The NPN Trumpet - May/June 2014

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May/June 2014 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 8 Volume 3

It’s so hard to say goodbye ...

Students speak up on Closure of John McDonogh

INSIDE • NCBI: Creating Communities for Change • Mayor releases cultural economy report • In memoriam: Jim Belfon • A Son of a Saint wishes Mom a Happy Father’s Day •Homework help at the St. Claude Print Shop

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

Letter From The Executive Director Photo: Kevin Griffin/2Kphoto

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

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

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NPN Board Members

Timolynn Sams Sumter ecently I was in the car talking with my teenage son. We were driving from New Orleans to nearby suburban Metairie for sports equipment he needed to play team sports this summer. (Yes, nine years later there is still a desperate need for quality shopping here in the city.) During our drive we were reflecting on how much our lives have changed in the seven years since moving home to New Orleans from “Anytown, USA.” Going into great detail as to what we once could and would do on a daily basis, he then proceeded to ask me the question I knew would eventually come as he grew older and could compare and contrast with what is and once was. “Why did we move back to New Orleans after the storm?” Evan was only eight years entering the fourth grade when I made my decision to return home and pay it forward to my fair city. My response to him was simply this. “New Orleans is a place that I had to grow to love. I have a love/ hate relationship with the city called home. The culture and traditions are rich in history; strong and full of vibrancy and warmth. But there is also a responsibility that I and we have to the city that has given us so much.”Sustainability challenges us to think of others to ensure that the New Orleans culture and heritage that we have grown to love is here for future generations to enjoy. It forces you and I to think about the way our behavior impact the environment and to make better choices for our own good and those to follow.

While living away from the city, I learned of the possibilities that could exist in neighborhoods when there was a desire to be responsible for the whole community. I was an eyewitness and saw how parents were encouraged to come to school and eat lunch with their student and their many friends. I witnessed how businesses connected to neighborhood organizations and groups to ensure they were meeting the needs of their customers. How government was accountable for and responsive to the basic needs of its residents, and there was transparency on the realities of the inner city. What my son was missing was a quality of life that he had experienced, and I believed the “new” New Orleans was willing and able to provide. I guess I was much more optimistic about New Orleans than Evan.

While we have seen some positive gains in quality of life areas such as arts and culture, recreation and youth investment, we are still at a struggle with our criminal justice, health and educational systems. New Orleans is my urban miracle; a city remade by the resilience of people who loved the place too much to leave. New Orleans, flaws and all, is an encouraging sign that battered places can rebuild and begin to prosper. I believe in New Orleans and have enjoyed every moment of its revival.

Timolynn Sams Sumter

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Victor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood Association Wendy Laker, Vice Chair, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Angela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood Association Tilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown

Neighborhood Association

Ryan Albright, CBNO Karen Chabert, Irish Channel Neighborhood Association Benjamin Diggins, Melia Subdivision Leslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners

Improvement Association

Sylvia Scineaux-Richard, ENONAC Katherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend

Neighborhood Association

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 © 2014 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 | 2014

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

P A R T N E R S H I P

N E T W O R K

Contents

The Trumpet

9 Mayor Releases Annual Cultural Report 10 Ask Nola: Public Safety Resource 16 Happy Father’s Day, Mom 17 Running the Path Paved with Passion 19 Homework Help at St. Claude Print Shop 20 Affordable Rental Homes Coming to CBD

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OPEN releases 2013 State of the Young Child report

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Students on John McDonogh Closure

In memoriam: Jim Belfon Trumpet Editorial Board Member

The Trumpet Editorial Board

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Le Musée de f.p.c. Celebrates Lives of Free People of Color with Jose Torres-Tama Exhibit

The Trumpet Editorial Staff

Jewel Bush, SEIU Local 21 LA

Rachel D. Graham, Editor-in-Chief

Christy Chapman, Author

Scott Bicking, Art Director

Kelsey Foster, Committee for A Better New Orleans

Jason Stopa, Policy and Education Editor

Heidi Hickman, Resident Elton Jones, New Orleans Rising Naomi King Englar, Tulane Prevention Research Center Linedda McIver, AARP Louisiana Ray Nichols, Maple Area Residents, Inc. Brian Opert, Talk Show Host, WGSO 990 AM Valerie Robinson, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation Jamie Wine, Energy Wise Alliance to the Editorial Board

3321 Tulane Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 thetrumpet@npnnola.com www.npnnola.com

Jim Belfon, Gulf South Photography Project (deceased)

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Contributors

Bivian “Sonny” Lee, III Bivian (Sonny) Lee, III is the President of the B. Lee Group – a brand management, sponsorship development and media relations group. Sonny is also the Founder/ President of Son of a Saint, an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of fatherless sons through education, group mentorship, recreational access, behavorial health … and a little lagniappe.

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Youth Run NOLA

Youth Run NOLA is an after-school, youth development program for middle and high school students across the Greater New Orleans region. The program empowers underserved youth through running while combating the obstacles facing youth — many of whom cope with unsafe, unhealthy, and unsupportive cicurmstances — with positive, structured after school engagement.

Gretchen Zalkind Gretchen serves as Founder and Coordinator of NOLA TimeBank, an innovative way for people to come together to help others, themselves and their communities. Participants ‘deposit’ their time in the bank by giving practical help and support to others through any services they wish to offer and are able to ‘withdraw’ their time by receiving a service from any other member of the TimeBank.

NOLA TimeBank is a sponsored projected of NPN.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Creating Communities for Change Mayor, community-based organizations partner with NeighborWorks to position neighborhood leaders for change

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ayor Mitch Landrieu, The Neighborhood Capacity Building Initiative (NCBI) and the Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office recently announced the Creating Communities for Change campaign and its inaugural initiative, the Community Innovation Training Series and Fund. This four-week training academy is designed to position neighborhood leaders for change by providing skillbuilding workshops and the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to support community-based initiatives.

“New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods, driven strongly by those that live and work in those communities,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “In order to build the city we’ve always thought we could be, we must continue to invest in our communities. I am proud to partner with NeighborWorks America and other stakeholders, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, to roll out the Creating Communities for Change initiative.”

The effort brings together eight diverse non-profit organizations - the Broadmoor Development Corporation, Central City Renaissance Alliance, Freret Neighborhood Center/Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation, Neighborhoods Partnership Network (NPN), Providence Community Housing, Puentes New

Orleans and VAYLA - to build community capacity for local change. The project is executed by the Mayor’s Neighborhood Engagement Office, in partnership with NeighborWorks America, and made possible by a Rockefeller Foundation grant aimed at building citizen engagement in the long-term recovery of New Orleans.

The workshops focus on three key areas of neighborhood engagement: building a winning team, working together to create strong communities and planning for action. Classes start on Saturday, May 17. Attendance by a representative of each participating organization is mandatory for all community groups who wish to apply for a grant.

“NeighborWorks America believes resident engagement is an essential component of effective and sustainable community development and we are excited to partner with the City of New Orleans to bring the Neighborhood Capacity Building Initiative,” said NeighborWorks America’s Donald Phoenix. “This training is designed to empower residents to make positive changes within their own neighborhoods by developing resident leaders, facilitating community building events and activities, and supporting resident-driven groups and initiatives.”

To learn more about NCBI, the Creative Community Change initiative or to register for the Community Innovation Training Series, visit www.ncbinola.org.

NCBI’s Community Innovation Training Series Schedule Lunch and dinner provided at all trainings Workshop 1: Building a Winning Team Saturday, May 17th - 10 am – 1 pm - Neighborhoods Partnership Network, 3321 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119 Wednesday, May 21st - 5:30 – 8:30 pm - Neighborhood Housing Services, 4528 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115 Workshop 2: Working Together to Create Strong Communities Saturday, May 24th - 10 am – 1 pm - VAYLA - 13235 Chef Menteur Hwy, Suite A, New Orleans, LA 70129 Wednesday, May 28th - 5:30 – 8:30 pm - Neighborhood Housing Services, 4528 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115 Workshop 3: Planning for Action Saturday, May 31st - 10 am – 1 pm - Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Dr, New Orleans, LA 70131 Wednesday, June 4th - 5:30 – 8:30 pm - Central City Renaissance Alliance, 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, 4th Floor New Orleans, LA 70113 (Entrance on Euterpe St.)

