Looking Forward / Looking Back ( with the People's Agenda)

October/November 2015 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 9 Volume 5

Looking Forward Looking Back SPECIAL INSERT THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA

POWER COALITION

THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA

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

Timolynn Sams Sumter

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Ensuring the Flame of Resident Engagement remains Looking Back and Looking Forward

his summer the city of New Orleans reached a milestone. As a result of roughly a decade of hard work by organizations, “ordinary” citizens and various local leaders, resident engagement has become embedded in the life of residents and neighborhoods. A city that historical have been connected to an absence of vehicles for residents to engage in public process and contribute to decision-making in a meaningful way now have integration of a master plan with the force of law into the city charter, an office of Neighborhood Engagement, consolidation of levee boards’ and tax assessors’ offices, institution of an inspector general, redesign of key component of the juvenile justice system, and most recently an independent police monitor given the resources to operate as an independent entity with a robust local police oversight.

Yet recently I was asked the question, “do I think resident engagement has dissolved in the city where normality exists,” that left me with a twisted head and facial expression. First of all NOTHING in New Orleans is ever normal, but most important resident engagement can never be extinguished. It is a flame that can fanned to great heights or damped with disinterested, distrust and disconnection to the city. The energy and fever that emerged in 2005 admittedly was in response to chaos and challenged the strong history of exclusionary and non-transparent decisionmaking but it was also neighborhood residents coming together and developed their own network for sharing information, learning about what was going on across town in other neighborhoods, and building a sense of civic duty and responsibility.

Acknowledging that New Orleans neighborhoods are no different from any other urban epic center, complex and no two are alike. I often refer to the level of differences in our neighborhoods as a patchwork quilt. They vary in infrastructure, size, shape, complexion, capacity, and in myriad other descriptors, such that each, like a fingerprint, has its own peculiar texture of characteristics and dynamics. Not only are they different from each other at any given point in time, but the snapshot we take of any neighborhood today is likely to differ from the one we would take tomorrow or another ten years from now.

Resident involvement has been a keystone of NPN governance for nearly a decade. In all facets of NPN’s programs and services neighborhoods and the residents who live in them have been a part of our existence. Like Mardi Gras and Gumbo sustaining a spirit of civic leadership and engagement has now become a tradition that we will uphold in the next ten years.

There is growing need to assist a new group of resident leaders who are beginning to participate. As those who gave so much time and energy from 2006 to today now begin to pass the baton, NPN will be here to ensure that these new leaders have the information and the resources to address the concerns and issues in their neighborhoods. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of the past, offering a safe neutral place in which community problems and possible solutions are developed, educating those who step up to serve as leaders, educating public and private institutions, and developing capacity building resources for leaders and organizations who wish to work together more effectively. Ultimately we can fulfill the vision of a civic eco-system where all of the neighborhoods in New Orleans are equitable places to live for children and their families.

NEIGHBORHOODS PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

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 Ryan Albrigh Carolynn Carter Karen Chabert Catherine Flowers Alonzo Knox Wendy Laker Sylvia Scineaux-Richard Katherine Prevost 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 © 2015 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.

Timolynn Sams Sumter

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

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

P A R T N E R S H I P

The Trumpet

N E T W O R K

Contents

7 SPECIAL INSERT: POWER THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA 13 Six or More Ideas to Offset Gentrification 15 Juvenile In Justice Photography Exhibit & Community Events (Oct. 23 – Nov. 20) 21 The State of Transit in New Orleans, Ten Years After Katrina

19 LGBTQ Beauties Standing in Their Power

24 The Fight for a Living Wage is a Reproductive Justice

did Schools Become Prisons?

22 When —Let Kids Be Kids!

Hurricane The Fight for a Living Wage is a 27 Encouraging Preparedness is Critical to the 24 Reproductive Justice Fight Safety of Our Community

The Trumpet Editorial Board Gabrielle Alicino NEWCITY Neighborhood Partnership David Baker Louisiana Weekly Eileen Carter The Good Life Christy Chapman Author Kelsey Foster Committee for A Better New Orleans Kevin Griffin 2K Photo NOLA & Graphics Rachel Heiligman Ride New Orleans

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Linedda McIver AARP Louisiana Michaela Moss guest editorial Obinna Oynendym guest editorial Valerie Robinson Old Algiers Main Street Corporation Julia Ramsey Orleans Public Education Network Eva Roodenrijs guest editiorial Gretchen Zalkind NOLA TimeBank

NEIGHBORHOODS PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

3321 Tulane Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 thetrumpet@npnnola.com www.npnnola.com 3

Head Start

The Next Generation F

By Adrian Todd, Director, Office for Children, Youth and Children

or 50 years, Head Start has been touted as the premier model for providing services to children and families designed to support school and life success. Since the summer of 1965, more than 32 million children and families have benefitted from Head Start services. In 2007, the Head Start Act mandated a Designation Renewal System. This system was designed to create a competitive process which ensured that organizations that received Head Start funds are able to deliver high quality and comprehensive early education and family support services. Agencies able to show how they can produce high quality services were selected to receive Head Start funding for a period of 5 years. Gone are the days when agencies receiving Head Start funding would continue to receive funding without competition.

In the Next Generation of Head Start

This year (2015-2016 school year), Total Community Action will offer early continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services for 1,124 pregnant mothers, infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families. Total Community Action’s transformational Birth to Five child development service provides a seamless, comprehensive child development model that supports positive outcomes for our children, their families and our community. Our comprehensive birth to five continuum of services will be provided through grantee run centers, delegates, child care partnerships and school partnerships offering full day, full year center based services. This innovative model moves our program services “beyond compliance to excellence in innovation and outcome” and aligns with Louisiana’s vision and goals for ensuring “that every child enters kindergarten healthy and ready to learn”.

TCA’s Birth to Five Journey to Excellence: Access to Success provides a pathway to high quality early education services for children, birth to five and beyond.

Total Community Action, Inc. has a proven history and well-deserved reputation for providing high quality services for young children (0-5) and their families, preparing each child, within the boundaries of his/ her abilities for school success, assisting each family to move closer to selfsufficiency, and improving the general welfare of each community we serve.

Gone are the days when agencies receiving Head Start funding would continue to receive funding without competition.

• Programs are outcomes focused – data drives decisions. Head Start seeks to answer the question “How will the children and family be better off as a result of participating in the Head Start program.

• We will focus more intensively on both the child and family’s success ensuring families gain access to the services needed to strengthen their family.

• We will strive to bring children into the program earlier and keep them engaged longer thereby increasing their capacity to be school ready • We will build stronger connections with schools • We will build stronger alliances and community networks to support families

For more information about TCA’s Head Start program call 504-309-3503

You’ll feel like you’re talking to VIRTUALLY every neighbor in New Orleans ... and beyond.

The new NPNnola.com 4

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

11 Louisiana Civic and Education Leaders Named to National Fellowship Program Cohort members represent statewide education, healthcare, faith, civic and academic communities 11 cross-sector Louisiana leaders have been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Louisiana Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP Louisiana).

The local branch of a national program sponsored by the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), EPFP brings together established and emerging leaders to expand and contextualize their understanding of education from the school level to the federal. Nationally, the program is currently active in 17 sites across 15 states and Washington, DC. Alumni include three sitting school chiefs, several state-level policymakers, the editor-in-chief of Education Week, and a former US Cabinet Member.

Through ten months of colloquiums and professional development, EPFP Louisiana aims to build the leadership necessary to advance education throughout the state.

The program’s Louisiana chapter is an initiative of Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN), a New Orleans-based nonprofit dedicated to building civic capacity as a necessary component of excellent public schools. It is supported by an advisory board representing leadership in workforce development, K-12 education, governmental advocacy and more.

“Now more than ever, Louisiana education needs strategically aligned cross-sector leadership,” said Deirdre Johnson Burel, OPEN’s Executive Director. ““Louisiana’s economic future is inextricably linked to education. We are excited to have such a strong and diverse array of leaders in this inaugural cohort. It bodes well for our state’s future.”

The EPFP Louisiana 2015 – 16 Fellows Are Brian Adams

Susan Kahn

Marsha Broussard

Sara Massey

Sherdren Burnside

Zakenya Perry Neely

Dr. Lisa French

Brionne Stewart

Dr. Lisa Green-Derry

Adrian Todd

Teach For America South Louisiana Louisiana Public Health Institute Journey Ninth Ward Assembly of God Louisiana Department of Education Urban Strategies, Inc.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Communities In Schools New Orleans Orleans Public Education Network Young Audiences Charter School Total Community Action New Orleans

Dr. Leslie Grover

Southern University Baton Rouge

For additional information on the Louisiana Education Policy Fellowship Program, please visit opennola.org. For more information on EPFP’s national presence, visit epfp.iel.org.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

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“The Good Life”

By Eileen Carter

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ou cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which usually becomes a watered-down, occasional hope that you’ll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless.

Something we have to constantly remind ourselves is that the world will judge us for our actions, not our intentions. That’s tough to swallow at times. We can have the best plan, the best motives, and the best way to do something…but if we do nothing, it Eileen Carter never mattered.

Our actions mean everything. They demonstrate progress. They showcase momentum. They illustrate that we care. We need to keep reminding ourselves of this every single day.

I’ll write the book next week; I’ll go back to school next year. I’ll take a vacation when I retire - I was too busy changing the world. Thinking the right thing and doing it are two different things.

The difference between actions and intentions may seem simple, but realizing the difference can be life changing. Ego blurs the line between doing the right thing—action—and thinking the right thing— intention.

As a result, our conscience nudges us, telling us something is wrong. As we ignore these feelings by keeping busy, our ego works to convince us we are great and accomplished individuals. Our ego wants to keep us in a place we feel comfortable. By blurring the lines between actions and intentions, it keeps us believing we are more than we actually are.

Intention matters, but it’s not very powerful. It’s action that matters. A goal without a plan is just a wish. If your intention leads you down the path of arguing minutiae, you took the wrong path. Let intention lead you to actually do something. Most goals and resolutions stop at intention. Make sure you don’t do this with your goals. Stop talking to others about what you THINK, and show them what you can DO. Don’t get caught up in finding the perfect way forward. There is no perfect way forward. Starting to take action is the most difficult step. You can move mountains. Take the first step with faith.

Three frogs are sitting on a log - one decides to jump. How many are left?

Three, the frog made a decision or had the intention to jump, but took no action.

The only difference between highly successful people and their employees is that they decided to jump, and actually did it.

Tune into The Good Life on WBOK 1230AM weekdays at 9am and rebroadcast at 11pm

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

SPECIAL INSERT THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA

POWER THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

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BUILDING A

PATHWAY TO POWER

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ur diligent, yet stifled attempts to increase economic opportunity and civic participation among people of color and low-income families have exhausted the traditional avenues sought by nonprofits as a means to affecting policy change. We are at a pivotal point in that requires a more sophisticated approach to our nonprofit advocacy work. We hope to take advantage of new technologies, invest in effective research and build stronger collaborations by working together to establish a pathway to power that allows us to proactively address the systemic issues facing our communities. We have been organizing ourselves at the Power Coalition.

