March/April 2011 Neighborhood Revitalization

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March/April 2011 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 5 Volume 2

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INSIDE • Bandit Signs Prevention • Blight Reduction Programs • BioDistrict Update • St. Claude Corridor • New Education Column Neighborhoods Partnership Network’s (NPN) mission is to improve our quality of life by engaging New Orleanians in neighborhood revitalization and civic process.

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An Investment That Keeps on Giving Letter From The Executive Director

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ew Orleans neighborhoods are rich in culture and history, yet we face many economic withdrawals, challenges and social problems. EDUCATION, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION ACCESS, JOBS and JOB TRAINING, HEALTH and WELLNESS all are issues that, if focused on collectively, can systematically address the ingredients needed for healthy communities. The need for holistic community organizing and the success that it can have on residents and our quality of life will only exist when all institutions invest in the city, neighborhood or block as a deposit into our city’s virtual savings account.

In the early months after Katrina, we experienced some harsh times. Residents in the city and around were very frustrated, lost and filled with despair at the rebuilding process and the state of our city. However, a group of neighborhood leaders had the courage to lead and fill the Musicians Union Hall on Esplanade Avenue with other persons whom they never had connected with prior to that year. They looked into the heart of these neighborhoods to help rebuild a city collectively. They recognized a need that wasn’t being addressed and knew that the rebuilding of this city was going to take more than a few—but as a collective. This was the creation of the network called Neighborhoods Planning and Community Development Network, which would soon become Neighborhoods Partnership Network (NPN).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader who led with openness and transparency, stated, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” NPN is that such organization which connects ALL New Orleans neighborhoods to ALL civic processes. Our founders foresaw the opportunities and challenges that could possibly affect the neighborhoods of New Orleans individually and knew that those opportunities, challenges and roadblocks could only be successful when we venture beyond our non-traditional boundaries. As the network grew, the belief pattern came into being that the design of a neighborhood was more than just a house. NPN’s membership and partnership expanded to engage every institution in a conversation of community revitalization. This network is for all who believe in the power of the collective and the need for equitable investments in our neighborhoods.

Real community revitalization cannot happen when we choose to focus on just a single component of community change. Rather, it happens when we, the people, work together to address the array of issues and challenges that trap families in intergenerational poverty. Everyone should understand that the approach to collaboration can be a complex activity but also a rewarding one—when individuals who do not look, speak, act or think like us but are informed and engaged to impact change. I invite you to participate in this issue of The Trumpet Magazine by developing a dialogue with your neighbors as to how you can engage others in revitalizing your whole neighborhood.

Sincerely,

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

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

NPN Board Members Victor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood Association Angela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood Association Benjamin Diggins, Melia Subdivision Katherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend

Neighborhood Association Leslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners

Improvement Association Sylvia McKenzie, Rosedale Subdivision Sylvia Scineaux-Richards, ENONAC Tilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown

Neighborhood Association Vaughn Fauria, Downtown Neighborhoods Improvement Association Wendy Laker, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Third Party Submission Issues Physical submissions on paper, CD, etc. cannot be returned unless an arrangement is made. Submissions may be edited and may be published or otherwise reused in any medium. By submitting any notes, information or material, or otherwise providing any material for publication in the newspaper, you are representing that you are the owner of the material, or are making your submission with the consent of the owner of the material, all information you provide is true, accurate, current and complete.

Non-Liability Disclaimers The Trumpet may contain facts, views, opinions, statements and recommendations of third party individuals and organizations.

The Trumpet does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information in the publication and use of or reliance on such advice, opinion, statement or other information is at your own risk.

Copyright Copyright 2010 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 N. Sams

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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

4 Neighborhood Revitalization 6 What’s Going On in Jefferson Parish 8–13 News & Culture 14 Public Policy 16–17 NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT Pines Village: Pines Village, Melia & Rosedale 18–19 Spootlight Organizations

20 Government & Politics 21

Education Talk

22

Puentes

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LatiNola

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Community Health

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Healthy Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Revitalization

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City Hall News

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Arts & Features

O N T H E C OV E R : D i g b y P a r k

The Trumpet Editorial Board

The Trumpet Editorial Staff

Barbara Blackwell Gentilly Sugar-Hill Neighborhood bblackwell@lajao.org

Jeff Kugler American Red Cross Liaison JKugler@arcno.org

Brian Opert Mid-City Neighborhood bopert@sterlingcommercialcapital.com

Jermaine Smith Uptown Neighborhood jermaine.lejuane@gmail.com

Aretha Frison, Editor Scott Bicking, Design Editor Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor Lakshmi Sridaran, Policy & Advocacy Editor Patricia A. Davis & Tia Vice, Associate Neighborhoods Editors

John Koeferl Holy Cross Neighborhood judicekoef@cox.net

Ray Nichols Carrollton Neighborhood raynichols@cox.net

Linedda McIver AARP Louisiana lmciver@aarp.org

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Neighborhood Revitalization

Build Now Merges Neighborhood Leaders & Non-profits for

Blight Reduction Programs

On February 23, Build Now brought together city and state representatives from agencies, neighborhood associations and non-profit organizations for a roundtable discussion. The focus was on increasing collaboration around blight reduction and hurricane recovery efforts. NORA, GNOCDC, the City of New Orleans, Neighborhood Housing Services/WhoData.org and the Office of Community Development were represented.

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he meeting provided an opportunity for neighborhood leaders and non-profits to learn about current and upcoming blight reduction programs, as well as to give feedback on these programs and to inform agency leaders of the most pressing problems in their areas. The major goal was to develop strategies for enhanced coordination between government agencies and neighborhood groups—especially in the area of data collection and tracking, a crucial component of any cohesive recovery and blight reduction strategy.

Build Now, a non-profit organization, constructs new, elevated houses in New Orleans’ Katrina-flooded neighborhoods. One of its objectives is to facilitate cooperation between neighborhoods, the city and the state in the ongoing effort to reduce blight by returning pre-storm homeowners to their property.

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Build Now has documents available to the public addressing its perspective on the intersection between our city’s blight problem and the ongoing need to provide assistance to families who remain displaced from their flooded homes. Its idea is to link citywide and neighborhoodbased blight reduction efforts. Build Now officials also say the documents are very much works in progress, and it welcomes the public’s feedback.

For more information about the event, please contact Tess Monaghan by calling 504.324.3964 or email at tmonaghan@buildnownola.com THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Neighborhood Revitalization

Streetside Blight

Clean Up Your Neighborhood

by Tossing Bandit Signs

By Marty Stephens

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s you make your way around the city, you’ve no doubt noticed the hundreds of plastic ads on telephone poles and neutral grounds for contractors, windshield replacement, “we buy houses,” daycare, gold teeth, etc. Some neighborhoods have a smattering of these eyesores, and others are drenched in the stuff.

These signs go by several names, including bandit signs, snipe signs and street spam. While all of us have seen them, many residents are unaware of two key laws about signs in the New Orleans City Code: First, bandit signs are illegal. And second, it’s OK for anyone to take them down and toss them in the trash – you don’t need to call the city or ask a police officer for permission.

The good news is that a small but growing number of residents are familiar with the law and work to keep their neighborhoods free of street spam. Some major streets that were once lined with them now stay mostly sign-free. Broad Street and Carrollton Avenue are examples of roads that have made dramatic improvements in the last couple of years.

To try to get more people involved in this effort, here’s additional background on the topic and some tips for safe and easy sign removal.

Why Bother?

You may be thinking, what’s the big deal about bandit signs? While I realize that we face many more serious problems, I look at it as a qualityof-life issue, similar to litter, graffiti, dog waste, car alarms, etc. Bandit signs are ugly, especially in a historic and scenic city like New Orleans, and we shouldn’t have to be besieged with advertising as we walk, bike or drive around. A few other points: •

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Bandit signs often promote outright or borderline scams (e.g., dubious health treatments, disreputable dating services, high-interest loans, etc.).

Thousands of businesses in New Orleans do not post illegal signs, so it is a myth that small businesses need to use them to succeed.

• Many of the companies posting street spam are headquartered in the suburbs, so they’re coming into the city to make it look worse and profit from our residents. Bandit signs distract drivers, increasing the chances of car accidents. Bandit signs make it look like a neighborhood is in decline, which promotes crime and leads people to abandon the area or to stay away (the so-called “broken windows” theory).

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Once you remove a sign, dispose of it properly, either at home or in a nearby garbage can or dumpster. Be careful not to remove any legal signs, such as signs on front lawns and other private property. In addition, as noted earlier, the City Code (Section 106-214-f) permits real estate agents to put up signs for open houses on neutral grounds the day of the open house (technically, for seven hours). They’re allowed one sign on public property immediately abutting the advertised property and a second directional sign no more than two intersections away.

There is a New Orleans tradition, not in the City Code, that permits campaign signs on neutral grounds on the day of the election. This seems sensible, but illegally placed signs shouldn’t be tolerated for months in advance. Beyond that, you have to use your judgment and common sense.