Get connected to the Neighborhoods Partnership Network.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Post news & events for your organization at NPNnola.com 5

The State of the Young Child in New Orleans

By Julia Ramsey, Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN)

Orleans Public Education Network Releases 2013 Early Development Data Across 44 N.O. Neighborhoods

By Julia Ramsey, Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN)

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arly childhood development — the growth of physical, socialemotional and linguistic-cognitive capacities in the early years of a child’s life — is the foundation for health, well-being and learning across the course of a human’s life. The first three years are increasingly recognized as a window of opportunity to optimize children’s capacity for development. Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) has used the Early Development Instrument (EDI), an internationally-recognized scale of child development, to evaluate the needs and holistic development of children across New Orleans.

OPEN recently released its Neighborhood Profile Report, a comprehensive collection of data on 65 percent of kindergarten-age children in both public and private schools across Orleans Parish. This data provides a comprehensive assessment of our children’s school readiness and their needs. Community leaders and researchers can use this data to evaluate the areas of greatest need and to direct resources to where they’re most effective.

Communities across Canada, Australia, and the U.S. have used the EDI to inform and inspire new policies and programs to promote school readiness in a variety of ways. These ways are varied because communities face different obstacles to school readiness — which makes hyper-specific, local data even more valuable to craft different approaches.

During the 2012-2013 school year, teachers completed 2,597 EDI checklists, reaching 65 percent of the kindergarten age population in New Orleans. In total, 86 percent of the children participating in EDI were African American compared to 74 percent of all five-year-olds citywide. Conversely, only 4 percent of the children participating in EDI were white compared to 17 percent of all five-yearolds. Moreover, 4 percent of the participants were Hispanic, 1 percent were Asian and 3 percent were identified as other – similar to the percent citywide.

Additionally, 13 percent were identified as English-as-a-second language learners.

The EDI results across New Orleans show that the vast majority of children are developmentally on track or very ready. However, a significant percentage of children are considered developmentally vulnerable, such that the share of

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children that are vulnerable in each domain are at the high-end or exceed the national norm. A current limitation of EDI is that national norms are not available for the other categories including very ready.

It is possible that some of the children who are vulnerable in one domain may also be vulnerable in another just as it could be that children who are very ready in one domain may be very ready in multiple domains. In fact, a full 32 percent of all children in New Orleans are vulnerable in at least one domain with 18 percent vulnerable in two or more. Conversely, 17 percent of kindergartners are very ready in four or more of the EDI domains with 8 percent very ready in all five of the domains.

The report also includes specific breakdowns of data for 44 neighborhoods across New Orleans, from Algiers Point to Broadmoore to Hollygrove to the Lower 9th Ward to Village de L’Est and beyond.

School readiness is more than just language and cognitive development.

Development of the whole child across all five areas is essential to preparing children for success in school and life. Ultimately, collecting and disseminating this data here in New Orleans holds the potential to galvanize organizations and communities to support and nurture the development of our youngest residents ... who, at the end of the day, are our future.

Want to see data on your neighborhood’s young children or get in-depth information on the domains? Individual community profiles are available for download at www.opennola.org!

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

What you need to know about Social Security but didn’t think to ask

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By Earl Williams, AARP Volunteer Executive Council and Hollygrove resident s baby boomers look forward to the exciting possibilities age brings, the question of when to claim retirement benefits inevitably pops up into the picture. It’s important to calculate Social Security benefits and the age at which you plan on claiming them because you could be leaving big money on the table.

Every person has a different “best age” for starting their benefits based on a variety of factors.

Perhaps the key to answering this question is for those approaching retirement to assess their individual situation and envision what they want their life to look like for the next 20 years. Because the closer retirement gets, the harder it becomes to close the income gap and save.

A new Fidelity report says that 48 percent of boomers are not on track to be able to afford basic expenses in retirement, a figure echoed by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), which declared in 2010 that 47 percent of the oldest boomers were at risk.

Based on individual situations, some people claim their earned retirement benefits at the earliest opportunity because they need the money or they are no longer healthy enough to work However, if you claim your retirement sooner than you have to, you might be leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table.

To get your full Social Security benefit, you have to claim at your full retirement age. That’s 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954 (after that, it gradually creeps up to 67). You can claim as early as 62, but your benefit will be cut by 25 percent. If you’re looking for a little more than that, try retiring late, if your health permits. Your full benefit rises by 8 percent for every year between 66 and 70 that you wait to claim it.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

One helpful tool for factoring in your personal situation, like your current age, occupation, number of years working in Social Security-covered employment and your desire and physical ability to keep working, is the retirement calculator. You can find the online tool at www.aarp.org/work/ retirement-planning/retirement_calculator.html. The tool will help you evaluate your personal situation and even that of your spouse to help you get the most out of your retirement.

When to start receiving Social Security benefits is a tough question that only you can answer. But AARP’s retirement calculator can help you figure out if waiting to retire makes financial sense. AARP is helping baby boomers envision their life after work and can provide them with the proper resources to envision what is next for their future.

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It’s Worth It! Now It’s Time to Take the Next Step

By Jamie Wine, EnergyWise Alliance Is Solar Still a Good Idea for Your Family?

Yes, a resounding yes! We did it, we bit the bullet and installed solar on our home. We are much happier with the system than we could have imagined, especially since getting our first Entergy bill for $7.80! Here’s how we sorted through the chaff to find our best deal: DECIDE TO PURCHASE OR LEASE Both options have clear pros and cons. You just have to figure out which one works best for your situation.

Leasing boils everything down to a single monthly payment for 180 months.

The leasing company installs the panels, monitors production and does repair and maintenance. Some guarantee specific energy production amounts or reductions in your bill. At the end of the term, you can basically have the solar panels for what you’ve already paid, so it’s like lease-to-own.

Buying can be less money out of pocket in the end, but more money up front. If you can pay for a whole system (approx $25,000) or finance it, this may be a better option. Some people also just prefer to own things instead of leasing them.

In both situations (leasing or buying) the solar installer should do much of the work for you, including give you paperwork for your taxes, installing all the electrical on your house, the panels, electric inverters and insure the whole project while they’re installing it. Install takes a few days and the company should quote you a price that includes everything to be operational.

DETERMINE IF YOUR HOUSE IS SUITED FOR SOLAR There are lots of factors to consider, which qualified solar contractors can help you answer for free. Orientation of your home, current energy bills, potential energy production, obstructions of the sun and the condition of your roof should all be evaluated before you start an installation process. Reputable installers do this in your initial consultation.

INTERVIEW CONTRACTORS The Alliance for Affordable Energy covers this topic in detail. Download their PDF for the contractors you interview. Some key points that were important to my family were: overall cost, accurate production estimates, workmanship guarantees and insurance.

If you do get solar installed, mention you heard it from your favorite nonprofit (Energy Wise!) as we and other nonprofits can earn a referral bonus if you install panels on your home.

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS State incentives are a check for 50 percent of system cost, up to $12,500, written to you when you file your income taxes in the next year. The $25,000 mark is the target when buying a solar system to maximize this incentive.

Federal incentives are for 30 percent with no limit, so it would be $7,500 for a $25,000 system, but you must have $7,500 in income tax liability to get this money back. In 2013, you’d need to have about $46,000 in taxable income to take advantage of this incentive.

Together, with the federal and state incentive, you pay only 20 percent of total system cost, but you have to put the total cost down upfront.

If you have stellar credit you can get 365 days same as cash financing that is set up directly with the solar contractor. However, the interest rates are high, so if you don’t plan on paying this back in full in 365 days, don’t use this option!

We chose to purchase because we will end up paying about $6,000 for the system out of pocket, but with a lease we’d end up paying about $11,000 over the term of the lease.

ADDITIONAL COST BENEFITS Don’t forget that you may have to insure the panels on your home owners insurance policy (this cost us about $350/year). Be sure to call your broker/agent before you install to get an estimate, and to see if your policy even covers solar panels, some don’t!

Solar also acts as a radiant barrier for our attic. The days before the install our attic was reaching 120-130 degrees. Now, in hotter weather, it rarely tops 105 degrees. This reduction help us reduce our cooling bills on top of the energy production.

Remodeling your kitchen, bathroom, floors or building an addition will not pay you every month. Solar will not only add value to your home, it will also pay you back every month! For more information on solar incentives and weatherization how-tos, sign up for a custom workshop for any group of 10 or more people. Contact Jamie Wine at (504) 656-6224 or via email at jamie@energyla.org.

FREE Workshops available to educate you and your neighbors about energy conservation, weatherization and alternative energy. /HDUQ LPPHGLDWH UHDO ZD\V WR UHGXFH \RXU ELOO IRU OLWWOH RU QR FRVW ,I \RX¡G like to go further, we have the resources to help you retrofit your home or even add solar panels.

A Louisiana nonprofit dedicated to help you reduce your energy bill and be comfortable in your own home. For tenants and homeowners, we have tailored workshops because every home is different.