As Southern States realizes transitioning demographics, it presents an opportunity to empower local people to impact their local realities and the current regressive policy trajectory being led by the Deep South. We have been working with base building groups to discuss strategic investments and state organizational alignment focusing on four key areas: Civic Engagement, Immigration, Worker Rights, and Policy Advocacy. We have been working closely together as a Coalition to:

• Open paths to participation and develop opportunities for our constituents to participate in and have voice on the critical policy decisions that matter to them.

• Creating a leadership pipeline into key positions of community leadership.

• Building progressive infrastructure for participation, by strengthening local community institutions and aligning elected stakeholders to support the community’s agenda.

We seek to support, strengthen and build long-term progressive infrastructure that can move the needle on the persistent systems that continue to hold vulnerable and marginalized populations hostage in Louisiana. The Power Coalition seeks to continue building power and capacity to: 1) Influence those in power through initiatives such as the Issues Conference and the resulting People’s Agenda to educate elected officials and prospective candidates on the issues plaguing vulnerable communities; 2) Develop policies in New Orleans and statewide that advance equitable economy goals; and, 3) Build the capacities of non profit organizations to utilize civic engagement (voter registration, GOTV, targeted voter engagement through the Voter Activation Network) as a tool to increase voter participation and ultimately elect progressive leaders and effect progressive policy change in Louisiana on ten issues which include: housing, transportation, worker rights /job access, environmental justice, healthcare access, reproductive justice, education, LGBTQ liberation, criminalization / criminal justice and immigrant rights.

What separates the Power Coalition partnership from traditional coalitions is a long-term commitment by the partner organizations to multifaceted work that will advance the shared values and vision for a more equitable Louisiana. The Power Coalition has committed to facilitate joint planning among organizations so that economies of scale are realized, and that investments in communications and civic engagement build on the strength and experience of a wide range of organizations.

• Capacity building: The Power Coalition seeks to build the capacity of participating nonprofits in civic engagement and mobilization by creating economies of scale --investing in technical expertise and resources that no

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one organization could invest in on its own.

• Research-based: The Power Coaltion facilitates research-based decisions in communications and messaging work (e.g., by using opinion research) and civic engagement strategy (e.g., targeting data to understand more about groups of voters).

• Fill gaps by building on existing strength: We are just beginning to think about and work through a long term lens and thinking about structure and staffing. Where possible, we seek to fill gaps.

Top/down and Bottom/up The coalition includes state-level policy advocates, who rely on research and broad approaches to outreach to determine their policy positions, as well as organizations whose job it is to represent, be accountable to, and/or be led by individuals and organizations from across the diversity of communities in Louisiana. The Power Coalition allows for important dialogue from multiple perspectives. Participating groups commit to be part of an ongoing dialogue about race, inclusion and economic opportunity.

Shared Principles We have agreed to work in ways that foster a vibrant, mutually supportive, and strategic partnership. Participating groups commit to: • thinking broadly about the larger progressive agenda that will yield a equitable Louisiana; • being pro-active, bold and working toward long term, systemic change; • setting specific organizational goals for the Table and at the same time, being flexible and responding to a changing policy climate and ongoing learnings from other local and national partners; • look for opportunities to collaborate with Economic Opportunity organizations; • respecting – and wherever possible – lifting up the work of other Table partners; • creating an inclusive partnership that reflects the diversity of the state that is committed to combating racism and all forms of discrimination; • striving to raise expectations and build hope.

Important Dates October 19 Trumpet Release/ Resident Guide to the 2015 Elections October 22 Trumpet Release Party October 24 Election Day (OPEN primary) November 7th thru 14th Early Voting (General Election) November 21 ELECTION DAY

If you don’t vote… YOU don’t COUNT!!!

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Time Limit for Food Assistance Unfair and Counterproductive Steve Spires, Senior Policy Analyst, Louisiana Budget Project More than five years since Louisiana’s economy began recovering from the Great Recession, unemployment in the Pelican State remains stubbornly high. The state’s response? Cut off basic food assistance to 64,000 low-income adults.

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Louisiana

Louisiana

United States

Louisiana

United States

Louisiana

United States

United States

nemployment in Louisiana rose dramatically in 2014 after declining in the latter part of 2013. Though new jobs are being created, the number of people looking for jobs is growing even faster. Louisiana added 51,000 jobs since January 2013, but the labor force grew by 102,000 job seekers. Louisiana now has a higher unemployment rate than the nation.

When the job market is weak, many people don’t have enough to eat.

Federal surveys show 17.6 percent of Louisianans lacked food security over the 2012-2014 period -- a huge increase from the 11.8 percent who were food insecure a decade ago and higher than the 14.1 percent in 2009-2011.

Nationally, the rate is 14.3 percent. Louisiana’s poverty rate in 2014 didn’t budge from the 2013 rate of 19.8 percent. Nearly one in five Louisianans still live in poverty.

Given these numbers, it should be common sense that many Louisianans still need a helping hand while they search for jobs. Yet the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has decided to limit able-bodied, childless adults to just three months of basic food assistance during a three-year period if they aren’t working. An estimated 64,000 people could lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly food stamps) next year because of the policy.

Some background: In 1996, Congress passed a law limiting non-disabled adults without children to just three months of SNAP benefits every three years, unless they were working or volunteering at least 20 hours a week. But the same law gives states the right to request a waiver for areas with high unemployment.

Congress understood that people should be punished for bad conduct, not merely bad luck.

Most Louisianans would likely agree that it is unfair—not to mention uncompassionate—to deny food assistance to someone who is searching for a job, but is unable to find one because of a shortage of jobs. But that is exactly what the administration’s policy change is poised to do.

Louisiana is eligible for a statewide waiver from the time limit for 2016 based on the state’s high unemployment rate (6 percent in August, compared to 5.1 percent nationally), but the administration chose not to apply. The Louisiana Budget Project approached the Department with options for a partial waiver targeting the parishes with the highest unemployment rates, but the agency declined that option as well.

Food benefits are paid for with federal dollars and already very modest, about $1.40 per meal or $194 per month. Denying these benefits to the unemployed will do nothing to create new jobs and will not save the state any money. What it will do is increase food hardship and the burden on local food banks struggling to serve the hungry. People who will be cut off from food assistance because of this rule are some of the poorest people in the state who, for the most part, are not eligible for other types of assistance. Now, it will be harder for them to eat.

Louisiana has received waivers in the past. At least a dozen states have applied for partial waivers in 2015, targeting the areas that need it most.

Louisiana should join them and wait to reimpose the time limit until after enough jobs have opened up to bring the unemployment rate down. Short of that, the state should commit itself to providing a job training spot to every single person who wants one so that they can keep their food benefits while building their skills. Unfortunately, given budget constraints, that isn’t likely to happen.

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Local Policies Are Needed to Protect The Right of New Orleanians To Live in Healthy Neighborhoods

By Monique Harden

Due to the great number of dwellings near the Clio Street Dump, and their constantly increasing number, the dump has become a real menace to the health and welfare of that vicinity. The site of the dump would be highly advantageous for manufacturing or commercial enterprises, and in the interest of civic betterment, it should be abandoned as soon as possible. — Carl Schneider, City of New Orleans Department of Public Property, 1925 10

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Without the means to move away, dozens of families in Gordon Plaza remain trapped on the Agriculture Street Dump. After Hurricane Katrina, their community no longer looks like a neighborhood. They live in the midst of hulking, stormdamaged, and crumbling buildings that were once homes and a school now abandoned by local officials.

Repeating the History in Post-Katrina New Orleans

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he above statement is excerpted from a report to the New Orleans City Council recommending the closure of the Clio Street Dump because of its harmful effects on nearby residents. This dump was located in the Central City neighborhood in an area bounded by Earhart Boulevard, South Roman Street, Erato Street, and South Broad Street.

During its several decades of operation, foul odors emanating from the Clio Street Dump were a constant source of complaints. The Clio Street Dump was also a breeding ground for infectious diseases, including the bubonic plague that put our city at risk of a federally-imposed quarantine. On the front pages of The Times Picayune newspaper, there were editorials urging city officials to close the Clio Street Dump and describing the dump as an “ulcer” in the heart of New Orleans. The newspaper published grotesque photos of dead animals decomposing on the dump and reported that mounds of waste were as high as 20 feet.

Building Homes & Schools on Toxic Waste Dumps Since the Department of Public Property’s report, no warehouses or other “commercial enterprises” were built on the Clio Street Dump which was later renamed “Silver City.” The Booker T. Washington High School, the Calliope housing development later renamed the B. W. Cooper, and the Rosenwald Recreational Center were built on this dump as a racially segregated development for African Americans in the 1940s during the Jim Crow era. There was no clean up or removal of the waste prior to this residential construction. Instead of closing waste dumps near neighborhoods, as recommended in the governmental report, local officials built neighborhoods on top of waste dumps.

From the late 1960s through the 1970s, local officials selected the Agriculture Street Dump as the site for building the Press Park and Gordon Plaza houses, which were marketed to African Americans. In 1969 local officials approved the construction of the Press Park townhouses without any effort to remediate the contaminated soil. By the late 1970s, local officials conducted soil tests and decided to build the Gordon Plaza single-family houses on a layer of clean soil placed over the dump waste. In 1984, local officials began the construction of the Robert R. Moton Elementary School on the dump. In an attempt to quell growing opposition to building on the dump, the officials conducted soil tests.

However, they restricted the tests to detect for the presence of only two types of toxic substances – toxic heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury, etc.) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs (a group of carcinogenic chemicals that naturally occur in coal, oil, and natural gas). The local officials claimed that the removal of the top three feet of contaminated soil and the placement of two feet of clean soil would make the site safe for the school. However, in 1994 the US Environmental Protection Agency declared the community a Superfund site due to extensive soil contamination that included more than 140 toxic substances extending from the ground surface down to 17 feet below ground.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Housing Authority of New Orleans, Recovery School District, and the City Planning Commission have each decided to repeat the history of building homes, a school, and rec center on the Clio Street/Silver City Dump. They also repeated the history of the Agriculture Street development by conducting inadequate environmental tests of the soil and groundwater. For the construction of the Yvonne Marrero apartments, the new Rosenwald Recreation Center, and the proposed school, several categories of toxic and hazardous substances, such as pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins, were excluded from the environmental tests. The local officials also restricted the areas where soil and groundwater samples were collected for the environmental tests. With these restrictions, the results of the environmental tests show the soil is contaminated with dangerous levels of lead, arsenic, mercury and other toxic heavy metals as well as carcinogenic PAHs. According to the test results, the soil on the former Clio Street/Silver City Dump is contaminated from the ground surface down to at least 15 feet below ground, the farthest depth tested.

The local officials approved plans for the partial removal of contaminated soil which leaves most of the contaminated soil to remain on site under the newly constructed homes, rec center, and proposed school. The recklessness of their decisions is underscored by the fact that the full range of contaminants in the soil and groundwater of the former Clio Street/Silver City Dump remains unknown.

Furthermore, the partial removal of contaminated soil and replacement with clean soil is no guarantee against toxic exposures.

