high school student, all of the planning and preparations intimidated me. The POMM meetings just weeks before the event were hectic, but I knew that this bright group of individuals would make it happen one way or another. I am new to both POMM and Puentes’ LatiNola Youth Leadership Council (LYLC), but I went right to work when I heard that we were going to be having workshops, and that LatiNola was going to have theirs on the Ethnic Studies ban in Arizona. That topic intrigued me, being that I am a proud Chicana, and I took the issue to heart. Our presentation consisted of a skit showing the sides of American history that we don’t usually hear about, and a clip of the very powerful movie, Precious Knowledge. Precious Knowledge is a documentary showing how the students at Tucson High School organized together in an attempt to save their Mexican-American Studies classes against the attack of racist legislators who called the program “anti-American.” Those classes empowered the students, because they were finally learning their “Real History”—the history of their ancestors and their contribution to our

nation’s history—and developing a social justice perspective on the United States today. Also, the high school graduation rate for Mexican-Americans went from below 50% to over 90% as a result of taking the classes. The documentary had a great impact on all of the individuals who watched it, and it proved to everyone that there are injustices in our society and that they come in different forms, but when a group of strong individuals come together for a certain cause, anything is possible. After watching a short clip of the film, we encouraged everyone at the workshop to show their solidarity to the students and teachers at Tucson High by signing a petition and writing short letters on postcards that we later sent to the students in Tucson, AZ. Overall, the summit gave everyone a chance to express themselves about the issues that they are having in their community. It was a learning experience for everyone, including myself, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope that in the future there will be no need to talk about such topics because I hope that the problems that we are having now won’t continue. The POMM Youth Summit brought together a lot of people that you wouldn’t usually see together. There were smiling faces and girls screaming their hearts out over the very talented, local rapper, Dee-1. It was tons of fun and I hope to do it again.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

NDF

A Quiet Force In Community Building By Rosalind G. Washington

he New Orleans Neighborhood Development Foundation clients that we’re not just counselors to get you into a house, we’re your (NDF) is described as a force that has been quietly working for housing counselors for life.” the greater New Orleans community since 1986. The result of After educating potential homebuyers for 25 years, NDF made the the work that is produced is regarded as an economic engine move into ownership, by purchasing a blighted and abandoned building that converts life-long renters, on the corner of South Rampart and Martin Luther with modest resources, and ready houses King Boulevard. The elements of the neighborhood “One cornerstone of a healthy, into entire neighborhoods of new and were everything that we advise clients to look for and happy homebuyers. The ripple effects of more. It has close proximity to transportation, schools, equitable housing sector is a these new homebuyers are seen in the churches, grocery shopping, and downtown. The steady supply of people ready form of renovation and construction of biggest obstacle, however, was that the neighborhood to become homeowners. But new homes, improved neighborhoods, was riddled with blight from the interstate to and making the leap from long-term and stabilized families. including the very building that was acquired. But NDF provides homebuyer counseling that was 2007, and if you look now, you can see the renter to homeowner is not as and education to greater New Orleans continued forward progress of the redevelopment of the easy as simply signing on the residents of low to moderate income. neighborhood, with both commercial and residential dotted line. That’s where the Its programs are designed to ease investment. NDF is proud to have been a catalyst for Neighborhood Development clients’ anxieties and demystify the growth and redevelopment in this area. mortgage process, while also providing a NDF does not do this work alone. It relies and Foundation (NDF) comes in.” straightforward idea about what to expect depends on many community partners throughout the – Greater New Orleans as a homeowner and offering step-by-step city to keep the forward progress moving. Partners Foundation support along the way. that NDF is now taking time to honor during an annual “This education has a three prone “House Party” fundraiser; partners in community effect that cannot be separated: Rights, responsibilities, & privileges,” leadership, beatification, development, small business, and commitment. says Fred Johnson, chief executive officer of NDF. This counseling This year’s honorees will be presented with their awards on May 19th extends beyond the task of simply buying a house. The purpose is to help at 6:30pm at First NBC Bank at 210 Barrone Street. The recipients clients throughout their experience as homeowners, from assistance with are Leadership – Timolynn Sams, NPN; Beatification – Hornets “Planet household budgeting to interventions to prevent foreclosure. Rebound;” Development - Jericho Road Episcopal Housing; Small Business “NDF provides education that teaches clients that you’re not just – The Joy Theater; and the Enterprise Community Commitment award buying a house, you’re buying into a neighborhood and that comes with goes to Harrah’s Casino. responsibilities,” said Rosalind G. Washington, executive vice president NDF invites the entire community to come and celebrate this year’s of NDF. “You have to keep your property up, and you have to look out for “Neighborhood Award” recipients. For more information go to what’s happening in your neighborhood to protect the area’s values. You www.ndf@neworleans.org or call 504-488-0155 should be engaged with your community and know the issues. We tell our