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Any group of 15 or more people may host a workshop from church groups, neighborhood associations or even a lunch-and-learn at your place of business. Workshops range from 15-75 minutes and can be added to an existLQJ PHHWLQJ RU GRQH LQ GHSWK RQ LW¡V RZQ (YHQLQJV DQG ZHHNHQGV DUH okay.

Contact: Jamie Wine jamie@energyla.org 504-656-6224 energyla.org

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Photograph Credit: Danielle Miles

Mayor Releases Annual Report on Cultural Economy

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ayor Mitch Landrieu issued the “2013 New Orleans Cultural Economy Snapshot,” an in-depth analysis of the value of the City’s cultural economy.at drive economic growth, the needs of an ever-changing population and an ecology that, at once, can be a gift and an curse. However, never has our ability to do just that been more urgent. As Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports Committee (TAPES), Mayor Landrieu released the report during the special committee meeting to mayors representing nine cities from around the U.S. and convening in New Orleans this week.

Highlights of the report include the following:

In New Orleans, 34,198 jobs, or 13.7 percent of the total workforce, are directly employed in the cultural economy. The cultural economy is the second largest sector of employment in New Orleans after tourism, with cultural workers making $1.2 billion in wages in 2013. The cultural economy in New Orleans, as originally defined in the 2005 report Louisiana: Where Culture Means Business, consists of six segments: Culinary Arts, Design, Entertainment, Literary Arts and Humanities, Preservation, and Visual Arts and Crafts.

According to the Data Center “New Orleans has a growing number of arts and culture nonprofits. More than double the national rate of 13 per 100,000.”

These facts and figures are important to a city and its residents because they are among the city’s greatest assets and critical to the quality of life in which residents and grown to love and enjoy.

“This report is a comprehensive, detailed assessment of our city’s cultural economy,” said Scott Hutcheson, the Mayor’s Advisor for Cultural Economy. “For the fourth year in a row we are able to use sound data to show the incredible value of this aspect of our city’s fabric – indeed the very heartbeat of what makes New Orleans a great place to live, work and visit.”

Including actors, there are 1,294 film workers in the New Orleans region in 2013, an increase of 17% over the 1,103 workers counted in 2012.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

The cultural sector was one of the few industries to experience positive employment growth (13.3%) between 2002 and 2013.

New Orleans’ cultural businesses have added jobs each and every year, and jobs have now exceeded the 2004 high.

The number of jobs in motion picture and video production increased from 286 in 2002 to 2,326 in 2013. Most film workers fill 2 or more of these jobs each year.

There were 1,587 cultural businesses in New Orleans in 2013. $1.2 billion in wages were paid to New Orleans cultural workers via cultural businesses in 2013, up 4% from 2012.

The city collected $76 million in sales taxes from cultural businesses, up 23% from 2012 and representing an estimated 44% of all sales tax revenues to the city in 2013.

The city hosted 60 feature film and television tax credit projects in 2013, a 62% increase from 2010.

Local spending of film projects is estimated at $457 million for the New Orleans Region, a 25% increase from 2010.

New Orleans’ 117 live entertainment venues hosted 29,000 gigs in 2013.

New Orleans presented 136 festivals attended by an estimated 4.1 million people in 2013. This is a 28% increase in estimated attendance from 2010.

In 2013, the city’s museums hosted 760,000 visitors, sold $9.5 million in tickets and paid over $15 million in local payroll to 450 employees.

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Ask Nola PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES Our parents taught us all to “Call 911” in an emergency. But did you know there are 68 operators working five daily shifts to handle these calls at the Orleans Parish Communication District in Mid-City? Their job is to gather information from callers and simultaneously pass it along to a dispatcher, who identifies the problem and immediately notifies the appropriate agency: Police Department (NOPD), Fire Department (NOFD) and/or Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Help is often on the way before you hang up!

Of these first responders, the ones we are most likely to encounter in our daily lives are the police. So much has been written about interacting with police in the field – such as suggested rules of conduct during a traffic stop, detainment or arrest – that I will not cover those topics here. Instead, I will focus specifically on the mission of NOPD, how it functions and our role as citizens in maintaining law and order. My only question is: Which of the following tools will you use?

Due Diligence As New Orleans residents, we have a duty to report any crimes or suspicious activity we witness. Whereas 911 is intended for life-threatening situations, and 504821-2222 is for non-emergencies, there are quite a few other ways to share what you know with authorities. For example, each district station collects “hot sheets,” citizensubmitted cards detailing specific criminal activity like drug dealing or domestic abuse. Likewise, district commanders discreetly process the scores of helpful leads emailed to them every day.

Tips concerning high-profile cases and on-going investigations can be sent anonymously to CrimeStoppers using their free TipSubmit mobile app, by calling 504-822-1111, or texting ‘TELLCS’ plus a brief tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Beyond the pride of doing one’s civic duty, tips that lead to a conviction may also net you a cash reward.

Eyes and Ears New Orleans citizens – who outnumber NOPD personnel over 300 to 1 – have a vested interest in keeping track of crime trends, both within their immediate neighborhoods and city-wide. For that purpose, NOPD sponsors a full-featured crime-mapping system with its own email notifications, and maintains an active presence on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

NOPD also hosts monthly New Orleans Neighborhood Police Anti-Crime Council (NONPACC) meetings in every district, intended primarily for neighborhood leaders, and broadcasts daily alerts through a dozen public communication channels to which anyone can subscribe with just a few clicks. You can even listen to several local police and fire department radio channels over the Internet, just as ProjectNOLA volunteers do.

Community Connections Meanwhile, New Orleans Police Department keeps in touch with the community a number of ways. There are Community Outreach Coordinators (“CoCo”) and Quality of Life (“QoL”) officers stationed in each district who attend neighborhood meetings and respond to complaints ranging from abandoned vehicles to barking dogs. In an effort to engage students of all ages, NOPD regularly sends School Resource Officers (“SRO”) to campuses throughout the city.

Training and part-time duty are available to uniformed officers of the volunteer Reserve Division, while private citizens seeking to contribute without donning a uniform can elect to serve on an advisory board, volunteer their time or make donations to police districts of their choice. To earn extra income, off-duty police officers routinely take paid private details through the City’s new Office of Police Secondary Employment.

departmental policy and the inner workings of our criminal justice system. With admission open to the public, this small, informal class meets once a week for three months, culminating in a graduation ceremony.

Other informative NOPD resources you can explore online include a Wikipedia page covering the department’s history, maps of the various police districts and zones, a facilities locator and crime statistics with historical data.

Monthly Meetings Community members will find ample opportunity to mingle with police officers at weekly COMSTAT and monthly NONPACC meetings, plus a series of anti-crime walks throughout the year, all of which you will find listed on the NOPD Events Calendar. Be forewarned that although officers do try to speak plainly at these public gatherings, they often lapse back into “Cop Speak.” To keep up, check out the comprehensive NOPD Citizens Guide for help decoding radio signals like “10-23” (signifies “stand by”), shorthand terms like “62A” (translates to “burglar alarm”), and often-overlooked subjects such as officer salutations and rank insignia (for example, a single gold shoulder bar indicates “Lieutenant”).

Feedback Forums Every year, NOPD offers a free Citizens Police Academy to teach attendees more about police training procedures, crime reporting, forensic investigation, departmental policy and the inner workings of our criminal justice system. With admission open to the public, this small, informal class meets once a week for three months, culminating in a graduation ceremony.

Every month, New Orleans Police Department tabulates and relays a certain subset of their crime statistics – known as Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) – to the FBI, which compiles and publishes the data annually to provide a snapshot of regional trends. NOPD also tracks numerous internal statistics and utilizes stateof-the-art crime-prevention software to determine where and when to deploy its limited manpower; a force which today hovers around 1,100 officers.

NOPD also employs various external quality measures. They range from annual citizen satisfaction surveys which gauge the department’s perceived overall reliability and effectiveness to commendations and complaints reported to the Independent Police Monitor (IPM) by citizens praising or criticizing the conduct and performance of individual officers.

Agencies Aplenty By no means are the brave men and women of NOPD the only ones putting themselves on the line to ensure public safety in New Orleans! They are joined by fellow law enforcement agencies, including the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Transportation Security Administation (TSA), Secret Service, the Louisiana State Police, Harbor Police, railroad police and university campus police; support organizations like the Police Association of New Orleans (PANO), the Citizens Organization for Police Support in the 2nd District (COPS 2) and the 8th District (COPS8), the Police & Justice Foundation and SafeCamNola.com; private security firms; the firefighters of NOFD and medical technicians of EMS; military search-and-rescue outfits like the Coast Guard; emergency preparedness and disaster-response teams like the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP), NolaReady, the New Orleans Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Evacuteer.org; watchdog groups like Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the IPM, OffenderWatch and Metro Crime Commission; as well as community-driven initiatives like NOLA4Life, ProjectNOLA. com and countless others. That’s a lot of people to thank for keeping us all safe in an imperfect world!