There are not enough local officials in New Orleans and Orleans Parish willing to remedy the harm caused by building homes and schools on toxic waste dumps or prohibit such building in the future. Not enough of them, regardless of their race, feel obligated to prevent the racial injustice of African Americans living on waste dumps. Not enough of our local officials support policies that achieve environmental justice. As a result, thousands of New Orleanians have bought and leased homes, attended schools, and taught students without any notice that their houses, apartments, and schools were built on waste dumps. They have been unjustly denied their basic human right to health.

Neighborhood Groups Protect the Right to Live in Healthy Communities Neighborhood groups have a unique and vital role in holding our local officials accountable for homes and schools built on waste dumps. More often than not, neighborhood groups are the first responders to a wide range of environmental issues affecting our health and quality of life. Neighborhood groups overcame governmental inertia to spearhead the safe and effective cleanup of DDT-contaminated properties in Gert Town. They have strategically organized to block a federal plan for expanding hazardous freight trains and rerouting them through the Hollygrove, Hollygrove-Dixon, Palm Air, Mid City, and Shrewsbury neighborhoods. They fought for improvements to the flood drainage project undertaken by the City of New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board and the US Army Corps of Engineers that began in the Melia neighborhood. They conduct tree plantings, cultivate community gardens, develop aquaculture projects, and organize litter cleanups. Neighborhood groups put into action the right to live in healthy communities.

Neighborhood groups can apply their accomplishments and experiences to unite around building local policies that protect the right of all residents to live in healthy communities. Neighborhood groups should reach out to the residents living on the Agriculture Street Dump and the Clio Street/Silver City Dump.

Groups should also take advantage of current opportunities to rally support for the right to live in healthy neighborhoods during the Fall 2015 elections, the next legislative session that begins in March 2016, and the upcoming elections of the next mayor and city councilmembers of New Orleans in 2018.

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Voice of the Ex-Offender

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By Bruce Reilly

t has been several years since the people of New Orleans calmly and collectively approached the Housing Authority of New Orleans and demanded they stop blanket discrimination against people with criminal convictions. HANO listened and made some small changes, but they did not go nearly far enough. Rather than implement the policy that provides clear guidance on how to deal with this issue, they have left it up to the director to decide on a case by case basis who may enter and who may not. Now HANO has opened discussions with several community organizations, including Voice of the Ex-Offender, and it remains to be seen where this all leads.

This past week, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) released a report “Locked Out: Criminal Background Checks as a Tool for Discrimination.” This reveals the results of their study, where pairs of “testers” applied for housing in the New Orleans area. They found that criminal background inquiries were dealt with differently, and African American applicants were treated more harshly 55% of the time. So not only do the courts treat people of Color unfairly, but once convicted so too will landlords. This type of testing is typically the first step to litigation.

HANO may seek to allow private developers who receive federal funding to

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continue doing as they wish, forming their own vague or over-exclusive policies, and HANO may seek to quiet our chorus by creating a “pilot program.” This has been done elsewhere, in over a dozen places across America in the past decade, typically where some formerly incarcerated people are allowed to reunite with their families. Yet allowing a few dozen people access to affordable housing would be addressing less than 1% of the problem. This is not a new issue, nor is it a small one when there are two million individual records in the Louisiana database.

People have unfortunately been trying to live with criminal histories for hundreds of years, and only in the past few decades have these types of barriers become insurmountable. The digital age has put people’s permanent records at the world’s fingertips, and people are no longer able to ever “pay their debt to society.” This method of creating a lower caste of society needs to cease. We can’t put a wall up and divide our families, friends, neighbors and colleagues. We can’t create separate housing, schools, water fountains, and lunch counters. Hopefully, HANO will embrace the need to address the housing issues of all people — not just the ones who can slip through the snare of discrimination.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Six or More Ideas to Offset Gentrification

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ew Orleans has changed rapidly over the last decade, and people in nearly every neighborhood talk about how they are being priced out. Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, too many New Orleanians are “cost-burdened”, or paying more than a third of household income on housing costs. The formula assumes that if housing costs eat up too much of your budget, there is little left over for groceries, transportation, schooling, or any other necessities.

New Orleans is a special place because of its people—the musicians, social aid and pleasure club members, and other long-term residents. If we value and want to continue our traditions, then families must have access to housing that’s affordable in all of our neighborhoods. To do that, we need to use all the tools in the toolbox to ensure everyone can come home to a safe, habitable and affordable place to live.

At the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, we have some ideas about how we can work together to ensure that families that have called our neighborhoods home for generations can continue to do so. There’s no silver bullet, yet we’re confident that city and neighborhood leaders can work together to solve this crisis.

1. Make the best use of publicly owned properties in low-poverty neighborhoods.

It’s time to be smart and targeted in how we use our remaining blighted lots. With 3,000 adjudicated properties up for auction--many in quickly transitioning neighborhoods--holding some land for housing that’s affordable to neighboring families could slow displacement.

Similarly, the Housing Authority (HANO) owns hundreds of unused lots, many in low-poverty neighborhoods, that could help offset displacement if used as housing.

2. Ensure neighborhood investments promote equity rather than displacement.

Rehabbing parks and markets or building streetcar lines go a long way toward neighborhood improvement, but coupling these kinds of investments with funds to offset skyrocketing housing costs will help working families to stay and enjoy the newly added parks, transit, and other amenities.

3. Use zoning to create opportunity.

Our zoning code can reward housing developers who build some units for working families.

These kinds of policies take advantage of our City’s hot real estate market to create housing that’s affordable to modest income families in gentrifying and higher-cost neighborhoods.

4. Reform the NHIF.

The Neighborhood Housing Improvement Fund (NHIF) is funded at roughly $3 million per year.

These valuable tax dollars could be used to offset our affordability crisis and build or rehab homes in gentrifying neighborhoods.

5. Implement property tax relief programs for lower-income homeowners.

Long-time homeowners in rapidly changing neighborhoods are at risk of losing their homes due to dramatic increases in property taxes. Cities like Chicago, Boston, and others have implemented targeted property tax freezes to help long-term residents keep the home they have.

6. Hold rental housing to basic health and safety standards.

Thousands of units throughout the City have leaks, mold, and fire hazards. Tenants can either put up with it or move out, but moving is often expensive. Ensuring our rentals meet basic health and safety standards is good for New Orleans neighborhoods.

We are a city that values equal access to opportunity and life success, and to live up to that promise we need to bring housing for working families to all neighborhoods. These are some of our ideas—please share some of yours with us at info@gnofairhousing.org.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) is a private nonprofit organization. GNOFHAC is dedicated to eliminating housing discrimination and furthering equal housing opportunities through education, outreach, advocacy, and enforcement of fair housing laws.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

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Strategic Partnerships SEIU

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he Service Employee Union International (SEIU) is a Union united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families. SEIU has members throughout South Louisiana who work for our hospitals, schools, universities and parish governments.

As unions have faced an uphill battle in the deep south we see the opportunity to support and build out the capacity of movement building throughout the state of Louisiana. The voices of our members alone cannot breakdown the systemic challenges facing vulnerable and marginalized people within our state.

If we are to truly change systems and outcomes for our members we must work in solidarity with others deepening the organizing to sustain the momentum growing around economic opportunity and justice.

SEIU is proud to be a strategic partner and leader within the Power Coalition.

We are building the infrastructure to achieve a shift in public debate and civic engagement, breaking down functional barriers between communications, research, policy, organizing, and civic engagement. This infrastructure will also serve as a catalyst for real collaborative work in the policy and civic engagement areas. Far too often nonprofit groups end up competing against each other while the resources shrink, or fighting for territory or credit while the obstacles remain unchanged. The vision of this table is to shift the policy debate and political participation through true collaborative efforts while building the capacity of participating organizations to more effectively communicate, move a coordinated strategy and engage in their work.

SEIU is proud to be a strategic partner and leader within the Power Coalition. For far too long, an intricate web of gatekeepers, power brokers, and lobbyists have brokered policy change in this state. In order to effectively reform old systems, it is clear that we need leadership that is connected to the circumstances of vulnerable communities. SEIU and our members are proud to be at the table fighting for systemic change and building the power necessary to truly change outcomes for Louisiana’s working families.

What Happens When Black Folks Come Together

By Roy Brumfield, Member of Stand with Dignity, Co-Chair of the Community Evaluation Commission

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rowing up I use to always hear folks say that Black folks can’t get together. They said that when we (Black folks) get together don’t nothing good come from it. Well the past 3 years have showed me different. From writing a historical criminal background policy, to winning a historical Local Hire Policy, both myself and many other local New Orleans natives have been shown that when Black people get together we create magic.

Black people coming together created a wave of brilliance that resulted in New Orleans City Council unanimously passing a Local Hire ordinance for city construction jobs aimed at addressing New Orleans’ Black Jobs Crisis. Members of Stand with Dignity of the New Orleans Worker Center of Racial Justice and our Allies pushed this ordinance, and we held two days of actions proclaiming that #BlackWorkersMatter. We came together just a day before the Local Hire hearing to march to the headquarters of Woodward Design+Build, who had been aggressively pursuing the disruption of the Local Hire Ordinance, to deliver a petitions with hundreds of signatures calling on Woodward to follow The Lemoine Company’s lead from the New Orleans East Hospital construction and employ 80% local workers on city construction projects.

The unanimous passing of the Local Hire ordinance is a big victory for our #BlackWorkersMatter campaign, which pushes for greater visibility of New Orleans’ long time local workers, and creates real measures to address

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the exclusion of Black workers from New Orleans Reconstruction. While this unanimous vote is amazing we (Stand with Dignity) understand that we can’t sit back like this win is it. We know that this is just the beginning. We must gear up for the rule promulgation process to add the details that make this a policy that actually opens the door for excluded local Black workers.

If we stop now we know that big business will do all they can to destroy what little we have won.

Less than two months ago that very same Black brilliance pushed to help win a wage increase for city contract workers. This win came in the form of the Living Wage ordinance proposed by Council Member Jared Brossett. Even though we live in a political atmosphere that makes wins like this nearly impossible we still won.

While Louisiana Legislatures refuse to remove laws that restrict city government from creating Living wages for all workers across the city we found ways to work with our city government to win this wage increase for some of the cities lowest paid employees. Not only did we win the wage increase, we won language that makes these wages increase with the cost of living, and give workers 7 days paid sick leave or 30% higher wages.

With all I have seen and done with Black folks in the past 3 years, I now understand that cant nobody tell me that “nothing good comes from us getting together” because I have seen the best. Maybe there’s a reason why the “nothing good come from us” stereotype thrived so well in my community. It helps white supremacy and big corporations thrive.

Not only did we win the wage increase, we won language that makes these wages increase with the cost of living, and give workers 7 days paid sick leave or 30% higher wages.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Oct. 23 – Nov. 20 Juvenile In Justice Photography Exhibit & Community Events

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he Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, the Joan Mitchell Center, and our community co-sponsors are proud to bring the Juvenile-in-Justice exhibition to New Orleans as part of National Youth Justice Awareness Month. Created by acclaimed photographer and advocate for juvenile justice reform Richard Ross, Juvenile-inJustice documents the experiences of children in prisons around the nation through powerful photographs and personal narratives. The traveling exhibit brings viewers into spaces normally hidden from view to tell the stories of the most vulnerable members of our society.