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Battling Food Insecurity In The Latino Community By Tulane students Amber Caudill, Kiley Laemmli, Emily T. Luscik, Samuel Tabachnik; Sally Golub, Community Outreach Manager, and Kathia Duran, Executive Director: Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, Inc.

s students at Tulane University, we often hear about issues like food security, food deserts and sustainable communities both on campus and in the classroom. However, we rarely have the opportunity to see these issues in person. This semester, five of us took a class entitled Latino Social Entrepreneurship, for which we took part in a service-learning program with the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana (the Co-op) in Mid-city. Once per week, the five of us spent the afternoon at the Co-op taking part in experiential learning about a non-profit concerning itself with affordable and healthy foods for low-income Latinos in the Greater New Orleans community. As Tulane University’ service learners, we were able to speak with the members, learn about food security, and lend our services to the Co-op. Every day there was something new for us to do. We rarely had the same task, and therefore saw a little bit of everything. One day we constructed signs as part of a marketing campaign to inform Latinos in the community about the Food-Buying Club. Another day we bagged donated food destined for distribution as part of the emergency food assistance, or so called Food Pantry. During our hours at the Co-op, we chatted with Kathia Duran, the Executive Director, along with the other employees and members who happened to be around. We learned about the myriad obstacles of a small non-profit operating in Mid-city, New Orleans. We learned how hard it is to maintain sustainability while at the same time preserving the social responsibility of an organization. The main goal of the Co-op’s food security project is to provide programs and services to low-income Latinos related to food access, food justice, nutrition and health. According to the USDA, food insecurity is defined as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”1 Thus, the Co-op provides affordable and accessible nutritious foods for Latino families on a regular basis, as well as monthly workshops on nutrition and wellness for long-term life skills and health education. Additionally, the Co-op is a space where Latino families can access a food pantry and enroll in federal and state food programs,

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such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), without suffering from ethnic or language-based discrimination. Such discrimination occurs regularly in the community and was endured by Jorge Villareal when he spent nearly five months applying for SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) for his two daughters. With each application, his case worker called him for an interview without a translator, even though translator services were requested and are in place at the Department of Children and Family Services. Similarly, all paperwork he received about new interviews or progress on the case was sent in English. Furthermore, when Jorge attempted to receive emergency food assistance from a food pantry, he was turned away because he didn’t have a social security number or a state ID, and there were no translators or bilingual workers to assist him. Sadly, Jorge is one of many who have suffered from similar discrimination. After joining the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, Jorge and his daughters obtained the proper services and now receive SNAP benefits and regular emergency food assistance from the Co-op’s food pantry. As shown in this example, the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana helps many low-income Latinos who cannot find assistance in other locations. As volunteers we learned valuable lessons, and the Co-op opened our eyes to the realities of food insecurity and food justice issues that one doesn’t typically read about in the media. This small non-profit is always in need of support so that they can continue to help others, and we encourage readers to contribute to the Co-op and the Latino community as advocates, financial supporters or volunteers. If you wish to make a donation or become a supporter of the Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana, Inc, please call (504) 541-6362. The Latino Farmers Cooperative of Louisiana is a recipient of the IMPACT Grant and the Coastal Communities Fund, administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation. The Co-op also receives funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and USDA - National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Teen Peace Summit By Mark Hambrick

eens summit across the nation these days, and there’s always a push to continually bring teens together to discuss issues of crime, bullying, sex and teenage pregnancy, and myriad other issues. Crimestoppers and Q93, in collaboration with more than 30 organizations that include energy companies, financial industries, the Urban League, retailers and foundations, are working together to bring together teens from around the city. These organizations hope to give participants the tools and motivation to enact positive change for themselves, their peers and their surrounding communities. The Teen Summit event will take place on Saturday, May 19th from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The organizers of the upcoming Teen Summit describe it as an event that “targets our high school youth, many who are “at risk,” and will provide a positive send off to the start of our SAFE summer season. Speakers’ messages will include alternatives to violence, reaching your potential, heroes and mentors in our community, as well as potential career paths.” They plan to have participants provide testimonies about their world - challenges, essentially, and how it’s possible to overcome those challenges in advance of achieving fantastic objectives. The event will also include celebrities who will speak to their challenges in reaching stardom, and the perseverance embraced in their growth to success, as an example of the importance of growing from their surroundings to become the celebrities that they are today. The Teen Summit will also have several exhibitors participating that will provide career opportunities, college recruitment and trade programs, as well as GED programs. With over 30 local organizations coming to the table to support youth, the event sponsors hope to build upon last year’s program, showing teens