Laypeople Learning Every year, NOPD offers a free Citizens Police Academy to teach attendees more about police training procedures, crime reporting, forensic investigation,

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THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

A View From Mary’s Front Porch

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By Mary Crooks

y father, Cornelius Washington, is a photographer who, through the years, has taken photographs of people and places − both ordinary and special − that make up Picayune, Mississippi. One of my favorite series of photographs is the one that he took from the front porch looking south to the corner where his parents lived. Through the years, these moments in time have chronicled the transitions from a dirt road to paved street; the impact of Urban Renewal which brought about the replacement of wood frames houses on piers to brick houses with little elevation; and empty lots where neighbors once lived.

Last week, I sought to capture the view from my front porch. I saw: • A street riddled with potholes made by heavy construction traffic while completing the Dwyer Road drainage canal. Where families walk in the streets dodging cars that dodge the potholes.

• An empty lot that spans one block where fortunately the grass is cut low, but during the years has been 5 feet tall or higher.

• The corner littered with automobile tires and sometimes furniture and other cast-offs.

These are common quality of life issues that plague many residents in New Orleans. I saw problems that required an action to resolve with calls and letters to City Officials and Department and delayed responses.

Something happened this week as I planted flowers in the front yard. A neighbor passed by with her two children, one learning how to ride a bike and

Photograph Credit: Mary Crooks

another that she pushed in a stroller. I noticed that the potholes that made me cringe did not impede her at all. The next day, another neighbor was taking his grandchildren for a bicycle outing. When he stopped in my yard to discuss gardening, I was introduced to the children. As we talked about school and their summer plans, the eight-year-old looked at the empty lot and said he imagined it being a big roller skating rink. These incidents shifted my perspective from negative to positive; from problems to possibilities.

In Our Opinion:

Honoring Teachers Everywhere “I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride ...” The Greatest , Linda Creed

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o the Faculty and Staff of Mary D. Coghill School: If you can read this, thank a teacher. I did. But I would like to publicly thank Ms. Aisha Jones, the principal of Mary D. Coghill Elementary School, and her staff for the great work that they are doing.

In particular, I would like to thank pre-K teacher Ms. Kathleen Farrell and first-grade teacher Ms. Cynthia Williams for the work that they have done with my grandkids. Jahmai, who is five and in Ms. Farrell’s class, is learning so many good things that are much more than just book knowledge. She is learning about nature, sharing, reading, leadership skills and many other lessons.

Thank you, Ms. Farrell. I know you have your hands full with Jahmai.

Ms. Williams, thank you for helping my grandson, Devon, improve his reading. He participated in a play at the Jazz Fest where he had to read a line. He executed his line with confidence, assurance and accuracy. That is, in part, due to your style of teaching and prodding him on. Thank you so much. Also included in Devon’s learning is the work that Ms. Gilyot provided for him in kindergarten.

You guys are awesome, and I applaud your efforts and patience to deal with those two, in particular, and your classes in general.

Hats off to the Coghill staff!

Ms. Willmarine B. Hurst Grandmother of Jahmai and Devon Hurst

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Mary D. Coghill Elementary School at the Parkview School, located in the Gentilly Woods neighborhood.

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In Memoriam:

Jim Belfon

Photograph Credit: Jim McClusker|Times Picayune

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PN has been fortunate to connect with many wonderful people; people who have helped shape and develop this organization into being exactly what it strived to be ‌ a NETWORK. One such person who took a strong interest in the network was Mr. Jim Belfon, a passionate photographer and mentor to New Orleans youth from New York. He arrived with a camera in hand to help us reclaim and recover ourselves through photography.

Through Gulf South Photography Project, Jim empowered New Orleans youth to use the camera to express their feelings and thoughts about the recovery of the city. As a member of The NPN Trumpet editorial board, Jim provided the images of life in New Orleans neighborhoods which graced this center spread for many years.

On March 23, 2014, Jim’s soul left this space. We acknowledge Jim for all that he has given to the city and thank his family for sharing him with us these past seven years.

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THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

We asked. You gave ... as one. Thank you.

Ryan Albright Terry Alsanders Micaela Bowers Deirdre Johnson Burel Lionel Burns Dawn D. Domengeaux Naomi and Mike Englar Linetta Gilbert Victor Gordon Rachel D. Graham Kelly Hill Destiny Hinson Mary Hogan Happy Johnson

Rosalie Torres Kristyna Jones Keith Twitchell Nolan Marshall, Jr. Kendall Washington Jo Ann Minor Margaret Montgomery-Richard Gretchen Zalkind Andreanecia Morris Beverly Nichols Angela O’Byrne, FAIA Danielle Perry Rebecca Ripley Tiffany Robbins Kysha Brown Robinson Sharon Sheridan Making all neighborhoods great places to live Hamilton Simons-Jones Timolynn Sams Sumter

With special thanks to the

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

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It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

Students Speak Out on the Closing of John McDonogh

By Willmarine B. Hurst

Photograph Credit: Rachel D. Graham

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any people who are not native New Orleanians don’t quite understand why we keep referencing things on the basis of ‘before and after Hurricane Katrina.’ They don’t quite understand when we say, ‘before the storm, there used to be a grocery store on that corner.’ Or ‘before the storm, we used to go to that church.’ But now there is an empty lot where the store once stood. And the members of that church have scattered because that building is no longer viable to use. Hurricane Katrina changed so many things we knew; the way we did things and our way of living.

Even with the schools, I recall that right before the storm, one of the biggest issues that we had was the changing of the schools’ names to that of AfricanAmerican leaders—rather than the names of former slave owners. After the storm, one of the biggest problems is keeping those schools up and running.

This year, at least five more schools are closing their doors—some permanently, some for renovations.

This article takes a look at one such school, John McDonogh Senior High School. Dr. Marvin Thompson, the school’s principal, and several of the students have agreed to open up and express how they feel about their school closing.

For some, it is the end of the road. For others, it is transitioning on to other things, new adventures and different schools.

A sad ending, a new beginning

For Lawtress Breaux, a confident, energetic sophomore, it is a sad ending this school year. “I will miss all my teachers,” she says. “It’s kind of hard. It’s like a family here. Everybody got close. Everybody is connected here.” She says that they now

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all have to separate. Breaux, along with Tavon Jones and Izish Epps will all be attending Edna Karr School the next school year. Epps, a tall, slender young man with a quirky smile who is also a sophomore, says, “I feel bad. I wanted to keep going here. I wanted to graduate from John Mc.” All of these students were honor roll students and active in the school.

Breaux, who is a cheerleader, a member of the science club and who is in the Jr. ROTC, says that she came to John McDonogh in the middle of her ninth grade year. “By me coming here in the ninth grade and from out of state (Florida), I was making bad grades. John Mc helped me improve my grades—it took about three weeks.” She is really involved in the school. “I wasn’t active in my old school,” says Breaux, who is also an accomplished artist whose works have been purchased by several teachers at the school. “I did a painting for the Trojan Band which has already been purchased by one of the teachers,” she proudly tells.

“And I also did a painting of ‘the eye of the tiger’ which shows determination.

It’s for the conference room and I’m waiting for that one to be purchased,” she confidently notes.

Likewise, Epps and Jones are also involved in the school. Both are members of the band—both play trombone. Their faces light up as they mention that fact.

In the past - before the storm - John Mc’s band was widely known in the city as one of the premier marching bands and a highlight of the parade season.

And Epps is on the football and basketball teams. “It’s hard leaving here,” says Jones in a very somber tone. He also echoes Breaux’s sentiment about the family atmosphere that they have created John McDonogh. “I think that after everybody goes to the schools that they are going to, then they are really going to miss the Mc,” he points out. Both Jones and Epps say that they will miss Mr. Paulin, their band

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

teacher. “I’m also going to miss my English teacher, Ms. Travelier,” tells Epps. Breaux chimes in saying, “I don’t think that it’s really going to hit me until the last day. That’s when it’s all going to rush to my head—the whole past year and all my friends and stuff.”

While they are all happy that they have been accepted into Karr, they are concerned about the school closing and its effect on others. Breaux says, “It also affects a lot of people that the school is closing because a lot of people have been here since the beginning. And a lot of people’s families graduated from here and they wanted to graduate from here, too. A lot of people have been crying and stuff.”