It seems reasonable to leave up paper signs for lost pets and upcoming events like plays and concerts, since these aren’t as obtrusive and are community oriented. Take them down if the event has occurred or the sign’s clearly been up for months.

So do what you can to remove street spam, even if it’s just on your street, and encourage your friends and neighbors to get involved as well.

If you clear a street or neighborhood, sleazy businesses will be reluctant to post street spam there, since they’ll be throwing away money. Just think, if everyone who reads this story tosses 10 signs today, New Orleans will look much better tomorrow.

If you have questions or comments about bandit signs, contact Marty Stephens at nolatoss@gmail.com.

Sign Removal Tips Most signs are easy to remove, but a few take some extra effort.

Obviously, you can remove signs on the neutral grounds just by pulling them up. Signs on telephone poles are held in place by staples or nails.

Even so, many are within reach, so just remove them by grabbing them from the top with both hands and pulling hard.

Some signs on telephone poles are posted just out of reach of the average pedestrian, so you need a tool to reach higher and yank them down. A long piece of wood or a PVC pipe with a screw through it works well, and you can find some other good ideas on the tools page at CAUSS.org, a site for people interested in this issue. A small percentage of signs are out of reach even with a tool, so you may need a stool or a stepladder plus a tool for these. It’s not worth getting hurt doing this, so be careful: •

• •

Telephone poles and signs sometimes have stray nails, and it’s easy to get scratched. You might want to wear gloves.

Watch out for traffic.

If possible, work with other people. It makes it more fun and faster. There’s safety in numbers if you encounter any trouble.

(I’ve removed literally thousands of signs without any objections, but you never know.) – Marty Stephens is a resident of the Bayou St. John.

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What’s Going On In Jefferson Parish

Next Door News

Jefferson Parish Appoints

Three Department Directors 2011 Schedule

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ecently Jefferson Parish President John F. Young announced the appointment of three department directors. “To ensure the best and brightest serve the citizens of Jefferson Parish, we closely examine the qualifications and credentials of our existing staff and other citizens who ask for consideration of appointment,” Young said.

“These appointments today clearly demonstrate this Administration places a high value on individuals who are vastly knowledgeable, possess a superior skill set, and evidence a record of professional accomplishment.”

Linda Daly, a state licensed Professional Engineer since 2005, has accepted appointment as the Director of the Department of Sewerage. She attended UNO where she received Bachelor and Master degrees in civil engineering.

Daly has worked in the private sector, for UNO’s Urban Waste Management and Research Center, and in key public works positions with St. Bernard Parish government, including a stint as their Public Works Director. The 207-employee department is responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of 65 million gallons per day of domestic and industrial sewage generated by 105,000+ service accounts. Daly’s first day on the job will be March 28th, 2011.

A Certified Public Accountant, Jonathan E. Kendrick will be the Director of the Department of Accounting. He currently is a Senior Financial Analyst with The Shaw Group, Inc. of Baton Rouge, and graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. The 20-employee department is responsible for the development and administration of the

accounting system for parish government, preparation and issuance of the comprehensive annual financial report, and control and accounting for all fixed assets owned by the parish. Kendrick will commence his employment with parish government on March 14th, 2011.

Serving over 30 years with the Louisiana State Police, Raphael G. Meyers began today as the director of 9-employee Department of Emergency Management. Meyers recently retired as the State Police Crisis Manager, and Hazardous and Explosives Technician Supervisor. “Jefferson Parish’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico puts us at peril to natural and manmade disasters, particularly during the 6-month hurricane season,” Young said. “This Administration must ensure the public that its parish government is sufficiently prepared to timely and competently respond to impending and actual catastrophes.

To successfully plan, organize and staff our emergency preparedness program, we will rely on Mr. Meyers’ relevant knowledge, training and work experience. Just as important, his peerless network of emergency management decision makers at the local, state and federal levels will be called upon to expedite the parish’s recovery from the impact of a catastrophic event.”

Young requires his appointed management staff, as a condition of their employment with Jefferson Parish government, to reside within the parish. Accordingly, Daly will move from New Orleans and Kendrick from Baton Rouge. Meyers, an Associate of Arts graduate of Delgado Community College, is a lifelong Jefferson Parish resident.

“This Administration must ensure the public that its parish government is sufficiently prepared to timely and competently respond to impending and actual catastrophes.”

“No Way” To Corruption & Unethical Behavior In Parish Government

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efferson Parish President John Young announced today his Administration is stepping up efforts to ferret out prohibited acts within parish government by implementing, at no additional cost to parish government, a whistleblower hotline that can be called any time, toll free, from anywhere in the greater New Orleans area.

Parish employees and the public can call 73NoWay (736-6929) and leave a recorded message of any information they have regarding waste, inefficiencies, mismanagement, misconduct, abuse, fraud and corruption within Jefferson Parish government.

“We will look into all reports of irregularities, and any wrongdoing will be vigorously pursued. We are committed to zero tolerance of illegal and unethical activity,” said Jefferson Parish President John F. Young, Jr.

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Callers do not need to leave their name and telephone number while reporting misconduct, and to ensure anonymity, the unstaffed hotline will not have call-tracking or telephone number tracing features.

The Security and Public Integrity Unit (SPIU) staff will retrieve the messages recorded on the 73NoWay hotline during regular business hours.

Alternatively, reports of wrongdoing can be transmitted by email addressed to NoWay@jeffparish.net or delivered by the U.S. Postal Service addressed to the SPIU at P.O. Box 10242, Jefferson, LA, 70123. Anyone wishing to speak with a SPIU employee can call the hotline or send an email or letter and request a return response.

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Grand Isle Names One of America’s

10 Best Winter Retreats

Grand Isle, Louisiana, has been selected as one of America’s 10 Best Winter Retreats. A recent issue of Budget Travel Magazine selected Grand Isle based upon its mild winter climate and ample fishing opportunities.

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he article states Grand Isle’s winter temperature averages highs of “67/63 in December/January (Average water temperatures of 65/61). In the winter, the population of this barrier island off Louisiana’s Gulf Coast shrinks back down to its 1,600 permanent residents from its summer high of 14,000. But temperatures remain warm enough to sunbathe, and you can do so without the crowds.

Anglers adore this island thanks to the more than 280 species of fish in the surrounding waters, and many flock to Grand Isle State Park to fish in its calm waters. Those not obsessed with reeling in The Big One head to the beaches. Although the 2010 oil spill closed all beaches on the sevenmile-long island this summer, a three-mile stretch of golden sand recently reopened in August, with a full rollout coming soon, after an intensive cleanup effort.”

“We are so excited to be selected as one of the top 10 winter retreats. Thanks to the determination of the Town of Grand Isle officials, Jefferson Parish officials and citizens, we have survived many disasters, from hurricanes to the major oil spill,” said David Camardelle, Mayor of Grand Isle.

“Grand Isle offers a taste of everything unique about southeast Louisiana: good people, great food, and an atmosphere that offers both fun and relaxation. We are excited to share this secret with the rest of the world,” said District 1 Councilman Chris Roberts.

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Grand Isle is the only inhabited barrier island on Louisiana’s Gulf coast. The island is one mile wide and has approximately 10 miles of public beaches. Individual recreational fishing is available on the beach, private dock, and from the Old Fishing Bridge, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Since the recent hurricanes of 2005 and 2008, Grand Isle has flourished with new restaurants, shops and residential developments. The island has hundreds of incredible beachfront camps and campsites available, ranging from primitive tent camping to hotel-quality cabins.

The island is rich in history and nature and is a favorite of bird watchers. It is home to thousands of brown pelicans, shorebirds, and waders on the beaches and in the marshes. Grand Isle has a Butterfly Conservancy. The butterfly dome has several different species of butterflies and the plants needed to sustain them. Grand Isle is widelyknown for its many fishing rodeos. One of the most popular is the Grand Isle International Tarpon Rodeo which is held the last weekend in July. Visit www.tarponrodeo.org for the latest information. Established in 1928, this rodeo is one of the oldest and most successful fishing events in the nation. It attracts thousands of fishing competitors to the prolific water offshore.

For more information on what Grand Isle has to offer, visit www.grand-isle.com 7

Neighborhood Revitalization

The Greater New Orleans Foundation, City of New Orleans

To Receive Grant for Career Development and Training

Recently, the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the City of New Orleans announced that the New Orleans region is one of six communities in the South and Southwest to be awarded funds from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) and its national implementation partner, Jobs for the Future, to develop innovative approaches to job training and career support.

The grant is supported through the federal government’s landmark Social Innovation Fund.