that the city cares and supports their efforts to grow to adulthood and, in turn, contribute to the growth of New Orleans. Young adults will participate in the events by playing in local bands, cheer squads and even the planning of a Flash Mob. Booth sponsors will offer job opportunities and job training opportunities. Yet, there will also be entertainment venues, a fact that concerns some New Orleanians, who think it may be more focused on a party atmosphere than a truly teachable moment. This remains to be seen, however, as most reports cast a light of positive messages, mentorship and reflection. Last year at the first Crimestoppers and Q 93 Teen Peace Summit, there were approximately 2,500 youth. Because this year’s event is free, organizers expect there to be possibly 5,000 to 6,000 teens. The primary focus will be on the kids who make the right choices, and creating an environment of positive peer pressure in an inclusive space. This means encouraging each other to make the right choices in difficult situations, where they know what that decision should be but may potentially choose otherwise. Topics will encourage kids to have open communication, “making a living by what you give not what you get,” as presenters stated. One note of significance about the upcoming event involves a number of local barbers, yes barbers, who often are the cornerstone of communities and know everything about everything. A number of barbers have signed on to participate with haircuts and mentoring (where they have young people in the chair and can make a connection). This writer recalls how these conversations were instrumental in my growing up and finds this to be of considerable appeal in the whole event. I may just go get a cut myself!

Meaningful Partnership: PCAB By Lucas Diaz, director of the Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office

n my last article, I talked about how our office will better assist neighborhoods in 2012 through three programmatic priorities: Neighborhood outreach, neighborhood participation and neighborhood revitalization. These programs are now underway and are being developed as we move further into the year. One project in particular, the Police Community Advisory Board (PCAB), is a citywide effort that I hope all residents eventually come to use as a tool for helping the City reach better public safety outcomes. Police advisory boards similar to PCAB are not a new idea. Many exist throughout the United States. Advocates in your community asked for such a body during the Department of Justice community meetings held between 2009 and 2010. Mayor Landrieu, upon taking office, moved to ensure that community concerns on public safety would be aligned with the new direction taken by NOPD as it moves to improve service and the Neighborhood Engagement Office strategies. Simply put, PCAB is a participation mechanism, which is why we include it as part of our neighborhood participation strategy. Under our neighborhood participation strategy, we focus on helping city government bodies (such as departments, commissions, and boards) develop better public participation mechanisms. In this work, we also focus on helping communities effectively participate in these mechanisms after they are created. So what is PCAB? Well, it is a space where community members can come together with the New Orleans Police Department and discuss opportunities for improvement. As an advisory body, the members of PCAB will be made up of community members who apply for the volunteer positions. These members will have the responsibility to bring community-generated recommendations to NOPD for consideration. For example, a community in a particular district may want to enhance security presence between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The community can discuss the idea within PCAB, and after reaching agreement, can make the recommendation to NOPD.

As decision-makers, NOPD will have the responsibility to respond to the recommendation. Can they do it? If so, when? If not, what are the barriers and how can we address the situation creatively? Today, NOPD does not have an advisory body of this nature. The community can file complaints with the Public Integrity Bureau and with the Independent Police Monitor, or they can try to secure one-on-one meetings with the district commanders to discuss matters of concern, or provide ideas at the monthly NONPAC meetings. None of these spaces are intentional advisory spaces. That is, none of the current opportunities for input are specifically designed for proactive, meaningful public participation. Such a mechanism may have existed in the past, but it hasn’t recently, which is why PCAB is so important. So how can you get involved? Currently, PCAB is under development and a nominating committee composed of community leaders who represent a broad base of concerns are meeting throughout the month of May to evaluate applications from community members. Applications were made available online, directly through police quality of life officers, or through the nominating committee members themselves between February 7th and March 22nd. We will evaluate all of the applications and have discussions about how to launch PCAB throughout the month of May and hope to have more information on our next steps by early June. If you did not get a chance to submit an application, you can still participate with your community representatives once PCAB is implemented. I am sure they will need your support and your help. The term limits are annual, which means that over time, more community members will have the opportunity to participate in PCAB and serve their communities. As a public participation mechanism, PCAB creates a community-based space where community members can come together to vet concerns, explore options and provide recommendations to the New Orleans Police Department. We are excited about helping this body come to life, and we hope that the community takes full advantage of it once it’s launched and operating.