Despite some of the negatives that have plagued the school, these students have found a sense of family and a nourishing environment. They are sad to be leaving, but excited about their new adventure at Edna Karr.

And finally, I believe “We’re the last class to be talked about; the last class to graduate,” says Tinesha Carter, a lovely young lady with a warm smile. “I’m happy that we enjoyed four years here,” she says. And how fitting that their class song is “I Believe,” by Fantasia. In spite of all the naysayers, all the negative press, all the doubters, Carter says, “Yes, I believe. I believe that the ‘future is now.’ We came together as a school, but this has all been in the last couple of years,” she tells.

Carter explains that it has not always been this way. “How we use to be, it wasn’t nice,” she says. “We’re different now since Dr. T (Principal Marvin Thompson) has come—we can get things done, now.”

Dr. Thompson has only been at John McDonogh for the past two years.

Before his arrival, John Mc also housed an alternative school – ReNew Charter School. This school was geared towards students who were in need of extra credits in various subjects. It occupied the entire ninth grade floor. However, they were only there for a year.

“My ninth grade year was the worst of the worst,” Carter says. But things are better for her now that she is graduating. Carter says that this senior class has been great. They have had a picnic, an awards night, rallies, a class night and a ring ceremony. They were not able to have a yearbook, she says, but the other events and activities made up for that one thing. However, there will be no documented memories and pictures that a yearbook provides.

Now, she says she is preparing for college—“without the drama” of the past problems at the school. “Now that Dr. T is here, it’s like, he cares. He’s preparing students to succeed. He would say things like, ‘do your work’; ‘get to class’ – he really motivated us.”

Carter feels that she is ready for college. “It will be fun. I’ve always been an A or B student.” She has already enrolled in Delgado College for the summer to take her prerequisites. She plans to attend Dillard University for nursing. Like Lawtress and the other students, Carter says that she will also miss her teachers; especially Ms. Chambers, her Advanced Math teacher, and Ms. Brown, her World Geography teacher and volleyball coach (who is no longer there). She fondly remembers them all.

However, as she prepares to leave this school and move to the next chapter in her life, Carter says, “This is what I want people to know about the John Mc that I have been to for four years. You know how people say that you can’t judge a book by its cover—unless you actually look inside? Well, I have been at John Mc for four years. It’s been fun, we laugh, we cry, we’ve been serious. I say come to John Mc and see how it is. We’re just like everybody else. We’re normal. And I believe in my school.”

The future is now – or NEVER When Dr. Marvin Thompson came to John McDonogh, his mission was to turn the school around and jump start the learning process in the right direction.

He says that his biggest challenge was to get the students to realize that the future is now or never. “They will be left back and left out according to national standards.” The format has been laid. “I think in the two years that we’ve been here, the kids here have recognized where they are. I think that they have a new context [for] what learning is,” he explains.

He also says that they are not 100 percent of where he would like them to be.

“What they have come to is how to have a dialogue on what they need to know and what they want to accomplish. Those are conversations that they didn’t have when I came here. Those were conversations that they were not used to,” he says.

He also says that they have learned how to treat each other and what real respect is all about—the giving as well as the receiving of it to each other as well as the adults.

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Dr. Thompson points out that those were some little components of civility that were not previously there.

“I get a little upset when people start talking about schools solely in terms of test scores. And this is one of the things that drives me crazy— particularly when you’re dealing with inner-city minorities,” says Thompson.

He believes that learning good manners and respect are also key components in the education process.

“So, we’ve done a disservice to our inner city kids by talking about their problems and our expectations and pairing them like they’re equitable.

They’re not equitable. They’re not equitable in any category. And we’ve approached them in a way that makes it difficult for them to connect with.

So, when I look at our progress, I have to evaluate our progress by trying to put a realistic perspective on who they are,” states Thompson.

Says Thompson, “I got kids in here that—if this were an emergency room, and I had to diagnosis my patients—then some of them were on life support when they showed up at the door. So I got a kid on life support and you want him to be running in the Olympics … are you kidding?” Thompson says that it just doesn’t work that way. “And I think that the public has got to come to the understanding about knowing who we have and where they are in our city and where are our kids.”

Thompson signed a two-year contract with Future is Now Schools charter operator to come to John McDonogh High School. Now that the school is closing, Thompson says that he has no immediate future plans. His concern was to help turn the school around. And based on conversation from several students, they believe that he has done just that.

John McDonogh will close this school year and reopen some time in 2017, hopefully with some of the components that were put in place by Dr. Thompson.

Good luck to the students!!! And congrats to the Seniors, Class of 2014!!!

Willmarine B. Hurst is a freelance writer and alumni of the Orleans Public Education Network’s Parent Leadership Training Initiative. She can be reached at w12i26l49@msn.com or Willmarine@gmail.com (Photo of Dr. Marvin Thompson and student Tinesha Carter courtesy of Willmarine B. Hurst)

What do you think?

John McDonogh High School faces an uncertain future as it closes for renovations at the end of the school year and students are disbursed to other school throughout the New Orleans area. The current operator, Future is Now, has not a made decision on whether it will apply to run the school again once it reopens.

Would you like to see the current school leadership return to “John Mc” when it reopens in 2017? Scan below or visit npnnola.nationbuiler.com/john_mc_future and take The NPN Trumpet survey today.

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Happy Father’s Day, Mom

By Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, Son of A Saint

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he month of June is very special to me - it is the month we celebrate fathers. For as long as I can remember, Father’s Day consisted of me walking into my mother’s room and watching tears trickling down her face - and being reminded that her heart is hurting. Thirty years after my father passed away from a heart attack in front my three-year-old eyes, my mother still vividly remembers his smile, his smell, his jokes and the look of the hands she held for a short ten years. I can only imagine what it is like to find your true love and experience that feeling of completion only to unexpectedly lose it forever, leaving you feeling empty through no fault of your own.

I always wish my mother a Happy Father’s Day because she is the only father I know. For a long time, I thought that a woman couldn’t raise a boy into a man. But it wasn’t until recently that my opinion changed - because I changed my idea of what a man is. Until a few years ago, I had never been fishing, never felt comfortable talking about cars, tools, stocks or golf - the things that I felt made a man a man. What my mother did teach me was how to ride a bike, how to respect others and myself, keep my faith and to never stop educating myself.

For that, I thank her.

I always thought my father was the person that inspired my profession, but it’s been equally inspired by my mother. You see, I am in the business of nurturing young minds and hearts - specifically fatherless ones. It is not an

easy task, and without the help of committed volunteers and mentors, it would be impossible to do effectively. The fact is that there are too many boys being raised without the presence of a father or male figure consistently delivering a positive message. For a variety of reasons - natural death, violence, willful neglect or imprisonment - these boys are struggling with the same issues I encountered growing up: anger, anxiety, depression and loneliness. How can we, as a society, expect a boy dealing with these issues to reach his full potential without nourishing him with mental health services, positive role models or social and recreational outlets?

Too often we have high expectations for these kids without understanding each situation. We cannot lump them into a group and dismiss them if they do something wrong or label them “misfits” without putting all the variables that may cause them to misbehave into context. It takes a lot of work to mentor a child that isn’t your own, but I would rather invest my resources into preventative measures than reactive ones. Then, I’m not only taking care of the kids but also helping to break the cycle of broken families. In mentoring young boys, you don’t just change him but the people around him also.

My personal mottos are: Think differently, possibilities are endless and inspire the next. All of these are approaches to mentoring. So to the men reading this - you don’t need to join an organization to find a kid to mentor, because chances are you already know one. Take charge, and I promise you it will be the most rewarding thing you have ever done. To the moms raising boys on their own - thank you and Happy Father’s Day. The light within me sees the light within you. Lastly, to my first newborn son Tenzin - Daddy loves you.

Sonny Lee is the founder of Son of a Saint, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of fatherless young males in New Orleans and a sponsored project of Neighborhoods Partnership Network. His father, Bivian Lee, was a defensive back for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1975.

Learn how you can be a part of Son of a Saint’s work to enhance the lives of fatherless boys by visiting SonofaSaint.org.

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THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Running the Path Paved with Passion

By Micah Briggs, YouthRun NOLA

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am one of those New Orleans transplants who came from the other N.O. − North Omaha, Nebraska − and I have now made this beloved city my home. At times, I find myself lost in the colorful canvas of culinary cuisine which makes up the edible art I affectionately refer to as NOLA. High humidity, musical intensity, feel-good food that will leave you flat on your back and a buffet of hospitality that far exceeds any other location in the Milky Way make this place a home like none that I’ve ever experienced. Like any other city, this place has its fair share of hang-ups, but all-in-all, there is simply no other place that can compare to New Orleans.