“Juvenile In Justice is a call to action, and it’s coming to New Orleans at a critical time,” says LCCR Executive Director Josh Perry. “Some of Ross’ most heartbreaking photographs of imprisoned children were taken right here in New Orleans. We can take common-sense steps right now to help these children – including, most urgently, removing all children under 18 from the Orleans Parish Prison.”

Juvenile-in-Justice is sponsored by a diverse group of community organizations and local universities that are working toward a better future for New Orleans’ youth.

Sponsors will hold events in the exhibition space – from trainings to speakers’ series – in order to broaden awareness around issues of juvenile justice and youth development in New Orleans.

One co-sponsor, the Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies at UNO, is working with area high school students to create art that reimagines a world without prisons, a selection of which will be included in the exhibition.

“The LCCR project and Richard Ross exhibit,” explains Professor Ben Weber, “provides the perfect opportunity for young people to respond creatively to an issue that directly affects them while also helping us older folks to imagine possibilities for a different future.”

Curated by Gia M. Hamilton of the Joan Mitchell Center, Juvenilein-Justice will be on view from October 23rd to November 20th in the Myrtle Banks Building at 1307 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

For more info and a list of events, please visit www.laccr.org or contact Renée Slajda at rslajda@laccr.org.

Co-Sponsors • The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights • The Joan Mitchell Center • African & African Diaspora Studies, Tulane University • Alembic Community Development • Amistad Research Center • Baptist Community Ministries • The Center for Restorative Approaches • Creative Alliance of New Orleans • Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Xavier University

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

• Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children • Innocence Project New Orleans • Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies • Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools • Midlo Center for New Orleans Studies, University of New Orleans • Orleans Parish Place Matters • Reconcile New Orleans • The Southern Poverty Law Center • Urban League of Greater New Orleans • Women With A Vision

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Education School Is In School Anymore Push Rules And Regulations Wiped Out Roster Ineffective Ed

Privatization, Money At The Expense Of Our Communities Schools Are Now Experiments - Particularly Lo Likely To Work In These Areas In These Ways Few Male Teachers Lacking Quality Education Magnet, Adva Of Communication And Democracy No Community Voice System Of Schools, Not A School System Focus Program Access Affordable Education Transportation Budget Should Be Given To Classrooms, Would Be P Money; Too Much To Qualifying The Determination Process Cancellation Of Coverage After Extensive Bills Certain Illnesses ( I.E. Mental Health, Specialist, Dental)Being In The Gray Area For Services The Work Unemployment Less Doctors And Hospitals Housing Issues with getting funds on the west bank for those w into rentals Housing issues for Queer and Trans Youth HANO Policies Gentrification in Neighborhood clos People being sent away from the city to be housed Unaffordable Rents throughout the city People that have as well Reverse Mortgages Issues with HUD and Road Home Permanently Affordable Housing Level of Affo Need (Right) Re-Unification Policy Not enough senior housing Culture and community that’s lost No ameni violate tenants’ rights and are against the culture of the city Effects of Gentrification on Homeowners and R Gentrification: high Rents, Flipping Houses, Construction Job Discrimination Section 8 still unaffordable Ev income is not affordable (Should be based on Net not Gross)Cost of housing is higher than the 30% of in Blighted properties and increases in crime No funds for repairs leading to unsafe units Renters being kicked Prices for Renters and Homeowners too high Cannot save money Section 8 used to be a safety net, no Immigration Discrimination Division Amongst Our Communities Divide And Conquer Abuse At Work Need More Stories Sharing (We Are All Seeking Survival!) Enforcement Harassment ICE/ LBP And Local Pol Families Together Through A Vents In The City Monitor And Change Policies Work With Youth And Chang Discrimination Police Racism Work With The Undocumented Community Jobs In The Community With Unemployment (Job Training & Jobs For Youth) Racial Discrimination/ Youth (Policing, Prosecution, Schoo clinics in Louisiana Private doctors can only provide five abortions a year Insurance companies ban abo matter Men making decisions about women’s families Unemployment/ underemployment Lack of opportunit Poor and black communities living near pollution Prisons destroy families Incarcerated children STI’s are on to sign an affidavit to the government with their name Transgender healthcare Forced sterilization in pris women’s reproductive health Transportation in New Orleans East (Level of Service) Connecting People to adequate service in the East? Is there a better way to spend RTA funds than Streetcars?)2.5 to 3 hours to m fewer buses running in the East There must be a better way for those that ride public transit to get around.

Very Frustrated as a transit user, and job requires travel on a daily basis to CBD which is always a challen and its impacts on service .Experience is Very Degrading/Dehumanizing Driver Disrespect and lack of car bus late or early and rider must wait another hour Why can’t we have the great service all the time that w shuts down Safety of Riders on Vehicles and Stops Regional coordination of transit between Orleans and J children being murdered on their way to school walking through blighted neighborhoods to catch the bus Some have yellow buses Middle school to 11th Grade school gave bus token to student but not parent circulation route in New Orleans East (No bus to get around in the neighborhoods in the East) Students us about missing the one time yellow bus service Transportation impacts Voting polls (Voter Suppression) checked out of accountability for Public Transportation The mentality of having a car and that no one but th

ISSUES CONFERENCE SPECIAL INSERT

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

ducators Inexperienced - TFA, Ameri-corps Mixed Results Overall Lack Of Diversity, Content, Commitment ow Income, POC Education Is No Longer A Marketable Degree, Can’t Afford To Pay Back Loans, Are Less ance Academies Charters Accelerate Segregation - No Accountability Firing To Teachers After Katrina Lack ses Not On Children Student Struggle To Return To School When Facing Legal Troubles In Jail Limited GED Put To Better Use Right to a Neighborhood School Health Care No Access To Healthcare. Not Enough Not Covering Essential Medications On The Most Effective Meds Medicaid Not Covering Enough Visits For king Class Privatization Low Income Complicated Reform Medicaid Limitation Of Services Prescriptions with housing needs Why are they moving section 8 renters further and further out of the city? Turning houses se to St. Thomas (River Gardens) Lack of affordable housing appalling, and creates a huge lack of stability e been shutout and locked out of housing Gentrification and lack of housing Not just rental but homeowners ordable Housing in New Orleans is unacceptable Section 8 is no help, same as market rate Housing a Basic ities, parks, pools, in the neighborhood HANO Policy Property Managers forcing policies on residents that Renters Displacement of Low-Income Homeowners Concentrating Poverty Landlord Discrimination Effects of victions Poor People Punished for Getting a Raise Gentrification: Changes in Irish Channel Rent based on ncome (Fed Guidelines) Transportation Public Housing – People being pushed out into high poverty areas d out when the property is not compliant Bad quality housing for renters Lack of affordable housing Housing one benefiting from it now Losing neighbors placed in senior citizen homes because the cost of housing ( Wages, Hours, Etc.)New Age Slavery (Guest Workers, Minimum Wage, Racism) Lack Of Understanding lice (Police/ Federal Government Abuse Of Rights And Racial Profiling Need To Bring Latinos And American ge Mindsets Towards Others Keep Fighting For Equality And Be United Family Separation And Deportation Dignity Juvenile Justice Youth Wellness (Nutrition, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Trauma)Youth ol Discipline) Reproductive Justice Lack of insurance/ no insurance Restrictive policies Five abortion ortions No communal spaces for women to have these types of conversations People feel their issues don’t ties No living wages No affordable healthcare Mental health safety to be who you are environmental justice nly counted at clinics not a doctors If someone under the age of 18 has an abortion their parents are forced sons and hospitals Prison systems destroy families and women lose their children Impact of BP oil spill on o Jobs Seating/Facilities at Canal and Elk Place Issues on Service in New Orleans East (How do we get make trip from Gentilly to Uptown. In the 70’s it didn’t take that long to get from the East to Canal even with When folks have cars there is no concern about public transit. Commonly consider it a poor persons issue nge (from Hyatt on Loyola to Tulane/Jeff Davis)Need better communication around delays and construction re for riders especially Mothers with strollers and to youth that ride transit Schedules of Buses – Not on time, we have during festivals in the quarter and at the fairgrounds? Alternate routes to avoid when the high rise Jefferson Parishes Campaign to take public transit to understand the challenges to riding transit Issues with s to school Issues with Charter Schools and Yellow Bus service costs Some students get bus tokens for RTA, After school programs some schools provide bus for those participating in after school programs Lack of sed to have a “bus ticket” pass that would allow them to use the system and go to events without worrying )Rapid Transit Options (Train, Bus, Park and Ride) What can be done? What are our options? People have he poor and young people use public transit What percentage of the schools budget is spent on transit and

SPECIAL INSERT BUILDING COMMUNITY VOICES AND POWER

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

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Breaking the Silence

The Journey of Self Discovery for a Black Lesbian Professional

By Anita M. Taplin

As young girl I grew up in a typical New Orleans two-parent home. My parents worked tirelessly to ensure that I was able to attend the best catholic schools and have a better life than they had. Still, nothing they could do would change the person I was destined to be as an adult. They could do nothing to protect me from the bigotry I would later face. At only eight years old, I began a life-long journey that conflicted with my strict religious upbringing and family values. This journey began when I first realized I was attracted to females.

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he thought of revealing my authentic self was terrifying, exposing feelings in an America that wasn’t accepting; a justice system that pictured marriage for heterosexual couples only, and a black community that turned its back on its gay brothers and sisters. Some people may dismiss this realization that I am acknowledging; how could someone so young know anything about being “gay.” At an early age I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was something. I’d hear people asserting that homosexuality is a choice, a decision we consciously make, but as an eight-year-old girl, I can assure that I was not making a decision. I only knew there was a girl that caused me to get nervous and gave me butterflies every time I saw her. As I got older, I realized this was an attraction and, throughout high school and college, I found myself noticing females in a different way. Still, I had not acted on these desires because they were taboo in society, my family, and the community where I lived.

I found being gay in the black community was not a bad thing, it was the worst thing. We accept teen pregnancy, high school dropouts, incarceration, and men not taking care of their own before we accept a person’s difference in sexuality.

I lived this life of denial for decades; it wasn’t until I was 28 years old, I decided it was time to figure out my sexuality and what sexuality meant to me. Coming out as a lesbian was not easy. I always knew there “was something” I just didn’t know what it was or how to deal with it. I didn’t know anything about “being gay”, didn’t have any gay friends or family growing up. It was all new to me but I had to figure it out, I deserved it and I was worth it. I decided to explore my sexuality for my own peace of mind.

I unloaded the weight of this secret onto – at that time -my best friend. I was lucky in that she was accepting and open to helping me figure myself out. This heterosexual woman helped me navigate through the gay community and while doing this, she made me realize it was ok to be gay. I will forever love her for that. My most important discovery during this time was that my sexuality is only a part of who I am, it doesn’t define me.