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CeCe Gets n a m o W s s e n A Busi d l o G f o t r a e with a H This interview was very dear to me, considering that I had the opportunity to interview a “WOMAN” that I have respected for years. A woman that represents class, success and intregrity. Cecile Dalton, known as “Seal,” is the owner of Seal’s Class Act, located at 2169 Aubry St. It was with esteemed pleasure that I got to sit down in the comfort of her nightlife spot and ask her twenty questions. Through her business and big heart, she has given the community of New Orleans, as well as customers, hope and some of the best entertainment, bringing artists such as Jeff Floyd, Tucka, BRW and some of New Orleans best musicians and DJs. With all that, she has accomplished big things. She has a heart-warming spirit. Read the 20 questions, and pay attention to this woman’s - who has the admiration of our community - humbling answers. CeCe: What was your first business? Seal: Seals Hideaway, located at 2101 Duels Street in 1995. CeCe: How did you know nightlife was right for you? Seal: I didn’t exactly know it was. The more I did, the better I got at it. CeCe: Why are you so willing to take chances and give people chances through employment and gigs at your place? Seal: Growing up in a poor area, having the advantage of having things, I saw struggles of other people. When I was child and teenager I was very fortunate. I remember when I was about 13, I always had rollers to roll my hair, one of my cousins had to roll her hair on brown paper bags. So one day I took my own money and bought her rollers. I wanted to help people then and now. I am blessed, so I bless others. CeCe:: How did you juggle being a wife, mother and business owner? Seal: I was living in Baton Rouge, so I would have to close my bar at night and drive home every night to get the children ready for school the next day. On weekends, me and the children

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would stay by my mom and I would drive back home on Sundays. My husband understood my vision; I was determined to make the bar work. CeCe: What neighborhood are you from? Seal: The 7th ward. CeCe: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment? Have you reached it? Seal: I haven’t reached it yet. It is still more to come from me. CeCe: What is your motivation? Seal: My faithful customers, the loyal ones that come every day. I swear I have customers that come every day (smiling). CeCe: Who was influential in your life? Seal: My dad, because he was a hustler. He taught me how to work and get it, and always taught me nothing was given to me. CeCe: Do you have any plans for Seals or do you want to keep it “cozy” like it is? Seal: I want to retire and turn it over to one of my children. CeCe: What made you start Seal’s Outreach & Pleasure Club? Seal: My group of parents started. When I started my first parade, the parents saw that everything was out my pocket, so they wanted to help through raising money and that was how it was started. CeCe: How do you handle being a woman in business? Seal: It is a great challenge, because nightlife is dominated by men mostly, but I am respected. I have been in business for years, so, as a woman, I am doing something right. CeCe: What is your favorite place to visit? Seal: New York, because I love to shop. Ooooh....I love to shop!

By Christy “CeCe” Chapman, the author of the book, 20 Thoughts Every Woman Should Have. She is a New Orleans native who is “twenty something years of age.” Follow her on Twitter at @CeCetheAuthor.

CeCe: You give a lot of people hope and stay positive about things, how are you able to do so? Seal: Through God and the support of my family, especially my husband. He is so supportive and loyal. CeCe: Being a nightlife spot owner, what is your favorite cocktail? Seal:: J. Roget Wine is my favorite. CeCe: Can you see yourself right now doing anything else? Seal: No. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I love dealing with the people. CeCe: What is something you want our readers to know about you? Seal: I am a hard worker, I care about my community, I want to reach children. If I can reach one, that’s my goal. CeCe: What makes Seals different from other N.O. nightlife spots? Seal: That we look at our customers as family. CeCe: How is it that you have been able to keep consistent customers even through economic struggles? Seal: I look out for my customers. I love them. They are loyal to me and my business, and I appreciate that. CeCe: What are some of the accomplishments you have reached with “Seals Class Act”? Seal: I own everything in my place: pool tables, poker machines, juke box, liquor system and vending machines. CeCe: How do you give back to the community? Seal: Starting off, Easter is my favorite holiday, and I love to do things to make the children happy, so I do my Annual Easter Parade & Egg Hunt, Back to School Drive, Toys for Tots, Feed The Homeless every 4th Saturday of the month, and also my yearly Writing Essay Scholarships.

Who Runs the World…GIRLS!

By Annette Jones, M.A, Executive Director/CEO, Assurance for Tomorrows’ Leaders (ATLs) Youth Foundation, Inc.