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he Greater New Orleans Foundation will receive $300,000 said Mayor Landrieu. “We will have thousands of job opportunities for over two years to support expansion of its work in the New Orleans our residents in the biotech and healthcare sectors, and this project will area. This work will build strong partnerships with employers prepare us to grow our economy. This entire workforce development and focus on industry sectors important to project is indicative of the type of social innovation the local economy. The $300,000 NFWS and entrepreneurship happening on the ground that grant is being matched by public, non-profit, and makes New Orleans one of the most important labo“This funding will philanthropic resources, bringing a total $600,000 in ratories for change in America.” strengthen our cash resources to support this work. The Greater New

“This grant will help us build workforce efforts to ensure Orleans Foundation will administer the fund and Ellen development conveyor belts that will allow the lowLee, Senior Vice President for Programs, will chair the that current and future skilled worker to participate in expanding the biofunders collaborative. Local funding partners include tech/healthcare industry centered on the new faciliworkforce needs here the BioDistrict, the City of New Orleans, the United ties within the BioDistrict,” said James McNamara, in New Orleans Way of Greater New Orleans, and Urban Strategies.

President and CEO of BioDistrict New Orleans. “Our National philanthropic partners are the Ford, Kellogg, focus is on preparing local residents for jobs as a will be filled by local, and Surdna Foundations. qualified job seekers or critical component to the growth and development of “We are excited to join the National Fund. This a livable community.” incumbent workers.” funding will strengthen our efforts to ensure that current This collaborative will serve the Greater New Orleans and future workforce needs here in New Orleans will region, which consists of eight parishes: Jefferson, be filled by local, qualified job seekers or incumbent Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, workers,” said Ellen Lee. “The goal is to prepare workers for more stable, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany. The collaborative will sustainable careers that enable them to provide for their families, while focus on the biotech and health care sectors. It seeks to actively engage we work with local employers and help them reduce training and recruitlow-income job seekers in the policy agenda-setting process. The collaborment costs.” ative will encourage the Louisiana Workforce Commission to better align “The work of the Greater New Orleans Workforce Funders Collabora- incumbent-worker training funding with emerging needs in the healthcare tive will go a long way in ensuring that our citizens are employed in the and biosciences sectors and will market the availability of these funds to sectors where the most opportunity for growth exists in the coming years,” local employers.

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About the Greater New Orleans Foundation: The Greater New Orleans Foundation is one of the oldest and largest philanthropic organizations in the region. Every day, the Foundation joins other foundations, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and government officials to address the needs of the community and build consensus for solutions. Together with our family of donors, the foundation has invested over $100 million in our region since it opened its doors over 25 years ago to respond to community needs.

About National Fund for Workforce Solutions: The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is an award-winning national initiative focused on helping low-wage workers obtain good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have the high-quality skills that will enable them to succeed in this highly competitive economy.

Since 2008, the National Fund has raised nearly $24 million to support 24 communities that have contributed an additional $104 million in locally raised resources from 216 different funding sources, including community foundations, United Ways, corporate foundations, workforce investment boards, chambers of commerce and state agencies. Each of these communities has created local funding collaboratives that are collectively investing in more than 80 sectoral workforce partnerships. The addition of these six new sites brings the total number of communities where the National Fund is working to 30.

Ten national funders lead the effort: The Annie E. Casey Foundation; the California Endowment; the Ford Foundation; the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Microsoft; The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; The Hitachi Foundation; the Prudential Foundation; and the Walmart Foundation.

About Jobs for the Future: Jobs for the Future develops, implements and promotes new education and workforce strategies that help communities, states and the nation compete in a global economy. In 200 communities in 41 states, JFF improves the pathways leading from high school to college to familysustaining careers.

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About the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Social Innovation Fund: The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve.

The Social Innovation Fund is an initiative of the Corporation that improves the lives of people in low-income U.S. communities. Through an innovative public-private partnership, the Social Innovation Fund and selected local and national grantmakers co-invest in programs that increase the scale of community-based solutions that have evidence of real impact in the areas of youth development, economic opportunity or healthy futures. Every federal dollar invested is matched with private funds, and all programs are rigorously evaluated. As a result, the most effective approaches can be expanded to reach more people in need and key lessons can be captured and broadly shared. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

About BioDistrict New Orleans: BioDistrict New Orleans encompasses 1,500 acres spanning the Downtown and Mid-City areas of New Orleans. The BioDistrict is focused on the development of a biosciences industry in New Orleans that will provide world-class biosciences research and development; local, regional, and global healthcare delivery; and stable, high-paying jobs for professionals, managers and workers representing a wide range of skills.

Through partnerships among major educational and research institutions, private companies, government agencies, and independent foundations, BioDistrict New Orleans will create opportunities for workforce training and research needed to build a successful biosciences industry. For more information, visit www.biodistrictneworleans.org.

Become A Member of NPN info@npnnola.com 9

News & Culture

BioDistrict New Orleans

Economic Driving Engine or Land Grab?

By Dana Roye, SaveCharityHospital.com

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ioDistrict New Orleans—Its creation came just weeks before the flooding of the city that temporarily shut down the Reverend Avery C. Alexander Charity Hospital. LSU and the State of Louisiana permanently shuttered the building on September 17, 2005, even though Charity Hospital was cleaned out and ready to open.

After Federal City in Algiers, the Greater New Orleans Biosciences Economic Development District (GNOBEDD or BioDistrict) is touted by the city and state administrations to be the largest economic development project to materialize in New Orleans in decades. The BioDistrict spans 1,500 acres of Mid-City and Gert Town. It was created by legislative act in 2005.

Both government bodies insist that building a “medical city” within the city is essential in order for the bioresearch industry to succeed here. Yet, outside of real estate developers, politicians, and a handful of community activists and participants in the GNOBEDD planning process, few people have ever heard of the BioDistrict, let alone understand the implications of its overreaching powers.

If you live between Loyola Avenue in the CBD and Carrollton Avenue in the area that stretches from Iberville Street to Earhart Boulevard, you live in BioDistrict New Orleans.

Community Concerns

There are numerous questions that concerned citizens have been asking, inside and outside of the BioDistrict’s small and sporadic community meetings to involve residents who live in the boundaries of the GNOBEDD. First, why is it necessary for the state to allocate such a massive area—1,500 acres of the heart of New Orleans, in a national historic district—in order to develop biotech and biosciences? Plenty of land and vacant buildings are available, which are aching to be used as infrastructure for driving our economy and which would not jeopardize historic neighborhoods nor cause the further displacement of hard- working residents. The abandoned Medical Historic District in downtown’s Central Business District is a perfect example.

Another concern is the lack of community outreach to residents who live within the footprint. According to the BioDistrict planners, the community input sessions, which precede implementation and execution of the Master Plan in August 2011, are almost finished. Yet, no more than 150 people, at best, have attended meetings and a great many people have never heard of the GNOBEDD.

NPN Thanks

Residents point out that it is their communities that are being used to attract grant money for the project and it is they who will be the most impacted—yet, inexplicably, no neighborhood or citizen representatives were invited to sit on the unelected BioDistrict Board. Still, the project forges ahead at breakneck speed.

Master Plan? Zoning?

What Drives the Master Planning Decisions?

At a community meeting in mid-January, BioDistrict representatives said that, regarding their Master Plan, land use was only projected and subject to change based on the City Zoning Ordinance (CZO). A neighborhood representative pointed out that the city has already held numerous public meetings in addition to a public City Planning Commission meeting that led to the approval of the City Master Plan by the City Council. At those meetings it was clear that the new CZO would clarify land use but would be written with the land use as a framework. Therefore, land use should drive the CZO, contrary to what the GNOBEDD is proposing.

In another example of the District’s overreach of power, many people are shocked to learn that it is written into State legislation that the BioDistrict can “satellite” into the district any property, business or landholding from any part of the city, even though that property may not actually exist within the District’s demarcated area—i.e., your property.

The District also has the ability to enter into cooperative endeavor agreements—which means it will have a roundabout way to expropriate any property through second- and third-party sources. LSU, for instance, which has representation on the BioDistrict board, could expropriate on behalf of GNOBEDD.

Read Roye’s story in its entirety and view more maps on The Trumpet Blog at http://npntrumpet.blogspot.com.

NPN Thanks

The McFarland Institute For Supporting The Trumpet 10

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News & Culture

Orleans Parish

Selected in Largest Study for Children’s Health

By Sherry LeCocq, Trumpet Contributor

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rleans Parish has been selected to take part in the largest long-term study of children’s health and development ever undertaken in the United States. The National Children’s Study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, from before birth until age 21. The goal is to improve the overall health and well-being of children.

Women of childbearing age from randomly selected New Orleans neighborhoods are eligible to enroll. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant are invited to participate if they meet eligibility requirements. Initially study participants will be asked to respond to questionnaires about their health, environment and family history. Local study outreach workers have already begun spreading the word about the importance and benefits of the study and will continue to do so as the study progresses.

The study will explore environmental, biological, genetic and psychosocial factors that impact children’s health and development. By studying children throughout different stages of their life, researchers expect to better understand the role these different factors have on health and disease.

“The study will focus on many different aspects of a child’s environment as he or she grows,” said LuAnn White, PhD, the principal investigator for the New Orleans Study Center. “This includes studying children’s family life, the conditions in neighborhoods they live in, the food they eat, the air

they breathe and more.” Findings from the study will be made available as the study progresses.