As a teacher and an avid runner, I find myself constantly looking for opportunities to combine my professional passions with my personal interest. My simple solution to that has been coaching cross-country teams.

However, being a part of a New Orleanian school culture which is heavily

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laden with high-stakes testing and tons of emotional residue from the aftermath of Katrina, starting a cross-country team was not one of the top priorities … and understandably so.

One day while I was voicing my concerns about running to some co-workers, one of them suggested that I get connected with YouthRun NOLA. Curious to find out what this YouthRun NOLA group was all about, I sought out the organizers.

After learning about this interesting concept of enlisting runners and nonrunners, omitting the variable of competition; creating a family of fitness which existed to connect communities by building relationships between students, teachers, coaches, parents and the surrounding community, I was sold on the idea.

The Health and Physical Education teacher in me was thoroughly thrilled with the concept of investing in a life-long commitment to healthier living through the vehicle of running, nutrition and having some plain old-fashioned fun. Since that day, I have run with children from 11- to 18-years-old, participating in 5Ks, 10Ks and even two half-marathons. This has been a life-altering experience that has given me the honor of walking along a path with children while they reach deep within themselves and pull out intestinal fortitude which pushes them to take on challenges that stretch past the furthest reaches of their imaginations.

There is nothing more rewarding than watching a child who has very little, if any, athletic ability develop commitment and dedication to training in order to complete their first 5K races. One of my biggest sparks of inspiration comes from watching children faced with unsurmountable odds stacked up against them − depression, low self-esteem, poverty, cultures of violence, incarcerated family members and homes flooded with chemical dependency − accomplish this goal of running and the achievement of a very personal and individual victory.

At the end of the day YouthRun NOLA has given me the opportunity to be a part of something special. I not only have the privilege of investing in wonderful young people, they are also inspiring me. For more information on YouthRun NOLA, check out youthrunnola.org or find us on Facebook.

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New Orleans Free People of Color & Their Legacy

Le Musée de f.p.c. to showcase Jose Torres-Tama’s acclaimed traveling exhibition celebrating to accomplishments of distinguished New Orleanians

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he legacy and contributions of gens de couleurs libres, or Free People of Color, provide the roux to the gumbo that is New Orleans culture.

An collection of portraits celebrating this legacy debuts this month at Le Musée de f.p.c. Jose Torres-Tama’s New Orleans Free People of Color & Their Legacy, a traveling exhibition of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, will be on display May 23 through July 11. The exhibition and its complementary catalogue are made possible through the support of the Joan Mitchell Foundation in New York.

“Le Musée de f.p.c. is believed to be the only facility in the nation dedicated exclusively to celebrating and telling the stories of free people of color through the collection and preserving of material culture,” says the house museum’s founder Beverly S. McKenna. “That makes this collaboration with Jose Torres-Tama, the Ogden and the Joan Mitchell Foundation such a perfect fit. Showcasing work that depicts and honors the likes of Rose Nicaud, a once-enslaved woman who purchased her own freedom and ran her own business; philanthropist Thomy LaFon; and composer Edmond Dede precisely reflects the purpose for which Le Musée was established.”

Artist Jose Torres-Tama is an award-winning writer and interdisciplinary artist working in visual and performance art. He has worked in the New Orleans arts community for 20 years. Since 1995, he has toured nationally and internationally with his multimedia performances. New Orleans Free People of Color celebrates the cultural, political and artistic contributions of renowned 18th and 19th century historical figures in a collection of paper portraits. The companion catalogue contains biographical notes on each individual and a timeline of New Orleans colonial history, both written by historian Keith Weldon Medley.

The exhibition comes at a time of great celebration for Le Musée. It is entering its fourth year of celebrating the lives, legacies and contributions of men and women of African descent whose efforts have left an indelible mark on local and national history. The exhibit’s closing will coincide with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the original New Orleans Tribune, the country’s first Black daily newspaper which was published by free man of color, Dr. Louis Charles Roudanez. Dr. Roudanez was a civic leader and physician whose life and times serve as the archetypical story for Le Musée de f.p.c.’s work.

The museum is home to a varied and rare collection including items such as a hand-crafted armoire and daybed by skilled craftsman Dutreuil Barjon, a

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free man of color whose workshop was located in the 200 block of Royal Street in the 1800s. Le Musée is also houses a collection of manumission, or freedom, papers; some of which represent instances of the enslaved buying their own freedom. What makes this collection particularly exception is that it is largely the result of the McKenna Family’s efforts to collect items of cultural and historical significance from this segment of Black History for more than three decades, spending from what was, at times, a meager budget.

McKenna says, “Early on, we had the foresight to recognize the importance of Black people telling our own story from our perspective. Today we have a collection we are excited to share, not just because it is interesting or unique, but because of the important truths it helps to tell.”

A part of the McKenna Museums, which also includes The George and Leah McKenna Museum of African-American Art, Le Musée de f.p.c. is located in the Seventh Ward on Esplanade Avenue. This historic Greek revival residence was originally part of the plantation of Domingo Fleitas, a Spanish colonial who fought with Galvez in the American Revolution and whose grandchildren were born free people of color. The property fell into disrepair but was purchased by the McKenna family in the mid-1990s. A gradual restoration began. With work interrupted by Hurricane Katrina, efforts to restore the house picked up significantly after the storm because the family saw the need to preserve and share this aspect of history as more important than ever. Renovations were completed, and Le Musée de f.p.c. opened in 2010.

Since opening, Le Musée de f.p.c. has worked to seamlessly develop its programs and organize its tours and holdings to create a cultural institution that parallels any other. The museum’s founders believe now is a time to share this story so that locals – including students and young people – and tourists, alike, can be aware of all that the unique institution has to offer. With a dedicated staff and cadre of knowledgeable volunteer docents, Le Musée de f.p.c. is open for guided tours and for special event programs. The museum was also the site for the inaugural exhibit of Gustave Blache’s series of paintings of noted culinary arts treasure Leah Chase, which led to an exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of art and one of the paintings being acquired by The Smithsonian institute.

Le Musée de f.p.c. is located at 2336 Esplanade Avenue. For information on New Orleans Free People of Color & Their Legacy and Le Musée or schedule a tour, contact Beverly McKenna at (504) 914-5401.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Community Print Shop Offers Homework Assistance in St. Claude

By Gretchen Zalkind, TimeBank NOLA

Located at 1201 Mazant Street, the New Orleans Community Print Shop and Darkroom offers art instruction and after-school homework assistance to local young people in the St. Claude neighborhood. Since the start of the 2013-2014 school year, Rachel Speck, a Lafayette Academy art teacher and Print Shop member, has been offering after-school homework assistance.

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ocal students are invited to bring their homework to the Print Shop one evening per week where they receive both tutoring and pizza.

Every week when school is in session, up to a dozen local young people visit the Print Shop with their school assignments in hand.

Speck and other Community Print Shop members listen patiently, offering encouragement and congratulations on lessons completed. Everyone celebrates with pizza.

Every New Orleanian must recognize that we live not The homework sessions are the most recent program added to the list of low-cost or no-cost offerings offered by the Community Print Shop. Other programs includes youth printmaking classes, public open shop evenings for adults to learn or practice screen printing and darkroom techniques, monthly Second Saturday gallery openings and advanced artist workshops.

The homework drop-in tutoring is a response to requests from local parents and students. While Print Shop members custom-built the interior space for several months before opening the Mazant location in November 2012, the local young people were naturally curious about what was happening inside the old icehouse that is home to the print shop. The artists and teachers that make up the Print Shop membership were happy to share their plans for the art space with their new neighbors.

Soon after the Print Shop members completed the build-out and opened to the public, a grant from St. Claude Main Street subsidized Saturday afternoon youth printmaking classes through 2013. The New Orleans Arts Council continues to provide grant monies for printmaking instruction for youth and adults.

Incorporated as a non-profit in 2011, the shop is open to the public every Tuesday and Thursday evening for Open Shop. On these two evenings, the Community Print Shop is open to anyone over 18 with no reservation or membership required. All are welcome to use the shop, including experienced screen printers and those who have never printed before. Open Shop is run by volunteer shop members who are happy to walk through the basics of screen printing and to offer coaching on all the shop’s equipment and procedures.

There is no charge to use the equipment and materials are available for a modest fee.