TLs’ INSTILLettos Girls Programs focus is solely on adolescent girls aged 12–19 addressing every concern and area needed so that females can grow into being productive young ladies. We’ve partnered with several organizations to give the girls variety and introduce them to different experiences. Monthly we conduct groups to engage girls in activities and teach skills that will help them to successfully transition into womanhood such as proper dress, life, social and entrepreneurship trainings, table and work etiquette, cooking classes, physical wellness trainings and much, much more! We now have a permanent home at the Rosa F. Keller

Library and Community Center, thanks to our partnership with Broadmoor Improvement Association (BIA). The girls have planned their fashion show for Saturday, May 12, 2012 to be a part of ATLs Swag and Sweet 16 Event. The fashion show is entitled “Mission Towards Classy,” featuring models aged 12–18 and local designers and boutique owners. Girls have had opportunities to attend parades with the Mayor’s Office, meet with First Lady Cheryl Landrieu, attend a local play, and are in store for so much more. If you know an adolescent girl that will benefit from ATLs’ INSTILLettos Girls Program, please contact Annette Jones, Executive Director/CEO, at (504) 452-0110.

Education Advocacy Day By Greg Lawson

rleans Public Education Network (OPEN), a New Orleansbased nonprofit committed to ensuring that there is an informed and engaged community that exercises influence on policy and programs to realize excellence and equity in public schools in New Orleans, held a bus ride for Education Advocacy Day at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The bus left at approximately 6:45am for Baton Rouge, filled with enthusiastic youth from the Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA), a group of concerned parents from Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA), as well as representatives from other community organizations including Neighborhoods Partnership Network. Upon arrival, OPEN’s staff members distributed useful information including a Policy Toolkit, a helpful guide on tips for Community Engagement and Advocacy, and briefed the group on the activities of the day. The overall purpose of the day was to support several bills that would allow for safer schools for our youth. Upon arrival, the Education Committee was already in session and was introducing House Bill 407, an anti-bullying bill designed to further prevent bullying by requiring local school boards to broaden their definition of bullying to include characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, as well as provide professional development to teachers and other professionals. The bill was drafted by Representative Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, and supported by many, including the Orleans Parish School Board.

The session began with a brief introduction of the bill by Rep. Smith. Following the introduction, emotions ran high with testimonies from parents, teachers, school officials, and youth from VAYLA who all gave personal accounts of the effects of bullying. Tiffany Phelps, who runs an extracurricular arts studio in New Roads, tearfully recounted her conversations with 17-yearold Tesa Middlebrook about being bullied at Pointe Coupee Parish Central High School. She stated that they reported several incidents to school officials and nothing happened, and in March, Middlebrook was found hanging from the bleachers of the school football stadium. After an hour of emotional testimonies in support of the bill, several opponents including Louisiana Family Forum, stated that the bill wouldn’t treat children equally and would create sexual politics in the classroom. Following these testimonies, the committee debated on the enumerated list and voted 10-5 to amend the bill, taking out the specific classification that would provide additional safety to our youth. Instead of allowing the bill to become law, Representative Smith shelved the bill, stating the amendment gutted the bill’s intent. Following the committee meeting, a sense of defeat plagued many of the supporters. We met to debrief and learned ways to still show support for this bill, and similar bills, in upcoming legislative sessions. Representative Wesley Bishop, D-New Orleans, joined the conversation with the history of the antibullying bills and urged our group to continue to fight for change. The overall experience of the advocacy day left individuals feeling empowered to see safer schools for our youth.

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2012 New Orleans Favorite Fathers Awards and Recognition Ceremony By Gregory Rattler, Jr., Director of the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium

he partners and members of the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium are pleased to announce the 2012 Favorite Fathers Awards. The Favorite Fathers Awards are an opportunity for fathers to be recognized for the great work that they do in teaching, protecting, providing, and loving their families and communities. Fathers are the foundation of strong families. One need not look far to understand the impact that fathers make in the lives of children and families. While fathers’ absence from families continues to be a problem, there are countless numbers of men who have dignified themselves by being great fathers to their children. It is important to note that the contributions of men who fill the void left by absent fathers are just as vital to our communal health. So often these fathers go unrecognized for the good things they do. They are fathers by far more than just a biological connection. With the help of the communities across the city of New Orleans, the Favorite Fathers of New Orleans will showcase role-model fathers who are making vital contributions as parents and men in the community. Countless times each