The effort is a congressionally funded multi-year project led by federal partners including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. Tulane University is one of 37 study centers currently working on the study and New Orleans is one of 105 areas currently selected to participate across the country. Locally, the study is being managed by the Center for Applied Environmental Public Health at the Tulane School of Public Health. Recruitment efforts are currently underway.

“The National Children’s Study represents a great example of the unique partnerships our local public and private research institutions have formed with federal agencies to address pressing national needs,” said Pierre Buekens, MD, Dean of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. “Helping everyone from policymakers to parents assess how we can raise healthier children – who in turn will become healthier adults – is a worthy goal, and I am proud that New Orleans is participating in the study.”

For more information about the National Children’s Study, visit: www.ncsnola.tulane.edu or call 504-988-1NCS (1627).

$30 Million Louisiana Grant Awarded for

Teen Pregnancy Prevention

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ecently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded $30 million in teen pregnancy prevention grants to six Louisiana organizations. Thousands of applicants applied for the competitive grants which support the replication of teen pregnancy prevention programs that have been shown to be effective through rigorous research as well as the testing of new, innovative approaches to combating teen pregnancy. Nationally, only 93 grants were awarded to a diverse set of organizations.

The Louisiana entities selected include Tulane University, Louisiana Office of Public Health HIV/AIDS Program, Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health, Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Central Louisiana Area Health Education Center. The implementation of the five-year grants is projected to reach more than 20,000 youth.

“Teen pregnancy is a serious national problem and we need to use the best science of what works to address it,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Teen pregnancy short-circuits the futures of young parents and their children. It is critical that we work with states and communities to give our young people the tools and information they need to make wise decisions that will ensure their health and success.”

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The state of Louisiana currently has the 18th highest teen pregnancy rate and ranks 13th for teen birth rates in the nation. A significant amount of the programming will take place in New Orleans where research has shown that youth are twice as likely than the national average to have sex before the age of 13.

“The federal government has been a great partner throughout our city’s recovery, and we thank the Department of Health and Human Services for supporting our community’s innovative efforts to reduce teen pregnancy,” said Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Health Commissioner for the City of New Orleans.

For more information on this project and the specific details on each evidence-based intervention being implemented in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Alexandria visit http://stayhealthyla.org/blog/?p=4185 or contact Chana M. Doreaux at 504-684-4070.

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News & Culture

What’s the Deal with

Energy Efficiency?

By Becki Chall, Trumpet Contributor

Energy efficiency seems to be generating as much buzz these days as “going green”. But, is it really that important? For each of us the answer is a little different. Energy efficiency has three major interconnected advantages: cash, comfort and carbon.

Cash: Wasted energy = wasted money! Through simple energy efficiency upgrades, you can make your home work more efficiently, lowering your utility bills and leaving more cash in your pocket. Though energy efficiency upgrades cost money up front, proper energy efficiency measures will lower utility costs, saving you money. When thinking about energy efficiency improvements, you must consider the return on investment: how much you will save on your utility bill after the improvement compared to your utility bill if you had not taken on energy efficiency measures. Ideally, these savings over time will cover the higher up-front cost of the improvement.

Consider a new hot water heater, for example. A traditional 40-gallon hot water heater costs around $300, while a quality on-demand gas water heater costs $1,000. That $700 difference may seem like a lot, but consider this: Empower Louisiana offers a $600 rebate for on-demand water heaters, nearly covering the difference. Also, consider that on-demand water heaters save you approximately $200 a year on your utility bill. That means you save $800 in the first year alone when compared to the cheaper, traditional water heater—more than covering the higher up-front cost!

Comfort: New Orleans is full of drafty old homes that are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Energy efficiency improvements can stop this by preventing unnecessary outside air from entering your home, allowing your HVAC system to do its job and keep your family comfortable. Sealing cracks is one simple upgrade that will improve comfort. Install weather stripping around doors and windows, seal visible cracks with caulk and add door sweeps to keep drafts out. Another straightforward fix is installing insulation. If there is no insulation, upgrading to R-30 loose

fill cellulose in the attic (readily available at the big box stores) will cost around $450 for a 1,300 square-foot home. This upgrade will save you approximately $365 a year on your utility bill while keeping your family comfortable, winter and summer.

Carbon: Energy efficiency ultimately means using less energy! Currently, creating energy is a very dirty business, releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, poisoning our planet for generations to come.

Energy efficiency lowers your energy use, lessening your impact on the environment. Consider the insulation example above—not only will you save cash and improve the comfort of your home, but the upgrade will also prevent 3.5 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. That is the equivalent to preventing 1,300 pounds of coal from being burned.

As you can see, energy efficiency has many advantages. But how can you afford to make these changes? The State of Louisiana, Entergy and the City of New Orleans have several programs available to help pay for efficiency improvements. Visit http://dsireusa.org/ for more information on local, state and federal financial incentives available. Additionally, ASI Federal Credit Union and Global Green have partnered to develop a Green Loan, which allows homeowners to borrow money to implement energy efficiency upgrades. Visit your local ASI branch for more information.

Still have questions? Stop by Global Green’s Green Building Resource Center at 841 Carondelet Street for free technical advice or call 504-525-2121 to set up an appointment with one of our experts.

Gentilly, Beacon of Hope

Celebrate Neighborhood Culture, Revitalization Join the Beacon of Hope Resource Center and the Gentilly Civic and Improvement Association (GCIA) as they celebrate successes, build relationships and create strategies for the future of Gentilly at the 2011 Gentilly Open House! Neighborhood leaders, Gentilly residents, city officials and Gentilly-based nonprofits will learn and share about creative revitalization efforts in Gentilly communities and across the city. The open house will begin with a roundtable session to facilitate relationshipbuilding between neighborhood leaders and city officials. Following will be refreshments and a post session to spotlight each neighborhood's work including data collection, parks, community gardens, blight reduction, neighborhood watch and community-building. We hope you can join them in this celebration happening in their our community!

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Gentilly Open House Sat. March 26, 11:00 – 1:30

Edgewater Baptist Church, 5900 Paris Ave. Visit www.lakewoodbeacon.org or call 504-309-5120 for more information THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Algiers Talks Future of Transportation

News & Culture

Tolls, Ferry & Drainage Next year, state lawmakers will make a critical decision regarding future operations of the CCCD, as toll collection is set to expire in 2012.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF) in partnership with state and local officials held a town hall meeting to inform the public about future operations for Crescent City toll bridge, local ferry services the General DeGaulle Drainage Project.

The meeting was held at L.B. Landry High School in Algiers. DOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas, Rhett Desselle, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Operations at DOTD, David Miller, Executive Director of Toll Facilities at the Crescent City Connection Division of DOTD, Sen. David Heitmeier, Rep. Jeff Arnold and New Orleans City Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer attended the event.

As the 5th largest bridge in the United States, the Crescent City Connection Division (CCCD) toll bridge is a regional artery that sustains 90,000 vehicles per day, 33 million annually and generates annual income to support major transportation projects, highway beautification initiatives, bridge maintenance and regional ferry services, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

The bridge also employs approximately 200 individuals.

For community questions regarding the topics, AEDF will provide a post-meeting fact sheet online at www.algierseconomic.com. To learn more about ongoing transportation projects, visit www.dotd.louisiana.gov.

About AEDF The mission of the Algiers Economic Development Foundation is to help the Algiers community grow and prosper by being a catalyst for economic development that provides for a vibrant business environment. Be sure to follow AEDF news and updates on Twitter (@AlgiersEconomic) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Algiers-EconomicDevelopment-Foundation/267065103377).

Carousel Bar Pre-Party for Louisiana

Derby Day

Sat., March 26 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Want to look your best for Louisiana Derby Day at the Fair Grounds?

On March 26, don your best derby hat and go celebrate early at the Carousel Bar. Sip a Mint Julep, a Mimosa or a Bloody Mary and check out the latest hat styles on display, courtesy of Fleur de Paris. Send them a picture of your best derby hat for the chance to win a day at the track in the Hotel Monteleone’s exclusive box. They’ll post the best ones on Facebook and let the fans vote on the winner!

Louisiana Derby Day will offer more than $2 million in purses, headlined by the 98th running of the $600,000 Grade II Louisiana Derby for 3-year-olds. Fair Grounds’ three other Grade II races are also on the card – the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap for older horses and the $500,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap for turf horses.

For live racing, clubhouse admission is $7 and grandstand admission is free. There is no advance sale of tickets at Fair Grounds.

New Orleans Jazz Park Celebrates

Jazz Awareness Month Did you know that April is Jazz Awareness month? This recognition was created by the Smithsonian Institute in 2001 and is celebrated nation-wide every year. So April is a great time to visit the park as a variety of special music programs are offered and the city hosts several music festivals. Join them during the week for a Ranger Program to learn about the music and musicians of New Orleans jazz, then come back on Saturday to hear the music and stories of jazz through live performance.

For more information, call (504) 589-4841.