When I started dating women it was a very exciting time. I met wonderful people from all walks of life while exploring the city I grew up in, but seeing it in a very different perspective. I dated, but with no real guidance my attempts at a meaningful relationship with a woman were a waste of time. I still couldn’t envision the future I wanted while being in a same sex relationship. I still didn’t see my dream relationship anywhere. This was a very eye opening experience.

As a black woman and single mother I had to think of the long term effects on my household. There were very few openly gay black professionals, there still aren’t many in the New Orleans area. It’s not as accepted as one would

think for a popular city especially with a reputation around the world for the continuous party and good times. Yes, times have changed, and acceptance is growing but there are still many holes where our young people fall through simply because of a lack of understanding in our community.

It wasn’t until years later, two amazing kids, a number of relationships with great men gone sour, and a failed marriage that I realized it was time to be honest with myself and the world around me. I made the decision to be true to myself and become the person I was meant to be.

With the many difficulties I knew laid ahead, I entered into a relationship with a wonderful woman and began to build the family I always wanted. It felt like the world was against me, but I was determined to make it work. Times were hard; family disapproval, losing friends, an ugly custody battle; public scrutiny, marriage discrimination, and the lack of knowledge in the black community. Things looked as if they would never get better.

My family and friends were not excited about my decision to embark on this journey. They were concerned about my children, my ex-husband, and an unpleasant custody case; it looked as if I was fighting a never ending battle. All I could see was the love was real and my desire to be true to myself was powerful. Through these troublesome times I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but nothing worth having is.

Going to dinner at local restaurants was sometimes difficult. The faces always showed scrutinizing questions, “how could this beautiful women be with another woman like that”, “she must hate men”, or “she must have been hurt by a man”. None of which are true, I honestly loved her. I loved our family and my new life. I had the same goals, dreams, and visions as any other black woman in America, wanting the same freedoms and liberties.

Struggles continued. For years I wanted to get married, but the idea of going to one of the limited states to wed and not have my marriage recognized in my home state was disheartening. I could either have a ceremony out of state without my loved ones (which I had done in the past and did not want to do again) or face putting the financial burden of a destination wedding on my family. I finally decided to wait on getting married which lead to the battle of buying a home with my partner without being legally married. I decided to purchase a home anyway and do what was best for my kids so they will have an investment for their future.

Since my incredible journey started many years ago much has changed, my parents are very supportive of my vision and the life I have made for myself. I surround myself and my kids with positive people who also share my vision. It is important to me that my children understand that being gay is not a negative

The faces always showed scrutinizing questions, “how could this beautiful women be with another woman like that”, “she must hate men”, or “she must have been hurt by a man”.

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

characteristic; it’s just one aspect of what makes a person different. I teach my children that good people come from all walks of life. I want them to grow up know it’s more important to recognize how someone treats you than who that person is in love with.

Laws have changes as well. Companies are opening their restrictions on accepting partners as healthcare beneficiaries. Much to my surprise the recent decision regarding gay marriage in the state of Louisiana will enable that part of my dream to become a reality. The thing I would like to express to law makers is the need for programs targeted at the young LGBT community. There are kids needing support systems until acceptance or some kind of understanding resonates throughout the community. Kids are being bullied, ostracized, and

dismissed from their homes for their sexuality. There needs to be a place to catch these children, a place for families to gain the understanding that being gay is not a death sentence. These kids need the opportunity to be productive citizens in society. There needs to be a place where parents can find comfort in knowing their children can still attain the “American Dream”.

My journey is far from over. I feel although I have realized parts of my dream I still have lots to accomplish. I hope by sharing my journey it will help others on theirs. I would like to help change the perception of what “gay” looks like. When the perception changes, the community can build acceptance and understanding which will help the youth of the LGBT community.

We Got Solutions

LGBTQ Beauties Standing in Their Power

“These are issues we face. Our lives are at stake. When we D E F E N D ourselves, we are still P U N I S H E D and we face murder charges.* As transgender women and gender non-conforming youth, we can’t win for losing. We worry about our S A F E T Y, our H E A L T H. The HIV rates are so high. There are HIV C R I M I N A L I Z A T I O N laws for those that are positive. The odds are stacked against us.” “BreakOUT! is putting our S W E A T and T E A R S into this W O R K to try to make a better New Orleans so that we’re not P R O F I L E D by the P O L I C E.” — Taken from the We Deserve Better Report, 2014 Continued on page 20

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hen BreakOUT! decided to join the Power Coalition, we knew exactly what message our organization had to bring into this impressive group. We were to play our usual role in advocating and leading the community into a better understanding of what LGBTQ New Orleans outlook has been and where we want it to be. As the coalition began to form, it was even more clear that there was a need for culture shift in how we build our political agenda to a more inclusive and equitable model. What we found was that no one was really sure what exactly was moving through and holding the queer and trans community here. Our seat at the table was placed. Young queer and trans people would not only sit at the table, but would need to be vocal and able to speak on how the coalition could organize to leverage power in our direction. At BreakOUT!, we center the lives and experiences of Black transgender women as the most impacted by violence and criminal (in)justice system. In our liberation model, if our most impacted people organize themselves into equitable self-determination, then people who face oppression and violence at a lesser rate will be liberated as well. With a long standing divide between the goals of non LGBTQ organization and at the same time building on the history of cross community organizing in New Orleans, our liberation understanding was imperative for The Power Coalition to build to their own if we were to plan, work, and build side by side, The morning of the Issues Summit, nearly twenty people from all across the LGBTQ spectrum gathered to speak on their stories and priorities in creating more sustainable livelihoods in terms of LGBTQ lives. We highlighted topics around safety, in addition to growing number of murders, demonizing of sex worker, criminalization, lack of jobs, and how New Orleans culture manifest situations in which LGBTQ young people find themselves profiled or forced into systems that place us in direct lines to be profiled and harassed. This harassment takes shape not only in violent acts from the citizens of New Orleans, but often is from those who are supposed to be dedicated to protecting us, the NOPD. One of the most alarming issues that came up, was recent legislation in our state. Last year, Representative Austin Badon sponsored a Louisiana House Bill that outlaws panhandling. HB 1158 criminalizes solicitation, making it a misdemeanor punishable with a maximum fine of $200 and up to six months in jail. When passed, it was clear that the primary target of this bill was those who are or are perceived as homeless or sex workers. This comes as nothing new, as the history of laws and lawmakers falls into a category of locking up and profiling youth who could be doing anything from using the streets to work, or to walk home. Since the passing of the bill, Representative Badon has been praising the bill’s efforts to reduce the number of “poor” people on the streets.

This was a slap in our face, not only because of the existing the lack of care or resources ,but the added energy of creating laws which continue to take away from our ability to live. What we need, are laws and bills which create and add, not target and steal humans from their environments.

In the We Deserve Better Report, our research showcased differences between race and gender identity as related to profiling of transgender women perceived as being involved in the sex trade or a sex worker. While only 26% of cisgender respondents had been assumed to be in the sex trade, over half (64%) of transgender respondents reported being profiled as being a sex worker. With race, we also notice disparity, 54% of people of color respondents had been assumed to be in the sex trade compared to only 17% of white respondents. Lastly, 84% of transgender respondents feel they have been targeted by police for their sexual orientation or gender identity or gender expression compared with 45% of cisgender respondents.

These statistics were highlighted even more when they came to life at the Issues Summit. People spoke on personal experiences of the community giving up on them or taking away their power. When all was said and done, we had to take a deep breathe; we were drained from reliving dismissal moments and dialoguing around them. At that point, as facilitators, the amazing and profound

Dessiree (of Women with a Vision) and myself shifted the energy. What do we know about ourselves and our ability to survive? What do we know we need?

Where do we draw the strength and courage to move the city to a more secure place?

Again, stories came to life when young queer and trans people spoke on the rich history of organizing in their lives and the lives of those who came before them. The shift from issues to solution automatically began to reinvigorate me. Once again, I was reminded of BreakOUT!’s membership, at a time when we realized that we know exactly how to solve our problems. Taken from the We Deserve Better Report, youth highlighted exactly what we can do and what we need. It reads: We can tell you exactly what is wrong in this city and exactly what needs to change. We can “power map“ the city players and decision-makers and tell you how our struggles are linked to other struggles for self determination. We can tell you about historical resistance to policing in LGBTQ and people of color communities. We can stretch a dollar. We can sit through the funeral of one of our friends and not say a word about the fact that the preacher keeps calling her “he” and the family dressed her in a suit. And if the preacher walks away from the funeral when he finds out who is in that casket, we can stand up and conduct the funeral ourselves. We don’t want your pity.

What we want, is more funding, programming, and laws that enforce greater access to housing, healthcare, employment, schools, and safety...both from the citizens and police of New Orleans. WE DO NOT need more jails or police, because it has been proven that they don’t make us safer. We need healing, and leaders who support that healing clearly and massively with initiatives that allow us to manage and handle our own issues.

That morning at the Issues Summit, we moved forward with a political agenda. But even more so, we moved forward by Standing In Our Power, as we are meant to be.

We can sit through the funeral of one of our friends and not say a word about the fact that the preacher keeps calling her “he” and the family dressed her in a suit.

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To read the complete We Deserve Better Report visit http://www.youthbreakout.org/sites/g/files/ g189161/f/201410/WE%20DESERVE%20 BETTER%20REPORT.pdf For More information on Criminalization, Police and the LGBTQ community see our “Who Pays”, a collaborative National Report http://whopaysreport.org/about-the-project/ BreakOUT! seeks to end the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to build a safer and more just New Orleans. We build on the rich cultural tradition of resistance in the South to build the power of LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 25 and directly impacted by the criminal justice system through youth organizing, healing justice, and leadership development programs. For more info visit: http:// www.youthbreakout.org/

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

The State of Transit in New Orleans, Ten Years After Katrina

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ur bus and streetcar network supports thousands of New Orleanians to access school, work, doctors appointments and more. But New Orlean’s transit service has evolved dramatically in the ten years since Katrina, leaving transit riders with fewer options to get to where they need to go.

RIDE New Orleans is a local non-profit dedicated to promoting safe, convenient and affordable transportation choices so that we all can access opportunity, regardless of age, income or ability. In August 2015, we released “The State of Transit in New Orleans – Ten Years After Katrina” to benchmark the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) recovery.

The good news is that the RTA has made significant progress adding transit service, controlling costs and strengthening the agency’s financial and management oversight positions.

Yet 10 years after Katrina, the RTA’s bus service is still down by 65%.

Infrequent bus service and limited routes leaves transit riders across the city with difficult and long daily commutes. Our streetcars have fared better because the RTA has placed more priority on expanding streetcar service to new corridors and invested more of their limited operating budget to fully restore streetcar service to pre-Katrina levels.

This uneven recovery has left many neighborhoods across the city with poor-quality transportation choices.

In the ten years since Katrina, the RTA has not yet carried out a comprehensive planning effort to guide how their investments can best be coordinated to connect New Orleans residents to the places they need to go. In the absence of the plan, RTA leaders have made ad hoc decisions that have left many transit riders with inadequate service.