day, we are bombarded with stories and images of men – especially men of color – being associated with the entire spectrum of behaviors that destroy community. This ceremony is an opportunity for every community and every family in New Orleans to lift up the heroic men that make a difference. We need you to nominate YOUR Favorite Fathers to be members of the 2012 class of New Orleans Favorite Fathers. Also, we are accepting one-page personal statements from community members discussing the topic: What does a father mean in your life? The deadline for submitting nominations is May 17, 2012 and the deadline for submitting personal statements is May 31, 2012. All nominated fathers for the 2012 New Orleans Favorite Fathers Awards will be asked to take a photo for the Favorite Father souvenir program and will be presented to the community at the New Orleans Favorite Fathers Reception and Recognition Ceremony on Friday, June 15, 2012. We look forward to the opportunity to lift up the fathers who are an asset for growing communities and strengthening families here in New Orleans. We cannot be successful without the support of every community and every neighborhood.

We look forward to the opportunity to lift up the fathers who are an asset for growing communities and strengthening families here in New Orleans.

For more information on the nomination process and/or the event, please contact Gregory Rattler, Jr., Director of the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium at grattler@loyno.edu or (504) 864-7042

Community Commitment Profile

Pastor Smith D By Charmaine Baker-Fox

r. Emanuel Smith Jr. has been the Pastor of Israelite Baptist Church for twelve years. During that time, he has brought purpose and discipleship to the forefront of the ministry at the church. Pastor Smith is a fixture in the community and can often be seen spending time with young men in Central City, helping them wash cars or sharing wisdom in the manner of Solomon in Ecclesiastes. Pastor Smith’s vision of a purposedrive church has led to the creation and continued development of several outreach ministries, and his commitment to ending the violence in Central City has led him to build bold, sustainable, and fruitful partnerships. Under Pastor Smith’s guidance, Israelite has formed several initiatives concerned with the development of youth and youth-oriented resources, community development, and poverty alleviation. The church currently operates an after school program with tutoring and recreation and art classes on Saturdays. Israelite also operates a summer camp geared towards keeping youth productively engaged in educational and recreational activities while school is out of session.

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Pastor Smith’s resolve to be on the cutting edge of violence prevention and intervention strategies led him to partner with the City of New Orleans and the Urban League of Greater New Orleans to implement CeaseFire New Orleans in Central City. He has provided space and consistent facilitation and advice for day-to-day program operations. Also under his leadership, Israelite Baptist Church has developed a diversity of partners and supporters, including IDEAL Association, the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, and the National Baptist Convention USA. It maintains a strong partnership with the Central City Comeback Committee and has partnered with several organizations to host community events. Those organizations include, but are not limited to, United for Peace in New Orleans, the Orleans Public Defenders, the Central City Partnership, and CeaseFire New Orleans. Pastor Smith is also a Board Member of Jericho Road, which works closely with the NOPD’s 6th district. Most of all, Pastor Smith’s commitment to bringing unchurched people to Christ and helping his flock conform to the image and life of Christ are the very ideal of the biblical shepherd.

Orleans PLACE MATTERS

By Dr. Mosanda Mvula

LACE MATTERS is a nationwide initiative of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Health Policy Institute (www.jointcenter.org). The initiative is intended to improve the health of participating communities by addressing social conditions that lead to poor health. Our national learning community consists of sixteen PLACE MATTERS Teams responsible for designing and implementing health strategies for residents in 21 counties and three cities. The Health Policy Institute provides technical assistance to participating Teams in the form of facilitation, design lab meetings (including national-level experts and peer-to-peer learning opportunities), technical assistance grants, and access to data. New Orleans, Louisiana is an ideal setting for exploring new approaches to youth violence interventions for a number of reasons. The city-level Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) results for 2005 indicate that New Orleans youth exceed the rest of the U.S.’ youth population in rates of carrying guns (9.0% vs. 5.4%), being threatened or injured by a weapon at school (15% vs. 8%), participating in a physical fight (46% vs. 36%), and being involved with dating violence (21% vs. 9%). In 2005, the youth of New Orleans were exposed to one of the largest national disasters in U.S. history, which provides the unique opportunity to study youth violence in the context of a natural disaster. While the National Health Institute (NIH) project focused on violence prevention in grades pre-K through 3rd grade, and assets management and/or peer mentoring in 4th through 9th grades, the PLACE MATTERS Violence Project will focus on: assets management, community mobilization, policy intervention, and quality education among students in grades 10th through 12th.

For more information and to become involved, please contact the New Orleans Team Leader, Dr. Mosanda Mvula at mmvula@cox.net

Post News & Events for Your Organization at NPNnola.com

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Central City-Based Holistic Consulting Group Launches Interactive Micro-Funding

Social Magic Sous-Sous By Gia M. Hamilton, Founder and Senior Consultant, Gris Gris Lab, Inc.