It’s no surprise that the Community Print Shop offers a place to learn and practice art skills is not surprising. But it is surprising that the Print Shop has become a place to get homework assistance also. According to Speck: “Through the print shop, the kids constantly see the business side of the art world: artists making work, artist statements and presentations, and artists selling work.

The kids had their own show last year and experienced that business side of the art world. However, a lot of the basic foundations for completing the business tasks were still missing, thus we had some challenges. I realized that a lot of the kids needed help with mastering those skills. I felt that a way to address that gap, without making it like a punishment, was to tie it in with something they enjoy, such as pizza and art.”

The pizza that is served at the weekly homework sessions is usually purchased with private funds from Speck or other shop members. Pizza Delicious at 617 Piety Street has offered to donate 10 percent of their sales on May 28th to support the homework drop-in and additional construction projects at the Print Shop. Donations can also be made through the Community Print Shop website at nolacommunityprintshop.wordpress.com.

“Through the print shop, the kids constantly see the business side of the art world: artists making work, artist statements and presentations, and artists selling work.”

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

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Equity & Accessibility:

The Pythian

Green Coast Enterprises & Crescent City Community Land Trust Launch Redevelopment of Historic Building in the CBD Unique non-profit partnership brings long-term, sustainable renewal to 234 Loyola Avenue

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fficials with Green Coast Enterprises (GCE) and the Crescent City Community Land Trust (CCCLT) announced the launch of an historic restoration project that will redevelop the historic Pythian Temple building at 234 Loyola Avenue. The first phase of construction will remove the modern exterior and stabilize the brick facade in preparation for putting the building on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Healthy communities are affordable for working families and local business,” said Van Temple, Executive Director of CCCLT. “Our partnership with Green Coast Enterprises will restore one of New Orleans’ most storied buildings providing prime downtown retail and office space for non-profit and for-profit businesses and homes for families in a range of incomes, as we pursue an equitable and sustainable approach to our city’s renewal.”

ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT GCE AND CCCLT, in partnership with Studio WTA and Landis Construction Company, will restore the original grandeur of the 105-year-old downtown building to provide two floors for retail, several floors for office space and more than 80 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Stores, offices and residences in the front of the building will have views onto Duncan Plaza and the Tulane University Health Sciences Center. With approximately 11,000 square feet of usable space on each floor, the commercial spaces will be built out to tenants specifications. Above the commercial floors will be approximately four stories of residences, capped by two-level loft-style apartments in what was once a double-height dance hall space. Tenants will have a full array of amenities.

Affordability - “Downtown New Orleans has become a thriving residential neighborhood, but it is becoming unafforable for a large portion of the City’s population,” said GCE Partner Alexander Kelso. “Our partnership with Crescent City Community Land Trust allows us to offer a unique asset in the downtown New Orleans market. We are building a mixed-use, mixed-income project that offers affordable housing for working people in New Orleans that make too much for subsidized housing, but cannot afford to pay downtown marketrate rents. Many of these people will work in the adjacent biosciences district, including Tulane University and LSU Medical Schools and the VA Hospital.”

Accessibility - The redevelopment of 234 Loyola Avenue will add to this walkable, transit-accessible downtown neighborhood. The site is right on the new Loyola streetcar line, two blocks from the Canal Streetcar line. The Union Passenger Terminal serving Amtrak and inter-city bus routes is just blocks away. Retail tenants will benefit from trolley, auto and foot traffic along Loyola Avenue. 234 is right across the street from the Main Branch of the New Orlean Public Library, within easy walking distance of health sciences employers and institutions, New Orleans’ city government and the French Quarter. It is one block form the resurgent Theater district, four blocks form Louis Armstrong Park and the Municipal Auditorium and a 10-minute walk to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

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and Smoothie King Arena. Apartment renters will enjoy exciting urban living in this highly accessible location.

ABOUT THE BUILDING Underneath the deteriorating 1963 facade, the Pythian is a beautiful stone and brick, 10-story structure built in 1909 by Samuel W. Green for the Colored Knights of Pythias, a late 19th - early 20th century fraternal order that grew out of a Civil War organization. Mr. Green was reputed to be the richest AfricanAmerican in New Orleans and perhaps in the country. After serving as the Pythian Temple, during World War II, 234 Loyola became a wartime hiring office for Andrew Jackson Higgins, the man who built the Higgins boats that President Eisenhower famously said “won the war.” Higgins hired men and women of al races through a single personnel office, one of the first times this had occurred in the South. On the top floor was a double-height dance hall where soldiers and sailors danced and enjoyed live New Orleans music before shipping off to fight in the war.

Keep up with the progress on the Pythian and CCCLT’s work.

Visit www.ccclt.org.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

CeCe Gets

m o r f s t h g u tho s s o B e k a C s ’ A L NO ts , 2 0 Th o u g h of the book r o th u is a o e h th w an, rleans native eCe” Chapm heAuthor. e is a New O h S

By Christy “C . e av H ter at @CeCet it ld u Tw o n h o S er an h m w Every Wo of age.” Follo ething years “twenty som

I wanted to do something this time with a twist. I am quite sure that all my readers know that I support women’s empowerment and growth. I felt that this young lady known as “NOLA’S CAKE BOSS” of Cakez Couture needed a platform. Her work is so creative for the eyes to see, but her drive is so hard and real, it goes beyond eyesight. Being known for making some of New Orleans most elaborate customized cakes for our local celebrities this cake DIVA also gives back to our community with her unique, talented craft. So tune in to NOLA’S Celebrity Cake Designer.

1. What do you do?

I bake, design and customize specialty cakes.

I can design any cake. Whether it be fondant, buttercream, ganache, royal or cooked. Any flavor my client has a taste for. I even specialize now for diabetes clients with sugarless cakes.

2. How did you get into cake designing?

I was always fond of baking. I would always bake different types of desserts. The show “Cake Boss” grabbed my attention and, from there, me and cakes were unbreakable.

3. Where are you from?

I am from Uptown New Orleans, and I have been residing on the Westbank for some years now.

4. As a child what did you want to be?

It’s funny because, as a child, I wanted to be the best dentist ever.

5. What baker do you feel influenced you the most?

The real “Cake Boss” who owns “Carlo’s Bakery.”

Buddy Valastro is exceptionally great being borne into the family owned business. He is located out of New Jersey. He has cookbooks, DVDs and even his own brand of aprons and coats. So I definitely admire him.

6. What is a cake to you? Do you do all cakes from scratch?

A cake, to me, is edible art. Yes, I make them from scratch and a secret ingredient that I cannot share.

7. Where did the name Cakez Couture come from?

Cakez Couture comes from my infatuation with the double C’s from CoCo Chanel. And my cakes are couture. Yes, they are styled with individuality for each client.

8. How do you balance being a single mother and working?

It is really difficult, but I manage. I try to stay as organized as possible, and I stick to a very firm and tight schedule.

9.You are very popular with your cakes. How do you feel about what you do having such an impact on the community?

I love the fact that a lot of people feel that they have a cake from me. They know that I put my heart into this. They know that their cake will be one-of-a-kind. Also, might I add, delicious.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

10. Tell our readers about life for you as a child?

I am both my mother and father’s only child.

So I grew up pretty spoiled. They had me at a very young age, so my aunt and grandmother helped raise me. I hung in the streets a lot being the only child, but I was very book-smart.

School was important to me.

11. How does it feel that you are called “The NOLA Cake Boss”?

I love being called “Nola Cake Boss.” It feels so good when my clients tell me I am the closest to the original Cake Boss.

12. How do you feel knowing your creations are one of the most important things that people will remember when they attend an event?

It makes me confident. I am proud to know people will always remember my cakes. I feel that I am leaving my own legacy of something that is my passion.

13. What was the hardest trial you ever faced?

Wow ... to go back to this is hard. But the hardest trial I had to face was the fear of raising my sons alone due to their father being killed not shortly after Hurricane Katrina. It was hard. Words can’t describe it.

14.What do you feel has been your biggest achievement?

My biggest, proudest achievement was getting back everything I lost for my children such as a house and car a couple of years ago. I am so proud of my children. I am proud of myself that I am able to provide for them alone. Knowing that they do not go without because of me is my biggest achievement.

15. What was your first cake? What was your hardest cake, meaning your most challenging?

(Laughing) My first cake was a number 3 cutout. I ordered a cake for my daughter’s birthday and I thought I could do better. So when I decided to do the cake , I DID IT. I NAILED IT. It was an epiphany moment for me. The hardest part of designing a cake is thinking of how to go about it. It isn’t hard. It’s just a process.