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Public Policy

The St. Claude Streetcar Extension: An Opportunity for

Neighborhood Revitalization

By Lakshmi Sridaran

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he New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) recently approved the highly anticipated St. Claude Avenue streetcar extension. After the RTA won the competitive federal stimulus grant of $45 million for the Loyola St. extension, there was public pressure to find more funding to extend a line from Rampart Street to St. Claude Avenue all the way to Press Street and the RTA found it. Now, this planned streetcar route will pass by the Treme, Marigny, and St. Roch neighborhoods.

The two most touted benefits from the new streetcar routes are increased public transportation and economic development. General Manager of Veolia (the private firm that operates the RTA), Justin Augustine is quoted in the TimesPicayune in January 2011 saying “when you develop streetcar routes, you hope to create economic development in the communities that you serve.”

Much of the downtown development surrounding the Loyola streetcar route has already been in the works for years. This includes the Biomedical District, apartment buildings, hotels, and the New Orleans Saints facilities.

St. Claude Streetcar Route

A popular policy tool for economic development projects that has been used in communities throughout the United States is a community benefits agreement.

Developers, city agencies and communities come together and negotiate a set of criteria that must be met so that all three benefit equitably from any kind of development. The neighborhoods surrounding the St. Claude streetcar line, including Treme, Marigny, and St. Roch as well as the bordering neighborhoods of Bywater and Bunny Friend can lead such an effort before construction begins next year.

The St. Claude Mainstreets Organization will be a key player in convening all neighborhoods affected by the St. Claude streetcar route. In 2009, an MIT urban planning class worked with the St. Claude Mainstreets Organization to help develop an economic revitalization plan for St. Claude Avenue from Elysian Fields Avenue to Press Street anticipating the streetcar extension. The revitalization plan called “St. Claude in Common” provided an assessment of existing businesses and resident needs in the Marigny and St. Roch neighborhoods along with ideas for new businesses that could meet remaining resident needs. A community benefits agreement can create incentives to protect and even improve existing businesses as well as attract new businesses that serve the community. A community benefits agreement can also ensure that all public transit users in the surrounding neighborhoods are served by the streetcar route, including keeping certain bus routes open.

Public Transit and Economic Development: The Perfect Marriage?

The vision for economic development along the St. Claude Avenue streetcar route is not at the same stage of planning as the Loyola St. route. There are currently a string of small businesses along St. Claude Avenue, mostly furniture stores, bars, and art galleries. There is fear that the streetcar construction phase could cost these businesses greatly even putting them out of business completely. Street repairs on Magazine Street are also slated for this year, but the Louisiana Departmentof Transportation has agreed to complete this in three phases and work with businesses around busy shopping seasons. The same must be done along St. Claude Avenue when the streetcar construction begins to ensure that these businesses do not go under.

There is also anxiety that new businesses will replace existing businesses after the streetcar construction and serve a clientele that out prices existing residents. The concern that both businesses and even residents could be displaced by the streetcar construction comes from the history of transit infrastructure in this part of the city.

The St. Roch neighborhood in particular has seen the impact of transit arteries in its community. Two major railroad routes run through the neighborhood and the construction of the I-10 interstate route cut through the neighborhood causing residents to leave and homes to fall in disrepair in the 1960s and 1970s.

Before Katrina, nearly 40 percent of residents in St. Roch and Marigny had no vehicle in their households and almost 25 percent of St. Roch’s population relied on the public bus to get to work. The RTA has planned on eliminating some bus routes to be replaced by the streetcar.

But will the streetcar route have the same capacity, frequency, and coverage to accommodate those who rely on these bus routes for their livelihoods? The key to meeting Augustine’s hope of creating economic development in the communities served by the streetcar is ensuring that both their public transit needs are met and that existing local businesses thrive from the increased ridership. Basically, the surrounding neighborhoods should experience an overall improvement in their quality of life. Communities can specify the benefits they hope to gain with a project such as the streetcar line through a community benefits agreement.

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Community Benefits Agreement

Promising Practice: The Baltimore Red Line In 2008, the mayor of Baltimore convened a summit of community leaders, businesses, institutions, and organizations to decide collectively how to make the best use of their Red Line subway extension, part of the Maryland Transit Administration. They discussed how the Red Line would best fit into the community to create jobs, better economic opportunities, and housing choices.

Out of this convening, they developed a Community Compact creating a Red Line Economic Empowerment Office that prioritized local and small business hiring for construction. Another part of the compact includes a process for improving air and water quality in addition to increasing green space in the communities the line runs through. A final component of the compact is a process for aggressively planning and managing the construction phase to minimize impact to the affected communities. All of these recommendations came from studying best practices from other cities around the country. It will be important for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority to convene a similar process with the neighborhoods along Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue. The Neighborhoods Partnership Network and St. Claude Mainstreets will work with all interested communities in moving this process along to establish a strong community benefits agreement for the St. Claude streetcar extension. This will be one way to ensure that economic development for the city leads to neighborhood revitalization.

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Public Policy

City Planning to Lead Process to Finalize New Orleans

Citizen Participation Program

By Keith G.C. Twitchell, President Committee for a Better New Orleans

A

fter seven long years, New Orleans is close to having a formal Citizen Participation Program (CPP). In cities around the country and the world, a CPP creates a permanent structure to support and sustain citizen engagement in government prioritysetting and decision-making. Key to this is ensuring a timely flow of accurate, thorough information between government and citizens.

Most CPPs provide a variety of resources, including staff support, to help neighborhoods review and digest this information, and to make sure that the input they provide gets back to the right government decisionmakers. They also help make sure that city governments are accountable for using community input.

In New Orleans, the call for a CPP goes back to the 1990s. More recently, it was included in the Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP), the November 2008 amendment to the City Charter and the New Orleans Master Plan.

Neighborhoods Partnership Network (NPN), a member of the Committee for a Better New Orleans (CBNO), has been working to develop the New Orleans CPP since 2003. Working with a wide variety of citizens, neighborhood groups, and partners like NPN, a formal proposal for the New Orleans CPP has been developed. It has now been delivered to the New Orleans City Planning Commission.

Last fall, the City Council asked the Planning Commission to conduct a final public process to review the proposed model, consider other research and input and prepare a final version to submit to the Council.

This process was supposed to begin right after the first of this year and conclude in June. At press time for this issue of The Trumpet, the launch of the process has been delayed until shortly after Mardi Gras. More details about the CPP process will be provided as they emerge through the Trumpet Tidbits e-mail newsletter.

However, we strongly encourage all NPN members to become very aware of this process and to participate in it as much as possible. Done right, a CPP is a very powerful tool to build capacity in neighborhoods all over New Orleans and to make sure that we citizens are truly being served by our government.

The current draft CPP model can be found on the Internet at www. nolacpp.wordpress.com. CBNO welcomes all comments and input on the model. You can provide your input from this website and also sign up to get their regular updates on the Planning Commission process.

Please learn about and participate in the process for finalizing the New Orleans CPP. This is something that every neighborhood will be able to use, so please help make sure it works for you!

NPN-OPEN Education Forum Demands

Transparency, Equity in School Choice

By Lakshmi Sridaran

N

PN co-hosted its second monthly community forum in 2011 with the Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) on Wednesday, February 23rd from 6-8 pm at Wilson Elementary School in the Broadmoor Neighborhood. Through NPN and OPEN community outreach and organizing, community members involved with four schools in the midst of transition were asked to present their stories to the public. The four schools were Colton Middle School on St. Claude Ave., Frantz Elementary in the Bunny Friend neighborhood, Priestley High School in the Carrollton area, and Sarah T. Reed High School in New Orleans East.

The community representatives from each school spoke about their journey to ensuring that their schools remain dedicated to the children in their respective neighborhoods, responsive to parents, and most importantly that the RSD and OPSB use a transparent set of criteria for choosing school operators. The discussion focused on the strengths and weaknesses each of the communities faced in their process, opportunities for collaboration among schools facing similar challenges, and a call to engagement to the RSD and OPSB for improving their public input process. NPN and OPEN plan to deliver the recommendations from the forum directly to RSD and OPSB officials.

NPN and OPEN are optimistic that this will be the first of many community conversations around school governance in New Orleans.

Please visit the NPN website and blogs for a detailed report on the conversation. Write to advocacy@npnnola.com for more information on upcoming roundtables and to join NPN’s advocacy task force, which has chosen to focus on school governance in 2011.

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Pines Village The Gateway to New Orleans East

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THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

By Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor

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ines Village’s historically marshy land and Industrial Canal-driven isolation made for a difficult settling in this New Orleans East neighborhood. It didn’t happen until the 1950s, when the area was leveed in order to lower the water table by pumping and establishing a drainage system that implemented a series of lakes and canals. I-10 and the Seabrook Bridge, which connect New Orleans East to the other side of the Industrial Canal, weren’t built until the 1960s and 1970s. People depended on the drawbridges at Chef Menteur Highway, Gentilly Road and the LakeIndustrial Canal juncture.