Gris Gris Lab, a Central City based Holistic Consulting Group & Creativity Lab, is excited to share its latest venture in partnership with Ashe Cultural Arts Center Center and other neighborhood based groups: Social Magic Sous-Sous micro-funding event.

o you have ideas on how to make our neighborhood safer, more beautiful and bring residents together? Join us for salad, bread and soup while local community residents present their ideas to make our neighborhood a better place. Your $5 contribution goes into a large pot, soup pot to be exact. Throughout the evening, community members present their ideas for solving a problem or making our neighborhood better. Then you vote for the best idea presented and, at the end of the night, that community member walks out with a “social contract” from the group to complete their project and the cash from the group pot to make the idea become a reality: Real magic - Social Magic! “The Sous-Sous is a traditional African and Caribbean cultural practice utilizing alternative economies that allows the collective community to benefit from the brilliant ideas of creative and passionate individuals like you!” shares Gia Hamilton, founder of Gris Gris Lab. Co-hostess Jocelyne Ninneman, Communications Director at Gris Gris Lab, and Gia Hamilton shaped the event around their sister cities, Detroit and New Orleans, because of their shared histories and current needs. “We believe that community engagement comes from people getting together to talk and solve their own problems, rather than large

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outside institutions, so that residents of the neighborhoos are directly and actively involved in the decision-making and change-making of our own community. We live and work in this neighborhood, and I am excited to showcase Ninneman’s idea in Central City next month,” says Hamilton. Gris Gris Lab plans to host a Social Magic Sous-Sous each month in Central City with a variety of Central City partners, such as Ashe Cultural Center. The series pilot is schedule to kick-off in May. Any individual or group interested in partnering is encouraged to email us. Projects as elaborate as sculpture gardens, or as simple as a two-day plan to secure a dangerous and abandoned structure from entry, are welcome. The pilot Central City Sous-Sous will be held on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Ashe Cultural Arts Center, located at 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. $5 Admission gets you soup, salad, bread AND your chance to cast a vote for whichever neighbor’s community project you think is the best one! For more information on the Central City Sous-Sous Series, or to submit a Central City neighborhood project proposal, email soussous@ grisgrislab.com.

To learn more about the Gris Gris Lab’s services and programs, visit us on the web at www.thegrisgrislab.com. 29

Neighborhood Meetings

Algiers Point Association Every 1st Thursday of the month @ 7pm Holy Name of Mary School Cafeteria Broadmoor Improvement Association 3rd Monday of every other month @ 7pm Andrew H. Wilson Charter School Cafeteria 3617 General Pershing St. New Orleans, LA 70125 http://www.broadmoorimprovement. com Bunny Friends Neighborhood Association Every second Saturday of the month Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 3721 N Claiborne Ave Bywater Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7p.m. Holy Angels Cafeteria 3500 St. Claude Ave. Carrollton Riverbend Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month Parish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Corner of Carrollton and Zimple Carrollton United Every second Monday at 5:00p.m. every other month St. John Missionary Baptist Church, corner of Leonidas and Hickory Central City Partnership Every last Friday of the month @ 1p.m. Allie Mae Williams Center 2020 Jackson Ave. http://www.centralcitypartnership.org

Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA) 1809 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. http://www.myccra.org Chapel of the Holy Comforter Every 4th Thursday of the month @ 6:30p.m. 2200 Lakeshore Drive Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meetings, time and date TBA Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Ave Downtown Neighborhood Improvement Association (DNIA) Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 7p.m. Musicians’ Union Hall 2401 Esplanade Ave (entrance through parking lot on Bayou Road and Rocheblave Street) DeSaix Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Saturday of the month @10a.m. Langhston Hughes Academy 3519 Trafalgar Street http://danadesaix.org East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ENONAC) Every 2rd Tuesday of each month @ 6 p.m. St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church http://www.enonac.org Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings, time/date/ location TBA http://fdna-nola.org

Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association Board Meeting: Every 2nd Monday 7p.m. Holy Rosary Cafeteria 1638 Moss Street General Membership: 3rd Wednesday, every other month 6:30pm Black Gold Room at the Fairgrounds http://www.fsjna.org

Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association Every 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters St. http://www.gentillyterrace.org Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 5:30p.m. Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church 3327 Toledano Street

Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month @ 6:00p.m. True Vine Baptist Church 2008 Marigny St.