By Matthew Hendrickson Advocacy Program Coordinator – RIDE New Orleans

That’s why when RIDE New Orleans released our report, we called on the RTA to work together with transit riders, community leaders, businesses and public officials to develop a ten-year strategic transit master plan that ensures that New Orleanians have access to high-quality transit service.

We’re proud to report that the RTA is now laying the groundwork to get this planning process underway. We expect the RTA to engage in community conversations about the future of our transit service throughout 2016.

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to institute the kind of change New Orleanians envision for a quality transit system.

After Katrina, there was no roadmap to transit recovery and the RTA deserves credit for their commitment to serving our community. Now, the time has come for community to work alongside the RTA to shape the future of New Orleans’ transit. With smart, coordinated investments, we can ensure that all New Orleanians have access to high quality transit.

To see the full “State of the Transit Report” go to: http://rideneworleans.org/state-of-transit-tenyears-after-katrina/ To learn more and participate with fellow transit advocates, join the Coalition for Quality Transit—a group of transit riders, community partners, and leaders working on grassroots advocacy campaigns to improve transportation services. Contact Matthew Hendrickson at matt@ rideneworleans.org or 504-249-8419.

Five Key Reasons We Need a Transit Master Plan • New Orleans residents depend on high quality transit to access opportunity.

• Progressive businesses are calling for better workforce transit connections.

• Defining a collective vision for our transit future makes us more competitive for federal grants and local fundraising.

• The New Orleans city and region changed dramatically following Katrina, but the transit system has not kept pace.

• Regional workforce opportunities can address long-standing poverty but only with better transit connections.

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Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC)

When did Schools Become Prisons?—Let Kids Be Kids!

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here is a disturbing national trend that funnels children from schoolyards to prison yards. Kids come to school to learn, but some also come weighed down by poverty, abuse and neglect. Without fully developed coping mechanisms children sometimes act out. In fact kids from all backgrounds misbehave from time to time, but when they do so at school it can send a disproportionate number of children of color down a very destructive path.

In his speech to the National Press Club U. S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan drew much-needed attention to the school-to-prison pipeline. What he

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didn’t do is offer much in the way of proposals to break this vicious cycle that starts in our schools.

Duncan’s recommendation was for States to find alternatives to incarceration, and then use the tremendous savings to increase teachers’ salaries in the highest-need schools. The theory is that increasing salaries will draw and reward more effective teachers. While on the surface this is a generous proposal targeting the low salaries our most vulnerable kids’ teachers, in reality this is an example of how misguided approaches to school reform can be.

Continued on page 23

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

What Duncan has done is to imply that teachers are the gatekeepers of the school-to-prison pipeline—a good teacher prevents kids from going down that path while an ineffective teacher is letting students slip away. But the problem is so much more complex. The solution to this problem is not just to compensate teachers better, because the teachers are symptoms of the larger problem.

The immediate problem in the schools is that destructive discipline policies are pushing troubled students out of the classroom and into the criminal justice system. With only a brief mention of the success of the Broward County school system, Duncan missed an opportunity to talk about the deep systemic changes that were made there to reverse the tide of criminalizing student misbehavior.

In a collaborative agreement on school discipline, the Broward County School Board, local law enforcement, attorneys, judges, teachers, and many other stakeholders formed a partnership committed to reducing the number of arrests and court referrals. Money didn’t solve this problem, effective policies did.

A group of people with diverse viewpoints formally acknowledged that the system was the problem, not the students. Then they committed to a restorative approach with a clearly defined disciplinary system that put a priority on keeping kids in school and out of the justice system.

Zero-tolerance policies, which often call for harsh punishments for minor infractions, are a plague on our schools. They are often implemented under the guise of keeping children safe, but what they are doing is pushing kids out of schools and into the courts. These policies often go hand-in-hand with police presence in schools, which can lead to arrests and court referrals for even nonviolent misbehavior.

What the schools need most is more effective discipline where the goal is positive behavior, not punishment. We need to keep kids in school by reducing suspensions and expulsions. All we teach a child through expulsion is that they have no place in the education system. The system needs to be strong and adaptive enough to take troubled students and guide them toward more positive behavior, not simply throw them out.

Yes, as Duncan says, there is an urgent need to reduce prison populations, and it makes good sense to use the savings to support the schools, but more consideration needs to go into how to best support the teachers on the front lines. Teacher training in positive behavioral intervention, mental health

counselors on staff, opportunities for parent engagement, supports for students with disabilities, and high quality in-school alternatives to out-of-school suspensions are all proven approaches.

And the first step is to replace zero-tolerance policies with thoughtful disciplinary practices that value all students and keep them engaged and on track for success. This is the work that Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children has been engaged in since 2003 and our work continues.

Through our 50/2017: Building a Movement to end the school to prison pipeline, we are working to train parents and arm them with skills needed to not only advocate for their children but all children across Louisiana. By training parents on their rights and alternatives to suspensions and expulsions we are helping parents take their rightful place in the forefront of demanding what their children need to grow and thrive. The goals of our campaign are to develop leaders and reduce suspensions in Louisiana by 50% as well as rid our state of the subjective zero tolerance policy and suspending children for “willful disobedience” by 2017.

Arne Duncan is stepping down before the end of the year but he will leave behind him the charter school scandal that has rocked public education, leaving little accountability and many children vulnerable to continued school pushouts. Please join in our fight to hold all schools accountable and end school pushouts by signing onto our platform, becoming a member of FFLIC, volunteering or donating to our work. To learn more go to www.fflic.org or call 504.708.8376.

Young Men of Color Rising

By Kendol Lambert and Melvin Miller

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his country needs a huge turn around. As young black men trying to make it, we know the challenges on our table are far greater than for the average ordinary young man.

We’ve been faced with hardships before we could even understand why.

In a city where 52% of Black men are not working, there is not a whole lot of opportunities are out there for us. Watching our parents work three jobs to keep a roof over our heads is common for other young people of color in New Orleans, where 39 percent of children live in poverty. Day to day events show just how much our education, economic, and criminal justice systems are designed to fail us.

Where young men like ourselves are shot down and killed because people are afraid of us. We are blessed to see our twenties, but how long will it last before we are shot down because someone thinks we are dangerous, for speaking our minds or simply because of the color of our skin.

This year’s election will take place on October 24th and now more than ever, young people of color must come out and vote.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

This year’s election will take place on October 24th and now more than ever, young people of color must come out and vote. Voting is not a privilege, it’s a right, one that our ancestors fought and died for. While our elected officials may not be doing their job, we aren’t don’t ours unless we vote.

Because we’re not treated equally in school or in the criminal justice system, a lot of young people believe their votes don’t matter. We share this frustration, but trust that your one vote matters just as much as anyone else’s. One vote can change the outcome of any election and that vote can be yours.

We are voting to make a change in our community. We don’t want other young men or our future sons to have to be subjected to the discrimination we face on a daily basis. If we want officials in office who are going to fight for us, who recognize that our voices are just as important, we have to make an impact at the polls. A lot of people say that if you don’t vote, you don’t count. On October 24th, meet us at the polls and let’s make sure our voices are heard.

Kendol and Melvin are Interns at VAYLA New Orleans where they are working to change the narrative around young men of color.

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The Fight for a Living Wage is a Reproductive Justice Fight

By Mwende Katwiwa, Women With a Vision

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any mainstream organizations and media outlets often explain the gender gap through the simple statistic that women make “78 cents to a man’s dollar.” This statement doesn’t actually offer us the entire picture, neglecting to mention that it is actually white women who earn .78 cents to a white man’s dollar. Earnings for men of color are lower than for white men and white women, while Black women earn, on average, .64 cents to a white man’s dollar, and Latina women earn only .54 cents to a white man’s dollar. The .78 cents statistic also erases the dozens of workers of all genders, and those who do not conform to gender norms, who are working minimum wage jobs where salary negotiation is almost non-existent. Recent studies have shown that women of color not only make less than white men and white women, but they are also more likely to hold hourly jobs and work fewer hours because of the nature of the work (often women of color are concentrated in the service industry).

While the federal minimum wage has been set at $7.25 since 2009, President Obama has encouraged an increase to $10.10 an hour. Yet, a 2012 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research found that the minimum wage should actually be $10.52 if it had kept up with inflation, and $21.72 if it had kept up with increases in worker productivity. Because the current minimum wage of $7.25 does not translate into a living wage for a majority of workers,

many minimum and low wage-earning adults hold numerous jobs, are forced to seek public assistance, and some may use alternative—often criminalized— forms of earning income to cover the costs of living for themselves and their kin.

On August 6th, 2015, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to approve a “living wage” ordinance that will force certain companies* to offer $10.10 as the minimum wage to workers, though many were quick to point out that $10.10 is not a living wage in New Orleans. A Loyola University researcher found that a single parent in New Orleans would need approximately $22/hour in order to live a “reasonable life in New Orleans” while a two-parent household would require at least $13/hour per parent.

In New Orleans and beyond, many Americans are forced to survive on the minimum wage (or less) due to being trapped by a host of interlinked social and economic factors. While some claim minimum wage jobs like fast food work are supposed to be temporary positions for demographics such as high-school students, the reality is that roughly 52% of minimum wage workers in the United Stated are over the age of 25. Location, gender, race, and education levels are all also indicators of minimum wage employment in the United States. In cities like Chicago, over 40% of minimum wage workers are Black, though states in the the U.S South (primarily Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee) see the highest percentages of workers statewide earning the minimum wage.

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Of the 1.3 million workers making minimum wage and the 1.7 million workers who earned less than the minimum wage in 2014, 62% of them were women, showing the feminization of minimum wage work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black people make up 20% of the fast food industry, despite being 12% of the population. In addition, nearly 40% of all Black women workers in the United States are employed in low-wage jobs, further illustrating the disproportionately gendered and racialized demographics of minimum wage work.

At Women With A Vision, we see first hand how low wages and economic insecurity impact women and their communities. Economic instability is often the precursor and/or an intricately-linked compounding factor to the many injustices that our clients face, especially when they find themselves at the intersection of race, gender/gender expression, sexual orientation, and class. Recently, the Fight For $15 chapter in New Orleans hosted a rally/march to City Hall that I attended and spoke at on behalf of Women With A Vision. As I looked out into the crowd, I couldn’t help but notice how, of those who identified as low wage/ minimum wage workers, many were Black women. At the end of the rally, I happened to mention this to a Black women I did not know but who was in attendance. “Well, of course,” she said, “We [Black women] have always had to fight just to live.” I was struck by how nonchalantly she said it, but realized she was right. Neither the Fight For $15 or the struggle for a livable wage are about making extreme demands, but simply demanding the right for millions of Americans to work and live in dignity. This is a demand, as this woman reminded me, Black Americans have been fighting for for centuries.

At Women With a Vision, we see the fight for living wages as a reproductive justice issue. The term reproductive justice was coined by Black women and other women of color as a way to push the mainstream reproductive rights movement beyond a focus on abortion and birth control. Women of color pushed for the movement to encompass our right to health and safety not just during family planning and childbirth, but as we raise our children. Because of

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

the ways oppression intersects along the lines of race, gender, sexuality, class, and other factors, these activists understood that not all women have equal choices about one’s body and family, and that a true movement for reproductive freedom had to include an analysis of the racial, economic, cultural, and structural constraints on women’s power.