16. Cakez Couture is now a household name. If there was one person you could do a cake for, who would it be and why ?

I would love to do a cake for Baby or Lil Wayne because they are from New Orleans. Everything

for them is to the best quality. It’s lavish. It’s art.

It is nothing like people from home supporting your business or brand.

17. What is your biggest goal thus far?

I want my own bakery. Being a single mother it is hard to be in two locations at once with five children. I have made my home as a store front.

That is my goal, and it is coming. Also, showing my cakes to Buddy Valestro is a goal, too.

18. What is your next big step?

My next BIG step is taking culinary and art classes. I feel you never know too much and you must stay modern with techniques.

19. How is it that you are the one who is called for New Orleans celebrities’ cake designs and red carpet events?

I was very popular. I always attended notable events. Once you are in the circle with a talented craft, everyone uses you. So I am thankful of the opportunity that was given to me. I am very humbled and thankful.

20. Where do you want to see your cakes in five years?

In five years I want to see my cakes in magazines and on commercials, especially bridal magazines. There’s something about designing a wedding cake. I want to be one of the bestknown cake designers. It is coming ... another house in another state or country, but I’m New Orleans ‘til I die.

For any inquiries, “NOLA CAKE BOSS” can be reached at (504) 300-9294 or via email at CakezCouture@ gmail.com. You can view some of her creations on Instagram @nolacakeboss

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Neighborhood Meetings

Neighborhood Meetings

Algiers Point Association 1st Thursday of the month 7 p.m.

Visit www.algierspoint.org for location.

Chapel of the Holy Comforter 4th Thursday of the month 6:30 p.m.

2200 Lakeshore Drive

Algiers Presidents’ Council 4th Tuesday of the month 7 p.m.

Woldenberg Village - 3701 Behrman Place www.anpcnola.org

Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings (Date and time TBA) Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Avenue

Broadmoor Improvement Association 3rd Monday of every other month 7 p.m.

Andrew H. Wilson Charter School Cafeteria 3617 General Pershing Street www.broadmoorimprovement.com

Downtown Neighborhoods Improvement Association (DNIA) Last Tuesday of each month 7 p.m.

Joan Mitchell Center 2275 Bayou Road

Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association 3rd Saturday of the month Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 3721 N. Claiborne Avenue bunnyfriendassoc@gmail.com Bywater Neighborhood Association 2nd Tuesday of the month 7 p.m.

Holy Angels Cafeteria 3500 St. Claude Avenue www.bywaterneighbors.com Carrollton Riverbend Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall 1031 S. Carrollton Avenue Carrollton United 2nd Monday of the month - 5 p.m.

St. John Missionary Baptist Church Leonidas Avenue and Hickory Street www.healthyneworleans.org Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA) 3rd Tuesday of each month 6:00pm Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood & Family Learning Center 2405 Jackson Avenue www.myccra.org

DeSaix Neighborhood Association 2nd Saturday of the month 10 a.m.

Langston Hughes Academy 3519 Trafalgar Street danadesaix.org East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Committee 2nd Tuesday of the month 6 p.m.

St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church 7300 Crowder Boulevard www.enonac.org Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association 1st Saturday of the month 10 a.m.

New Hope Community Church 3708 Gentilly Blvd.

Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings Visit http://fdna-nola.org for details.

Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association Board Meeting – 2nd Monday of the month 7 p.m.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Cafeteria 1368 Moss Street http://www.fsjna.org

Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association 2nd Thursday of the month 6 p.m.

True Vine Baptist Church 2008 Marigny Street Filmore Gardens Neighborhood Association 4th Thursday of the month (no meetings in November and December) 6:30 p.m.

Project Home Again 5506 Wickfield Street Garden District Association Visitwww.gardendistrictassociation.comfor annual meeting information.

Gentilly Civic Improvement Association (GCIA) 3rd Saturday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Avenue www.facebook.com/gentillycivic Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood Association 3rd Monday of the month 6 p.m.

Dillard University, Dent Hall – Room 104 Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association 3rd Monday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Volunteers of America 2929 St. Anthony Avenue

Hollygrove Neighbors Association Quarterly on Saturdays 12 p.m.

St. Peter AME Church 3424 Eagle Street Emailhollygroveneighbors@yahoo.comfor dates Holy Cross Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month 5:30 p.m.

Center for Sustainability GreaterLittleZionMissionaryBaptistChurch 5130 Chartres Street Irish Channel Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month 7 p.m.

Irish Channel Christian Fellowship 819 First Street www.irishchannel.org Lake Bullard Home Owners Association Cornerstone United Methodist Church 5276 Bullard Avenue Visit lakebullard.org for meeting schedule Lake Catherine Civic Association 2nd Tuesday of the month 7 p.m.

Emaillakecatherineassociation@yahoo.com for location information Lake Willow Neighborhood 2nd Saturday of the month 10 a.m.

St. Maria Goretti Church

Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association 2nd Wednesday of the month 7 p.m.

Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters Street www.gentillyterrace.org Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association 2nd Tuesday of the month 5:30 p.m.

Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church 3327 Toledano Street hoffmantriangle.org

Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association 2nd Saturday of the month 12 p.m.

1120 Lamanche Street www.9thwardnena.org Lower Ward Ninth Ward Stakeholders Coalition 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 5:30 p.m.

1800 Deslonde Street

Get connected to the Neighborhoods Partnership Network.

Post news & events for your organization at NPNnola.com 22

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

Neighborhood Meetings

Melia Subdivision 2nd Saturday of the month 5 p.m.

Anchored in Christ Church 4334 Stemway Mid-City Neighborhood Organization 2nd Monday of the month 6 p.m. – meet & greet 6:30 p.m. – neighborhood meeting Warren Easton High School 3019 Canal Street www.mcno.org Milneburg Neighborhood Association 4th Thursday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Chapel of the Holy Comforter 2200 Lakeshore Drive The New St. Claude Association of Neighbors 1st Thursday of the month 7 p.m.

Pierre’s Hall 4138 St. Claude Avenue www.newstclaude.assocn.nscan.com New Zion City Preservation Association 1st Monday of the month 7 p.m.

APEX Youth Center 4360 Washington Ave.

Oak Park Civic Association 3rd Thursday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Avenue www.facebook.com/OakParkNewOrleans Paris Oaks/Bayou Vista Neighborhood Association Last Saturday of the month 4 p.m.

Third District Police Station 4650 Paris Avenue Pensiontown of Carrollton Neighborhood Association 1st Saturday of the month 2 p.m.

Leonidas House Community Center 1407 Leonidas Street Pilotland Neighborhood Association 3rd Saturday of the month 3 p.m.

Pentecost Baptist Church Fellowship Hall 1510 Harrison Avenue Pontilly Association Pontilly Disaster Collaborative - 3rd Wednesday of the month General Meeting – 2nd Saturday of the month 3869 Gentilly Blvd., Suite C Rosedale Subdivision Last Friday of the month 5:30 p.m.

Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church 4253 Dale Street

Ask City Hall

Seventh Ward Neighborhood Association 3rd Saturday of the month 1 p.m.

St. Augustine High School 2600 A.P. Tureaud Avenue seventhwardassoc@aol.com Seabrook Neighborhood Association 2nd Monday on the month Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painter Street Emailseabrookassociation@yahoo.comfor times Tall Timbers Owners Association 2nd Wednesday in April & October 7 p.m.

Tunisburg Square Homeowners Civic Association, Inc. 2nd Monday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Visit tunisburg.org for location information Village de L’Est Improvement Association 1st Tuesday of every other month 7 p.m.

Einstein Charter School 5100 Cannes Street West Barrington Association 1st Tuesday of the month 6 p.m.

Holiday Inn Express 7049 Bullard Avenue

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

Neighborhoods Partnership Network 3321 Tulane Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 thetrumpet@npnnola.com www.npnnola.com

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2014

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@nola.gov District B LaToya Cantrell City Hall, Room 2W10 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1020 Fax: (504) 658-1025 lcantrell@nola.gov District C Nadine M. Ramsey City Hall, Room 2W70 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1030 Fax: (504) 658-1037 Email: nramsey@nola.gov District D Jared C. Brossett City Hall, Room 2W20 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1040 Fax: (504) 658-1048 E-mail: jcbrossett@nola.gov District E James Austin Gray II City Hall, Room 2W60 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1050 Fax: (504) 658-1058 Email: jagray@nola.gov Council Member-At-Large Stacy Head City Hall, Room 2W40 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658 -1060 Fax: (504) 658-1068 Email: shead@nola.gov Council Member-At-Large Jason Rogers Williams City Hall, Room 2W50 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1070 Fax: (504) 658-1077 Email:jarwilliams@nola.gov

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