Sigmund Pines purchased the Pines Village area (the boundaries being Downman Road and Interstate 10 to the east, Chef Menteur Highway to the south, Lake Pontchartrain and Morrison Road to the north and the Industrial Canal to the west) in the 1950s and developed it as a residential community. Since Pines Village is in a low-lying area, most of the construction of homes was based on raised-pier foundations.

Also, as a low-lying area, Hurricane Katrina devastated more than 90% of Pines Village residences and wiped out almost all commercial properties in the neighborhood. In the last five and a half years, the residents of Pines Village have been fighting to rebuild their neighborhood almost from scratch. The most recent census numbers place Pines Village as suffering a population decrease of between 25% and 35% from 2000 to 2010.

In June 2005, Pines Village population was 1,864. In June of 2008, the population had been more than halved to 862. As of June 2010, the population has started to return, reaching 1,189 persons.* Before the storm, the vast majority of residents were homeowners who had lived in their home for at least five years, and in many cases, much longer than that.

Neighborhood associations like the Pines Village Association, Melia Subdivision and Rosedale Subdivision have been continuing their efforts to rebuild. The Eastern New Orleans Advisory Commission has also been assisting these associations along with others in the New Orleans East area. Most recently, NPN honored Rosedale Neighborhood Association, along with Melia, Pines Village and NORD (Digby Park) with the Neighborhood Partnership Network’s Best City-Neighborhood Partnership Award. This is given for excellent partnering between the City of New Orleans and a neighborhood, which allows the neighborhood and the city to grow and prosper. Digby Park got a makeover, courtesy of the entire Pines Village community, NORD and KaBOOM! playgrounds. Mayor Landrieu has announced the refurbishment of the swimming pool in Joe W. Brown Park; the planned reopening will be in the summer of 2011.

Rosedale Subdivision Neighborhood Association also had a “Fight Against Blight Day”, which began a volunteer-led cleanup and weeding of parts of Reynes Street and Warfield Street; however, much blight remains. With its dedicated community activists, it is the hope that Pines Village will continue its slow but steady recovery to its pre-Katrina state. *Source: GNO Community Data Center Analysis of Valassis Residential and Business Database Measuring Households Actively Receiving Mail by Neighborhood in New Orleans.

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Pines Village Love

Spotlight Organizations

Pines Village Neighborhood Association, Rosedale Neighborhood Association & Melia Subdivision “The reason we love our neighborhood is because we care about each other, help each other out and we feel close like family. Thanks to Katrina, we have become a more caring group. Katrina has bought us close than ever We share information, watch out for each and support one another. Our neighborhood revitalization is nearly 95 percent in Pines Village. We are lucky to have our original homeowners to return, too. Our neighborhood is a mixed with homeowners and renters. We formed an association in August 2008. This purpose was to become united as group and to work together to improve the community. As a group, we were able to help our neighbors by sharing information about contractors,

building materials and anything that was helpful to them. As a Pines Village unit, including Pines Village Neighborhood Association, Rosedale Neighborhood Association and Melia Subdivision, we gave out helpful information, put them in contact with people working on road home problems. One of our victories was getting Digby Park up and running along with the New Orleans Hornets and Chris Paul for getting our basketball court back together. We are in the process of getting trees planted this April to beautify our neighborhood and trying to get new home build on our empty lots by Habitat for Humanity.�

Mission Possible

Making Pines Village a Better Place

By Maddie Trepagnier & Juan J. Lizarraga, Pines Village Neighborhood Association Since Katrina, the Pines Village Neighborhood Association has worked to revitalize Pines Village. The association has sought a way to redevelop vacated lots that were abandoned after Hurricane Katrina by partnering with NORA (New Orleans Redevelopment Authority) to offer 38 lots to Old Morrison Partners to construct new affordable homes. Recently, many of these new homes have been completed and are being offered under a lease-purchase arrangement to qualified new home buyers.

Currently, we are planning to build a new community center, free ballet classes for the youth and a community garden in Pines Village.

We have also established a great relationship with Pastor Brown at the

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Church of Christ Holiness in pursuing our revitalization efforts. In the meantime, we are always seeking new members to join us in making a better Pines Village, too.

We would love for interested persons to come out and join us for our upcoming Community Clean-Up Day on March 19 from 8am to noon. For more information, please email us at pinesvillageno@yahoo.com.

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Spotlight Organizations

Community Memories Throughout the Years

By Linda Williams, Rosedale Subdivision Neighborhood Association

T

he Rosedale Subdivision has been my home for the past six decades. Also known back in the day as the Blue Goose area, the subdivision is bounded by Old Gentilly and Dwyer Roads, including America Street and Ray Avenue.

Back then, my family lived on Haydel Street. In those days, there were not many houses on the block and our home was the second house on the street coming from Dwyer Road in the 4700 block. The streets were not paved and there was no indoor plumbing in my early years as a resident. I remember when they laid the tar to make the streets, built I-10 and watched New Orleans East grow from Academy Park to East Over.

The Rosedale Subdivision was built by families from many generations who have remained in this community. In Rosedale, our fathers were laborers, businessmen and ministers. And, most of our mothers stayed at home to care for their children and homes. On Reynes Street, we had grocery stores, a laundromat, a dry cleaners and the Huck-a-Buck lady who also sold homemade fudge and pralines.

We also had neighborhood barbers and hairdressers. We had churches on America Street, Dale Street, Chef Menteur Highway and Ray Avenue. We also had our share of neighborhood bar rooms. Most importantly, we were a community where families knew and cared about each other.

We had schools in the neighborhood in the 1930s to the early 1950s. There was the Lee Station, where my parents attended school, which was later renamed McDonogh #40, where I attended school along with my children years later. Later, the school was renamed Barbara Jor-

dan, which was attended by many of the grandchildren and great- grandchildren of students who attended Lee Station. Barbara Jordan remained open until Hurricane Katrina. In the 1940’s until Hurricane Katrina, there was St. Paul the Apostle, a parochial school on Chef Menteur Highway.

Since Hurricane Katrina, Barbara Jordan has not reopened and is slated to be torn down despite inquiries from area residents about reopening the school to serve the children in the neighborhood. St. Paul’s is being used by one of the city’s public schools.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, we had a very active community organization known as the Gentilly East Development Association. One of its valuable contributions to the community was the Gentilly East Child Development Center for pre-school children. It also provided jobs for some of the Rosedale residents.

Today, our community has been hit by many of the challenges facing other communities in the city and across the nation such as poverty, drugs, crime and blight.

But despite these painful realities of community life, many children of the Rosedale community have left to become successful, while some of us have remained.

Since Hurricane Katrina, we have developed the Rosedale Subdivision Neighborhood Association along with the guidance and experience of our senior residents to rebuild our community. This is my community and my home.

Envisioning Purpose & Pride for Melia

By Cheryl Diggins, Melia Subdivision, New Orleans East

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efore Katrina, we didn’t have a neighborhood group for the Melia Subdivision. After attending several meetings my husband and I decided to form a neighborhood association.

Johnnette Jackson and I walked the neighborhood talking to people and inviting them to come to Johnnette’s home for our neighborhood meetings. This is how it all started.

Our boundaries include Chef Menteur Highway, Downman Road, Dwyer Road and Francis Drive. We are a subdivision made up of renters as well as homeowners. Our association is a closely knit family that works together for the better of our community.

As we attended several meetings, we met Linda Williams. We decided to work together as a group and Linda formed her own association called the Rosedale Neighborhood Association. Then Linda and I met Maddie Trepagnier of the Pines Village Neighborhood Association and we decided to work on getting Digby Park, our neighborhood park up and running again.

We were having problems doing this because Digby was not on the NORD list to reopen until 2012. NPN made a few phone calls and the date to reopen the park was push up to 2010. Then, we contacted KABOOM to work with on our park. As a result of our efforts, several funding sources and neighborhood contribution were obtained and the renovation of Digby Park became a reality.

We were also able to get the New Orleans Hornets and star point guard Chris Paul to work with us to restore our basketball courts. We were also blessed with having the Fire Department of New York along with the New Orleans Fire Department to refurbish our concession stand.

They replace the roof, rewired the building and complete all the other repairs that were needed.

At this moment, we are working on building new homes on the empty lots in oursubdivision. Our vision is for our neighborhood to become a resource center to serve our community while improving the quality of life for us.

Melia Subdivision Resident Grand Marshal of Oshun Charles Jackson, aka Action Jackson, was chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Oshun Parade that kicked off the Mardi Gras parade season on Feb 25. Jackson has lived in the Melia Subdivision for eight years. Jackson is also active in many local communities. He is the co-founder, along with his brother DJ Ro of Don’t Even Trip Dream Foundation. The Melia Subdivision congratulates Action Jackson as reigning Grand Marshal!

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Government & Politics

If there were an explosion at either of St. Bernard Parish’s oil refineries, more than a million people in the Greater New Orleans region could be in the path of the dangerous oil refining catalyst, hydrofluoric acid. Toxic acid poses an unnecessary health risk to more than a million in the Greater New Orleans region

By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer & Photo by Andy Cook The accidents unfold with eerie similarity: an unexpected explosion, a stubborn blaze, workers coughing and rubbing damaged eyes, a thick, ash-colored cloud of toxins racing away from the burning refinery.