We see this in the .78 cents statistic, which doesn’t underscore how women of color stand at the intersections of both racial, gender, and class oppressions, making our labor and our bodies worth less. Race, for instance, is implicitly tied to class in the United States, and at WWAV we are able to use the reproductive justice framework to explain how class, particularly poverty, shapes our client’s ability to choose when, how, where, and if they can parent.

For marginalized women and their families, true reproductive justice would mean access to a living wage, access to competent healthcare, freedom from state and interpersonal violence, a healthy living environment, affordable housing, good transportation, and a number of other issues that impact the daily lives of the women who walk into our offices. At WWAV we believe reproductive justice exists when all individuals have the power, access, and resources to make healthy decisions about their bodies.

For so many of the women we work with at WWAV, low wages mean facing impossible choices between food for their families and clothes for their children; between keeping the light on and paying rent; between child care for their children while they are at work and healthcare when they are sick. The struggle to find a living wage job is a struggle for reproductive justice, and higher wages would allow marginalized women and their families a chance to live and thrive in New Orleans. *This only applies to companies that: (1) Work under a city contract or contracts worth more than $25,000, and (2) Work for a company that got economic incentives or tax breaks worth more than $100,000 in a year.

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The Impact of Health and Place in Greater New Orleans Area The NOELA Health Clinic in New Orleans East opened in May of this year, dramatically expanding quality community health care in an underserved area. Funding for the clinic came about through community organizing after the BP oil spill, with the same organizing efforts leading to expanded health care access across coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

The “Place”

According to the County Health Rankings released in 2010 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Orleans Parish ranked 59th in health status among the 64 counties in Louisiana3. Health is affected not only by the characteristics of individuals and their families, but also by the neighborhoods and environment in which they live. Health and place emphasizes the differences in health of the population and health care between places (cities/communities/ neighborhoods), and the experience of health and care in these places1.

The Issues

Historical patterns of racial and class discrimination in the Greater New Orleans Area, have created segregated communities that perpetuate cycles of hardship. Residential segregation is one of the primary causes of health inequities among different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Thus, differences in “place” conditions, powerfully predict who is healthy, who is sick, and who will live longer. In addition, one of the root causes of health inequities between socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups is the clustering of unhealthy neighborhood conditions in low income and minority neighborhoods. This has contributed to the location of vulnerable populations in neighborhoods/ communities that display sub-standard characteristics such as the following: • Poor housing conditions • Education (Inadequate schools) • Polluted environments • Insufficient transportation • Lack of safety • Supportive infrastructure for physical activity • Lack of access to fresh healthy foods.

Educational attainment is a pathway to higher income and a strong predictor of health risks and outcomes, having a strong influence on status of health and access to health. Low educational attainment is associated with being uninsured, and delaying care because of the cost4. National statistics indicate that adults (age 25 and older) who lack a high school education or equivalent are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors. Hence, an improvement in the educational attainment of the population could be a genuine consideration in improving the crime problems New Orleans is currently facing.

Furthermore, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities often lack healthy food options and have an excess of unhealthy options, including liquor stores4. More so, the density of off-premise liquor establishments is associated with increased rates of violence which is prevalent in these communities. The neighborhood characteristics also shape health indirectly because studies have shown that when fresh produce and healthy foods are readily available, people are more likely to report eating a healthy diet. Conversely, when low-cost but nutritionally poor fast-food is close at hand, residents have fewer and poorer nutritional options, leading to higher rates of obesity and related illnesses Demographic characteristics plays an important role in predicting health outcomes. While the typical Orleans resident had a life expectancy of 72.5 years between 2001 and 2007, whites had a life expectancy of 76.2 years while blacks had an expectancy of 67.4 years, a statistically significant difference of 8.8 years4. These inequalities are partly due to socioeconomic

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attributes of the population which is also evident in zip codes with populations below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Insufficient income to meet basic needs worsens material hardship. In 2009 nearly 20% (19.6%) of the households in Orleans spent between 30% and 49.9% of their income on housing. A similar percentage (19.3%) spent more than 50% of their income on housing4. The USDA reports that one of every ten households in Louisiana experienced some form of food insecurity, where there simply wasn’t enough food for the family to eat.

Mental Illness and PTSD

Mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. It is not as a result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing, and it can affect persons of any age, race, creed or income. Some of these mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (NAMI,Gulf Coast, n.d).

New Orleans has the highest homicide rate in the United States and is ranked amongst the lowest cities in the nation for health outcomes. With continuous exposure to traumatic events, including natural disasters, domestic and community violence, residents of the city have displayed above national average levels of stress, depression and suicide. The consistent exposure to traumatic events and limited resources for trauma informed care leaves a number of individuals at risk of developing mental illness and substance use disorders which can lead to increased risk of contact with the criminal justice system5.

In addition, the behavioral health infrastructure in New Orleans continues to face cuts and limitations in resources, with several key services being either eliminated or reduced in capacity as of March 2012. These reductions in local behavioral health resources will continue to negatively impact the region’s fragile behavioral health resources, forcing the behavioral health system to absorb these patients in other settings.

In 2010, Osofsky and colleagues conducted a study which examined factors related to psychological distress and PTSD symptoms in the Gulf Coast region. Among the 452 adults interviewed from four parishes in Louisiana between August and December 2010, 12% of respondents exceeded the cutoff for probable PTSD and 15% had elevated levels of psychological distress.

Psychological distress symptoms were significantly higher among those reporting disruption in life, work, and family as a result of the oil spill in 20102.

References

1. About Mental Illness - NAMI Gulf Coast. (n.d.). Retrieved October 15, 2015, from http://namigulfcoast.org/about-mental-illness/ 2. Osofsky, H. J., Osofsky, J. D., & Hansel, T. C. (2011). Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Mental health effects on residents in heavily affected areas. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 5(4), 280-286.

3. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. County Health Rankings. (2010 )Health Outcomes Map, Retrieved October 15, 2015 http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/ 4. Place Matters for Health in Orleans Parish: Ensuring Opportunities for Good Health for All. (2012) Retrieved October 15, 2015 http://jointcenter.org/docs/New%20Orleans%20CHERReport.pdf 5. Behavioral Health in New Orleans Retrieved October 15, 2015 https://www.nola.gov/nola/media/Health-Department/Publications/Behavioral-Health-in-New-Orleans-2012-final-draft.pdf

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Evacuteer.org

Encouraging Hurricane Preparedness is Critical to the Safety of Our Community

By Kali Roy, Director of Operations for Evacuteer.org

The history and evolution of evacuating New Orleans is complex, to say the least. People are usually sick of talking and thinking about hurricane season once October rolls around, and those of us in hurricane-prone areas get a pang of panic when a storm starts brewing in the Atlantic and approaches the Caribbean near the gulf. “Not us, not us, not us” we continuously pray, and heave a collective sigh of relief when it takes a turn.

One of our seventeen city-wide Evacuspots made up of public art statues

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ur organization, Evacuteer.org, trains volunteers who will assist in registering those who need to use the public option to evacuate during a mandatory evacuation, called 2-3 days in advance in New Orleans, before safely evacuating themselves when contraflow opens. We work to ensure that those who rely on the public evacuation and do not have the luxury of getting out safely on their own are not left to fend for themselves as they were a fateful ten years ago. We also seek to improve the culture of preparedness in this city through programs we offer, and do so in collaboration with our twenty-plus non-profit partner groups who work in the communities we will assist when the time comes, to alleviate worries and help those residents get on the buses and evacuate safely. Contrary to the events of the past—we want to show that people in New Orleans care about each other, especially those who need help the most, and we have over 500 volunteers to prove it.

But we need more. The city’s population is growing, our social justice issues are ever-present, and communities will inevitably continue to shift their focus to solving more urgent issues as the time since our last major storm passes. One of our biggest issues is ensuring people know that the public option for evacuation exists. You may have seen our seventeen city-wide Evacuspots made up of public art statues that stand 14-feet tall, made of stainless steel stick-figure men with their arm outstretched—as if to hail a safe ride or catch some beads at Mardi Gras, depending on who you talk to—marking each one. We spent this year fundraising so that come next hurricane season, we expect them all to be lit at night, further helping people spot them and promote awareness when the time comes to use them during a mandatory evacuation.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Here in New Orleans, a mandatory evacuation is usually called in the event of a Category-3 storm or higher, and is issued by the mayor in coordination with the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The critical reason for the parish to issue a mandatory evacuation order is turn on the state’s faucet for additional resources for those 35,000 or so residents who are otherwise unable to voluntarily evacuate. A lack of resources was one of the barriers to safe evacuation during Katrina, and New Orleans has developed elaborate plans for transportation of disadvantaged populations.

Residents may dial 3-1-1 to learn about their two options: the Special Needs Registry is specifically for those who may have medical and mobility issues preventing them from self-evacuating, and the City Assisted Evacuation is for those who may have financial barriers to self-evacuation. However, access to these resources is contingent on declarations of emergency and mandatory orders of evacuation.

During a Saturday community training at Rosa F. Keller Library at the intersection of Broad and Napoleon, participants from all walks of life sit in a wood-paneled room, watching a trainer walk through their PowerPoint presentation describing an Evacuteer’s role in the City Assisted Evacuation.

In the spirit of keeping everyone awake for an information-packed one-hour session, participants are asked, “What is your evacuation plan?” Sometimes timid, they will share similar versions of the same plan: “My sister calls and we pack everything up together. We get out when they say it’s coming and go to Memphis!” or “I get my dogs, pack my freezer food in a cooler, and take us all up to Birmingham!” Others will choose to evacuate to state shelters. There are moments when we hear from someone who was stuck on a rooftop and taken to the Superdome during Katrina, and everyone takes a somber moment to respect that individual and their ability to survive. We recognize that many resilient individuals train with us in order to familiarize themselves and try to bolster the safety of their community so that we never see those events take place again.

However, there’s another option that citizens will inevitably exercise despite elaborate planning and it is one that is due to having a negative experience of evacuating. Many will say, “We’re staying. After Katrina, I’m never leaving again,” and cite a lack of trust for current systems in place and fear of the unknown as a compound example of why these perfectly capable members of the community will not leave. While they may volunteer with us, donate, and support the concept of others evacuating—they have already decided they will not do so themselves when the time comes. These are often multiple-hurricane survivors of Hurricanes Betsy, Camille, and Katrina, who trust their own resources above any makeshift and temporary systems put in place for evacuees elsewhere. Many look to the reference point of whether they flooded during Hurricane Katrina to guide their decision-making, or, on a lesser note, some have faith in the billions of dollars of infrastructure that has been installed and improved upon since 2005. Justifications aside, even with all of the tools we have now—weather is unpredictable and storms are causing disasters we are not always able to plan for. In looking to the recent flooding that has affected South Carolina we see that heavy rain caused more flood damage than any of the named storms that have previously made landfall there in recent history.

Encouraging preparedness is critical to the safety of our community.