Hollygrove Neighbors Association Saturdays at 12:00 (noon) St. Peter AME Church 3424 Eagle St. (Eage St. and Edinburgh St.) www.neighborhoodlink.com (type in 70118 and click on “Hollygrove Neighbors”) blog us at http://www. hollygroveneighbors.blogspot.com/

Filmore Gardens Neighborhood Association (meet the 4th Thursday of each month) Rouse’s Food Market (Leon C. Simon & Franklin Avenue) 6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. (No meetings in Nov. and Dec.) Garden District Association 1 annual meeting per year, time/date/ location TBA Gentilly Civic Improvement Association (GCIA) General Membership- Every 3rd Saturday of the month 10am Board Meeting - Every 3rd Wednesday of the month 6:30p.m. Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Ave. Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood Association Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 6p.m. Dillard University Dent Hall – Room 104 Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m . VOA – 2929 St. Anthony Ave. (meetings on hold until further notice)

Holy Cross Neighborhood Association Every 2nd and 4th Thursday @ 5:30 Center for Sustainability, Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church 5130 Chartres, Lizardi and Chartres http://www.helpholycross.org Irish Channel Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month at 7p.m. Irish Channel Christian Fellowship 819 First St. http://www.irishchannel.org Lake Bullard Homeowners Association See website for meeting schedule Cornerstone United Methodist Church 5276 Bullard Ave. http://www.lakebullard.org Lake Catherine Civic Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 7p.m.

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THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

Neighborhood Meetings

Lake Willow Neighborhood Every 2nd Saturday of the month @ 10a.m. St. Maria Goretti Church Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA) Every 2nd Saturday @ 12 noon NENA – 1120 Lamanche St. http://www.9thwardnena.org Melia Subdivision Every 2rd Saturday of the month @ 5p.m. Anchoren in Christ Church 4334 Stemway Drive Mid-City Neighborhood Organization General Meeting – Second Monday of every month@ 6:30p.m. Grace Episcopal Church 3700 Canal Street http://www.mcno.org Milneburg Neighborhood Association Chapel of the Holy Comforter 2200 Lakeshore Dr. 6:30 p.m. Monthly meetings are every 4th Thursday of the month

Oak Park Civic Association Every 3rd or last Tuesday of the month Paris Oaks/Bayou Vista Neighborhood Association Last Saturday of every month @ 4p.m. Third District Police Station 4650 Paris Avenue Pensiontown of Carrollton Neighborhood Association Every 1st Saturday of the month @ 2p.m. Leonidas House Community Center (under renovation) 1407 Leonidas St. Temporarily housed at St. Paul AME Church 8540 Cohn St. (corner of Leonidas and Cohn) Pontilly Association Pontilly Disaster Collaborative – Every 3rd Wednesday of the month General Meeting – every 2nd Saturday of the month http://www.pontilly.com

Ask City Hall

Rosedale Subdivision Last Friday of every month @5:30 Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church 4253 Dale Street Seabrook Neighborhood Association Monthly meetings are every second Monday Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters Street Tall Timbers Owners Association Semi-annual meetings: Second Wednesday of October & April 7p.m. Board meetings: Second Wednesday of every other month 7p.m Tunisburg Square Homeowners Civic Association, Inc. Every 2nd Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m. http://tunisburg.org West Barrington Association 1st Tuesday of every month @ 6p.m. Holiday Inn Express 70219 Bullard Avenue

Send your neighborhood meeting details to: web@npnnola.com

Neighborhood Partnership Network 4902 Canal Street • #301 New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 TheTrumpet@npnnola.com

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2012

District A Susan G. Guidry City Hall, Room 2W80 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1010 Fax: (504) 658-1016 Email: sgguidry@cityofno.com District B Stacy Head City Hall, Room 2W10 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658 -1020 Fax: (504) 658-1025 Email: shead@cityofno.com District C Kristin Gisleson Palmer City Hall, Room 2W70 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1030 Fax: (504) 658-1037 Email: kgpalmer@cityofno.com District D Cynthia Hedge-Morrell City Hall, Room 2W20 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1040 Fax: (504) 658-1048 E-mail: chmorrell@cityofno.com District E Jon D. Johnson City Hall, Room 2W60 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1050 Fax: (504) 658-1058 E-mail: jdjohnson@cityofno.com Council Member-At-Large Stacy Head City Hall, Room 2W10 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658 -1020 Fax: (504) 658-1025 Email: shead@cityofno.com Council Member-At-Large Jacquelyn Clarkson City Hall, Room 2W50 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1070 Fax: (504) 658-1077

NEIGHBOR OOD SPOTLIGH HT

CENTRAL CITY The Youth Empowerment Project’s Most-Improved Summer Camper for 2011.