On July 19, 2009, when a refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, lit up, a worker was critically hurt and the fire burned for two days. On Nov. 24, 1987, an explosion at an ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, Calif., shot a fireball 1,500 feet into the air, blasted the windows out of nearby houses and generated allegations of broken eardrums, back pain and lung damage.

The common denominator in both explosions was a toxic chemical many Louisiana residents have never heard of, though more than 3.7 million people across the state are at risk if a similar explosion happens here, according to company filings submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Hydrofluoric acid is a chemical catalyst known for its power to etch glass, as well as its extreme toxicity. Equally distinctive: its ability to move across long distances in a potent chemical cloud. While historically used in many industrial processes, the acid’s highest-volume consumers today in the United States are oil refineries that use it to make high-octane gasoline.

Exposure to hydrofluoric acid fumes causes lung congestion and severe burns of the eyes, skin and digestive tract. It corrodes bones. Extreme exposure has caused fatal lung failures. Experiments in 1986 showed that the acid compound, commonly known as HF, can be lethal almost 2 miles from the point of release, and cause sickness almost 5 miles away.

Despite this capacity for harm – and despite the availability of a safer alternative that is used in half of the nation’s refineries that do such work – 50 of the nation’s 148 oil producing facilities continue to rely on the lethal compound, five of them in Louisiana, and three of those in the New Orleans area.

The Louisiana refineries are: Chalmette Refining in Chalmette ConocoPhillips Alliance in Belle Chasse Marathon Petroleum in Garyville Murphy Oil in Meraux Placid Refinery in Port Allen Only Texas, with 10 refineries that use hydrofluoric acid, has more of the toxin within its state borders. Elsewhere, refineries and other industries that could use hydrofluoric acid have turned to alternatives, chiefly sulfuric acid, which is used by more than half of them, and a modified HF that was developed by ExxonMobil in the 1990s, in response to safety concerns. Modified HF is now used in 10 refineries across the country, none of them in Louisiana. These alternative catalysts don’t race across the landscape in ways comparable to HF when used in the concentrations required by the oil industry. And because these chemicals aren’t as easily spread, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security doesn’t consider them to be as high a security risk as unmodified HF, a federal registry of chemical threats show.

New facilities can also rely on solid acid catalysts, a material that does not create a toxic cloud if released, though no companies have made the switch to the newly developed technology, said Paul Orum, a chemical safety consultant who works with public-interest groups.

“They are invested in the technology they have, and it would cost money to convert,” he said.

Industry lobbyists have said a switch would be too expensive. They estimate the cost of switching from HF to one of the alternatives to be somewhere between $50 million and $150 million per refinery. For comparison’s sake, ExxonMobil alone reported profits of $9 billion in the fourth-quarter of 2010. Read more at www.thelensnola.org.

Delgado Graduate Survey Delgado Community College is working to evaluate its effectiveness and relevance for students, business and industry. Measuring the benefit of existing education and training programs will help Delgado evolve intelligently. To that end, Delgado is currently sponsoring a very brief survey of its former students. This survey aims to evaluate how well Delgado prepares its students for the current workforce environment.

Survey takers will be asked whether they use the education or training they received at Delgado in their current jobs, how well prepared for the job market they were and whether their Delgado experience provided a foundation for future academic success.

If you are a Delgado alumni, please go to delgadogradsurvey.com and share your story. Your response will help Delgado Community College enhance the opportunities afforded to our current students and the next generation to come.

If you have any questions about this survey, please feel free to contact info@delgadogradsurvey.com

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NPN Thanks For Supporting The Trumpet THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Education Talk New Orleans

Education

Battle for Greater Gentilly High School

By Karran Harper-Royal

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ecently, the Recovery School District (RSD) in New Orleans embarked upon a community engagement campaign. The meetings were scheduled in each of our five city council districts with the alleged purpose to get community input into building assignments. The RSD claimed to want the community’s input as to which academic program or charter we wanted to occupy the buildings in our communities. I attended each of these meetings to observe and hear what the community wanted. When the meeting occurred in my district, I chose to speak up regarding the new Greater Gentilly High School.

Just prior to the beginning of the meeting, RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas approached me and asked if we could have a truce. It was clear to me that he didn’t want me to speak that night because he said that I was going to “get what I wanted.” He assumed that I wanted the plan to merge the Greater Gentilly High School with the Marshall Early College High School operated by the University of New Orleans’ Charter School Network. Unfortunately, when I approached Paul Vallas about this last year, he decided that the merger would not happen. Now that he has been negotiating with UNO without my input, he assumes that the deal on the table is “what I want.” I told him that I was forced to support a charter for this school because he did not keep his promise to our community to allow the decision making around this school to be driven by our Gentilly Community Steering Committee. I told Mr. Vallas that we could not have a truce and that I would be speaking at this meeting.

Since then, I have now completely pulled my reluctant support from the planned merger of Greater Gentilly High School and the Marshall Early College High School. The UNO Charter School Network cannot promise our community that it will keep the technology program that our community worked to establish at Greater Gentilly High School. This is yet another example of the fake community engagement that is occurring in New Orleans. Nevertheless, there are several examples of “fake” community engagement here in New Orleans. I will share more of those examples over the next few weeks.

Karran Harper Royal, a local education activist, works for the Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center. Visit Royal’s Education New Orleans blog at http://edutalknola.com/ and check out her latest postings and videos from various school meetings.

AEDF, Business Community Propel Project GRAD New Orleans The future of New Orleans rests in the investments we make today, which is why Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF) is advancing partnerships with innovative organizations that are making contributions where it matters most— educating our youth.

In keeping with AEDF’s mission to align educational objectives with workforce and economic development needs, AEDF recently partnered with Project GRAD New Orleans to garner immediate and long-term support for the project by linking it to local businesses for resource development.

To date, Project GRAD New Orleans has a thriving partnership with the Algiers Charter School Association (ACSA) and is working with students at five ACSA schools to increase graduation and college readiness rates and provide scholarships to high school seniors who successfully complete the program.

Nationally, Project GRAD is located in 13 U.S. cities and is making tremendous advances in education. In fact, the college completion rate for Project GRAD participants is 92% above the national average, and high schools that partner with the program increased graduation rates by an average of 7.8%.

To learn more about Project GRAD, visit www.projectGRAD.org. To learn more about the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, visit www.algierseconomic.com.

NPN needs bloggers Sign up at: thetrumpet@npnnola.com

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

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Puentes

Hispanic Public Safety Initiative The Hispanic Public Safety Initiative is a public safety program initiated in partnership with the Hispanic Apostolate Community Services Catholic Charities in late 2007 after assault incidents began to rise among the newly arrived Latino migrant workers in the city of New Orleans.

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he Hispanic Public Safety Initiative is a public safety program initiated in partnership with the Hispanic Apostolate Community Services Catholic Charities in late 2007 after assault incidents began to rise among the newly arrived Latino migrant workers in the city of New Orleans. After several discussions with the New Orleans Police Department, it became apparent that much needed to be done in order to better enable law enforcement to stem this rising tide of assaults.

With grants from Baptist Community Ministries and United Way of Greater New Orleans, the Hispanic Public Safety Initiative launched in May 2008. The goal of the program is improved relations between the Latino community and law enforcement. Regardless of a person’s immigration status, public safety is a concern of all who live in the New Orleans area. Through our program, we hope to improve overall public safety by strengthening relations between the Latino community and law enforcement so that victims of crimes do not remain silent.

we are already pursuing in this area is the creation of a pool of interpreters who can be available for immediate interpretation when a police officer needs help communicating with a non-English speaking individual or group.

Program Components

As we implement our initial strategies, Puentes will look toward areas of improvement that can be achieved through system changes not just in law enforcement, but across the entire criminal justice system. The current challenges that the entire system faces notwithstanding, Puentes wants to ensure that as the community works to improve the system that there are strategies and policies implemented that address the needs of limited English proficient members of our community. We have already begun to look at, for example, how criminal court in Orleans Parish handles cases in which there is a limited English proficient individual. Strict standards must be installed at both the city and the state level in order to ensure constitutional rights of due process, which are afforded to every individual who is tried in a United States court, regardless of immigration status.

The Hispanic Public Safety Initiative is currently developing several strategies that are aimed at addressing cultural misperceptions and misinformation and language/cultural barriers within both law enforcement and the Latino community.

Cultural Sensitivity: The first step is to prepare adequate training for our law enforcement personnel. The Hispanic Public Safety Initiative has taken the lead on developing a day-long cultural sensitivity workshop that educates law enforcement personnel about the cultural and language barriers within and among the diverse Latino community. Our goal is to begin to help not just the New Orleans Police Department, but the entire region’s law enforcement agencies, to catch up to national best practices in cultural sensitivity training. Places such as Austin, Texas and MiamiDade County have over ten years of offering progressive, best-practices based cultural sensitivity training to their law enforcement officers. We will be learning from them, among others, in order to bring that knowledge to our area so that we can better serve non-English or limited English proficient individuals.