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The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

man, eCe” Chap

By Christy “C e book, f th the author o ts Ever y h g u o 20 Th ve. hould Ha Woman S native w Orleans She is a Ne something years nty who is “twe itter w her on Tw of age.” Follo thor. eAu at @CeCeth

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believe that my readers deserve to meet the most genuine, interesting yet unique people that make a difference in our community even world. This time TRUMPETERS (Trumpet Readers) say hello to expert personal trainer “Shody” originally born Rashad Roussell. I was introduced to Shody by a colleague when I expressed my desire to lose weight and tackle physical fitness. This guy’s passion and concern for people and fitness automatically caught my attention. This is a skill that you have to have a niche for and it is a service that definitely provides piece of mind while empowering you as a person. I hope that this issue will encourage and inspire some of you to take charge of your physical fitness and health.

1. Tell us 3 words that describe “YOU”?

3 words that describe me would be AMBITIOUS,HARD-WORKER,and last but least CLOWN. I like to have fun.

Life is short and it is what you make it.

2. As a child how was it growing up in Hahnville , Louisiana?

Growing up in Hahnville projects was tough. I didn’t have much growing up so I always had to work for anything I wanted. It helped me become the man I am today and gave me my strong work ethic .

3. What did you aspire to be?

As a kid, I actually aspired to be an NBA player.

4. Tell us how did fitness and health come into your life ?

Fitness and Health came into my life once I stopped playing football and I was home just partying. I lost track of my health ,eating whatever and got up to about 310 pounds. Even though I am a tall guy, I was like “oh no”. I have to do better.

5. What college did you play ball for and position ?

I started my college career at West Virginia and later transferred to Troy University. I played Defensive Line .

6. What was a difficult time and when as an athlete ?

The most difficult time as an athlete was 2007 when I got into a bad car accident going into my senior year of college. I was told I wasn’t going to be able to play ball again. But I wanted to play ball and I was determined to do so.

care less what people eating. I am to worried about the big plate I have in front of me and how good it is. By the way my favorite meal is BBQ. Love it....

12. Is it more about what you eat or how much do you eat ?

It’s about both. You have to try your best to eat as well as u can & in the right porpotions. I call it “eating clean” and “training dirty”. Meaning giving it all you have to get the job done the right way.

9. How was the transition from football player to personal fitness trainer and when?

Well I actually went from football player to football coach. I went back to coach at the high school I played for ..training came later .

13. As a personal trainer what is the most full filling part of your job ? What are a few things you have done thus far as a expert personal trainer ?

As a trainer everyday is fulfillment for me. Looking at a lady, man or kid who is gradually getting better at everything we do and seeing they bodies changing right in front of me is an awesome feeling. I am properly servicing my clients. I am a trainer because it is my passion. I love people.

I love watching people live a healthy and meaningful life. To know I am apart of that is a reward in itself for me.

I don’t seek recognition for it through the media even though I train several NFL players and local celebrities now. I have a fitness facility in Boutte, Louisiana . I’ve done a few magazines.

I also was the health advisor on a radio show based out of Texas .

10. What is a day like in your life?

A day in my life is me waking up for 5am to get ready to head to New Orleans for my first session at 6am.

And from 6am to 8pm. I’m training different people individually and in groups. Along with training myself.

14. Working with clients, what was the biggest challenge for you?

Working with clients (men, women and kids) the biggest challenge would be dealing with the many different personalities people especially women . (laughing)

11. When you are out at a restaurant , do you pay attention to foods people eat?

When I’m at a restaurant. I could

15. Do you feel it is about weight loss or physical fitness?

I would want it to be about all around wellness and fitness with my clients, but

7. Being in the NFL what was most challenging about routine work outs ?

Playing for the Oakland Raiders for 2 1/2 years, the most challenging thing about the NFL workout routine is that is so fast pace ..and mentally challenging .

8. What was the easiest work out ?

The easiest workout was Walk Throughs. That’s where we just went through plays very slow and inside.

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

most people just care about the weight lost and flat stomachs .

16. What is the best tip to lose belly fat?

The best tip to a flat belly would be to get on a good food plan. An important part also would be to work the hell out of the abs . Cardio for abs is the trick to reduce belly fat overall.

17. How does it feel to see clients with happy results due to you?

I love it when I see people getting the results. I sit back and think ...”Like...

WOW ... They are really transforming they bodies and I’m playing a major part in it .

18. Are you a stickler for eating healthy foods?

I am not a stickler for eating healthy food to be honest. But I stick with a good meal plan for the most part. I’m human just like my clients and it can be hard to eat right all the time.

19. Being that people hire you for different reasons such as to lose weight, boost confidence/ self-esteem, reduce depression as well ... you in a sense touch hearts, how many hearts do you feel you have touched as a trainer?

I couldn’t give u an exact number. But I’ve had hundreds of clients over the last 2 years. I’ve done my best to help everyone of them out .

20. Are any work out videos in the works? What is “Shody the Body’s”next move or moves shall I say?

No workout videos in the making right now but maybe one day though. The next move for me will be to open up another training facility in Metairie, Louisiana . I want to help many more people.

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Neighborhood Meetings

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

Visit www.algierspoint.org for location.

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

Woldenberg Village - 3701 Behrman Place www.anpcnola.org 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 Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association 3rd Saturday of the month Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 3721 N. Claiborne Avenue bunnyfriendassoc@gmail.com BywaterNeighborhoodAssociation 2nd Tuesday of the month 7 p.m.

Holy Angels Cafeteria 3500 St. Claude Avenue www.bywaterneighbors.com CarrolltonRiverbendNeighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ 1333 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 Chapel of the Holy Comforter 4th Thursday of the month 6:30 p.m.

2200 Lakeshore Drive

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Neighborhood Meetings

Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings (Date and time TBA) Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Avenue Downtown Neighborhoods Improvement Association (DNIA) Last Tuesday of each month 7 p.m.

Joan Mitchell Center 2275 Bayou Road

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

Holy Cross Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month 5:30 p.m.

Center for Sustainability Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church 5130 Chartres Street

Garden District Association Visit www.gardendistrictassociation. com for annual meeting information.

Irish Channel Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month 7 p.m.

Irish Channel Christian Fellowship 819 First Street www.irishchannel.org

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

Langston Hughes Academy 3519 Trafalgar Street danadesaix.org

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

Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Avenue www.facebook.com/gentillycivic

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

Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood Association 3rd Monday of the month 6 p.m.

Dillard University, Dent Hall – Room 104

Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association 1st Saturday of the month 10 a.m.

New Hope Community Church 3708 Gentilly Blvd.

FaubourgDelachaiseNeighborhood 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

Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association 3rd Monday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Volunteers of America 2929 St. Anthony Avenue 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 Hollygrove Neighbors Association Quarterly on Saturdays 12 p.m.

St. Peter AME Church 3424 Eagle Street Email hollygroveneighbors@yahoo.com for dates

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.

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

St. Maria Goretti Church Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood EmpowermentNetworkAssociation 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 Melia Subdivision 2nd Saturday of the month

5 p.m.

Anchored in Christ Church 4334 Stemway

The Trumpet | October/November | 2015

Neighborhood Meetings

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 Every other month, on the third Saturday, at the Dillard University Community Resource Center, 33012 Annette Street (at Humanity), NOLA 70119. Mail us at: P.O. Box 8591, NOLA 70182 Seabrook Neighborhood Association 2nd Monday on the month Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painter Street Email seabrookassociation@yahoo.com for 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 | October/November | 2015

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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Education School Is In School Anymore Push Rules And Regulations Wiped Out Roster Ineffective

Educators Inexperienced - TFA, Ameri-corps Mixed Results Overall Lack Of Diversity, Content, Commitment Privatization, Money At The Expense Of Our Communities Schools Are Now Experiments - Particularly Low Income, POC Education Is No Longer A Marketable Degree, Can’t Afford To Pay Back Loans, Are Less Likely To Work In These Areas In These Ways Few Male Teachers Lacking Quality Education Magnet, Advance Academies Charters Accelerate Segregation - No Accountability Firing To Teachers After Katrina Lack Of Communication And Democracy No Community Voice System Of Schools, Not A School System Focuses Not On Children Student Struggle To Return To School When Facing Legal Troubles In Jail Limited GED Program Access Affordable Education Transportation Budget Should Be Given To Classrooms, Would Be Put To Better Use Right to a Neighborhood School Health Care No Access To Healthcare. Not Enough Money; Too Much To Qualifying The Determination Process Cancellation Of Coverage After Extensive Bills Not Covering Essential Medications On The Most Effective Meds Medicaid Not Covering Enough Visits For Certain Illnesses ( I.E. Mental Health, Specialist, Dental)Being In The Gray Area For Services The Working Class Privatization Low Income Complicated Reform Medicaid Limitation Of Services Prescriptions Unemployment Less Doctors And Hospitals Housing Issues with getting funds on the west bank for those with housing needs Why are they moving section 8 renters further and further out of the city? Turning houses into rentals Housing issues for Queer and Trans Youth HANO Policies Gentrification in Neighborhood close to St. Thomas (River Gardens) Lack of affordable housing appalling, and creates a huge lack of stability People being sent away from the city to be housed Unaffordable Rents throughout the city People that have been shutout and locked out of housing Gentrification and lack of housing Not just rental but homeowners as well Reverse Mortgages Issues with HUD and Road Home Permanently Affordable Housing Level of Affordable Housing in New Orleans is unacceptable Section 8 is no help, same as market rate Housing a Basic Need (Right) Re-Unification Policy Not enough senior housing Culture and community that’s lost No amenities, parks, pools, in the neighborhood HANO Policy Property Managers forcing policies on residents that violate tenants’ rights and are against the culture of the city Effects of Gentrification on Homeowners and Renters Displacement of Low-Income Homeowners Concentrating Poverty Landlord Discrimination Effects of Gentrification: high Rents, Flipping Houses, Construction Job Discrimination Section 8 still unaffordable Evictions Poor People Punished for Getting a Raise Gentrification: Changes in Irish Channel Rent based on income is not affordable (Should be based on Net not Gross)Cost of housing is higher than the 30% of income (Fed Guidelines) Transportation Public Housing – People being pushed out into high poverty areas Blighted properties and increases in crime No funds for repairs leading to unsafe units Renters being kicked out when the property is not compliant Bad quality housing for renters Lack of affordable housing Housing Prices for Renters and Homeowners too high Cannot save money Section 8 used to be a safety net, no one benefiting from it now Losing neighbors placed in senior citizen homes because the cost of housing Immigration Discrimination Division Amongst Our Communities Divide And Conquer Abuse At Work ( Wages, Hours, Etc.)New Age Slavery (Guest Workers, Minimum Wage, Racism) Lack Of Understanding Need More Stories Sharing (We Are All Seeking Survival!) Enforcement Harassment ICE/ LBP And Local Police (Police/ Federal Government Abuse Of Rights And Racial Profiling Need To Bring Latinos And American Families

“There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose. People, who have a stake in their society, protect that society, but when they don’t have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it. It is my opinion that in order for one to feel that they have a stake/participate in our society, our community, our government, they MUST first understand it.”

– Dr. Martin L . King