Educational Outreach: The next step is to create a strategy for a host of educational outreach activities and tools. We are currently developing several education materials on public safety rights that we will disseminate to the Latino community through a variety of engagement opportunities, be it an educational forum, a community meeting, or on the street and in neighborhoods. Simply knowing what rights one has, regardless of immigration status, is often the most critical step towards generating confidence in a person’s willingness to report a crime.

Capacity Development: One of the critical needs in our local law enforcement is securing the capacity needed to be able to address the community’s needs. As we strengthen our partnership with local law enforcement agencies, we will also be looking at opportunities to secure the needed resources that law enforcement will need in order to better serve the limited English proficient members of our community. One strategy

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Program Partners In addition to the Hispanic Apostolate and the New Orleans Police Department, several partners work with us on this effort. These partners include: the Loyola Law Clinic, Crimestoppers, Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services, the New Orleans Public Defenders Unit, and the New Orleans Crime Coalition (which is a coalition created by Common Good and that consists of lead non-profits, private industry and public agencies).

Additional Program Goals

Volunteer Opportunities The Hispanic Public Safety Initiative will be creating several volunteer opportunities in which the community can get involved. Currently we are developing three areas of volunteer opportunities. These include: interpretation for law enforcement and the court system, observation of court proceedings, and participation in community law enforcement meetings. For more information about these opportunities, contact us at the numbers and e-mail addresses listed below. Also, if you are interested in volunteering in this, or another program area, sign up online at our LatiNola website.

For more information about our program, or to speak to us about volunteering, contact: Eva San Martín: 504.208.8004 or via e-mail at esanmartin@archdiocese-no.org Lucas Díaz: 504.821.7228 or via e-mail at lucasdiaz@puentesno.org THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

LatiNola

LatiNola Volunteer Program Provides Outreach, Unity in Latin Communities LatiNola volunteer team leaders routinely meet to plan and execute new projects. Here is a sample list of some of our existing and previous efforts: • Night Out Against Crime • LatiNola Socials • Voter Registration • Criminal Justice • Advocacy Campaigns • Immigration Forums Our volunteers suggest many of our initiatives. Once you join our team, you, too can suggest activities that benefit your community. You can learn more about how to participate with us at our monthly orientations, which you can find on our calendar below. Be sure to check our activities and let us know if you would like to volunteer.

Spirit of Volunteerism LatiNola is a movement, a force made up of people involved in strengthening our community. It all begins with you, the individual, and your ability to give your time and expertise. We give back all the time, usually in small ways, to our families and close friends. Imagine if you expanded your ability to give back and joined us on community-wide efforts. Imagine being involved with LatiNola Spirit in arts and culture programs, in youth training, in housing construction, or in organizing community events. There is no end to the possibilities. The LatiNola Spirit of volunteerism is about giving back to our community. As we grow LatiNola

Spirit, we are looking to create lifelong alliances within the greater community. You can serve on the front line of this effort. You can help us demonstrate to the rest of our region that the LatiNola Spirit is strong and permanent.

Goals of Volunteerism The first and most important goal that we want to accomplish is the creation of a LatiNola Spirit community movement. We want you to join us, work with us, spread the word, and invite others. Your energy becomes the community’s energy. The second goal is to turn the tide of prejudice, of every kind. As a LatiNola Spirit volunteer, you will not only work within the Latino community, but also anywhere else there is need within our region.

Registering To Volunteer Becoming a LatiNola Spirit volunteer is simple. Enter your contact information on the preliminary form to the right and we will contact you shortly. Upon signing up with us as a volunteer, you will also be automatically enrolled in our newsletter. Once we have your contact information, we will speak with you about your interests and match you with existing opportunities.

For more information, visit http://www.latinolanow.org.

Rebuilding Gentilly is a Daily Effort

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hen Dillard University created its Community Development Corporation in 2002, its mission was to increase homeownership and economic opportunities in the vast Gentilly neighborhoods of Greater New Orleans. That focus shifted following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, nearly six years later, the CDC is once again focusing on trade and industry here while continuing to assist residents in rebuilding their homes.

Part of the CDC’s mission is developing and hosting community events that can improve the economic, intellectual, social and cultural aspects of life in Gentilly. The program, which is scheduled for Spring 2011, is one of several programs and events on the slate.

Entergy’s AMI Pilot program began on March 1 with training sessions held at Dillard University for community residents. Harvard University’s Alumni Association will visit New Orleans beginning March 13 for rebuilding efforts in coordination with the CDC. On Saturday, March 26, the CDC will host its annual Health & Sports Festival sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.

This is a great opportunity to receive important medical procedures such as blood pressure and diabetes testing, eye exams, rapid HIV screenings, stroke prevention and more. There will be seminars on

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

mental health, stress reduction and youth obesity. The youth sports clinics will feature many activities that families can experience together.

“Promoting physical activity for the entire family is a significant aspect of growing a healthy community,” said Nick Harris, Assistant Vice President for Community and Economic Development at Dillard University.

“That’s why our partnerships with Blue Cross Blue Shield and HUD are so valuable,” adds Harris.

Families will be able to try their hand at volleyball, golf, basketball, and football. They will also be able to participate in a bike ride sponsored by Kids Coalition and New Orleans Bicycle Coalition. AARP is sponsoring Walking for Fitness. The Physical Fitness class will be presented by the U.S. Coast Guard together with the Army, Navy and Air Force.

CDC activities continue in April with Federal Government 101, a oneday workshop on Thursday, April 14 featuring a variety of sessions for individuals seeking jobs or funding for community development.

To register for any of these events, please contact Nick Harris at 504-816-4704 or nharris@dillard.edu.

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Commuity Health

Let’s Power Up for

Healthy Neighborhoods!

By Patricia Davis, Associate Neighborhoods Editor

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hat is your vision for your neighborhood?

Having returned to New Orleans after departing unexpectedly due to a presidentially declared disaster, many residents continue to cope with restoring their homes, businesses, and environment. With resources available to assist in restoring neighborhoods to even a more improved standard of living, then it becomes most important to implement healthy neighborhoods with sustainability.

To achieve a vigorous environment, neighborhoods must engage in the available resources in their community. But in many cases the community resources are either unidentifiable to residents or are recognized—and yet some residents are not in touch with the accessibility of these resources.

“Coming together is the beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.”

— Henry Ford

MAPP to Achieve Community Health The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) introduces Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP), a strategic approach to community health improvement. This tool assists communities to enhance health and quality of life through community-wide strategic planning. Using MAPP, communities seek to achieve optimal health by identifying and using their resources prudently, taking into account their unique circumstances and needs and forming effective partnerships for strategic action.

According to NACCHO, MAPP is intended to lead communities to an unprecedented union among the community organizations, agencies, groups and individuals that comprise the local public health system.

Through broad ownership, communities can create an effort that is sustainable, builds on collective wisdom, uses resources from throughout the community and, ultimately, leads to community health improvement.

The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is awarded a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention REACHCore funding opportunity for the Healthy Neighborhoods New Orleans (HNNO) project. As stated in the cooperative agreement, the proposed project, Healthy Neighborhoods New Orleans (HNNO), will build upon “The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.”

— Ralph Nichols

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the success of the Orleans Neighborhood Health Implementation Plan (ONHIP), a collaboration of the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), Neighborhoods Partnership Network (NPN) and Concordia, LLC, to improve neighborhood health through cross-sector engagement of residents in New Orleans.

Healthy Neighborhoods New Orleans Project Winner: Hollygrove Neighborhood Hollygrove Neighborhood, with Carrollton-Hollygrove CDC as the lead agency, was selected as one of two neighborhoods to participate in a cooperative agreement from the Center of Disease (CDC) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Communities Organized to Respond and Evaluate (REACH CORE). The project will address and receive feedback from the community regarding the drivers of a chronic disease (such as lack of physical exercise and obesity for Type II diabetes), but the inquiry is not limited to one particular disease.

The Hollygrove Livable Communities Project, a partnership comprised of Hollygrove residents, Hollygrove-based non-profits and AARP Louisiana, is managed by Carrollton-Hollygrove Community Development Corporation.

“Go in search of people. Begin with what they know. Build on what they have.” — Chinese proverb

Other Hollygrove Neighbors accomplishments:

• Conrad Park Booster Club, a project of Trinity Christian Community and The Grove Church • Soul Steppers Walking Club, a project of Hollygrove residents and AARP

CHCDC accomplishments: • • • •

Hollygrove Market & Farm Neighborhood Marketing Place Hollygrove Nation Neighborhood Newsletter Partnership with Tulane Med-Peds Residency Program

CHCDC and Hollygrove Neighbors focus on the following areas: • • • •

Public safety Economic development Health Care giving, mobility, and transportation

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Healthy Neighborhoods

Healthy Neighborhoods for All of New Orleans

By Ashley Burg & Tia Vice

Mardi Gras season is a time of celebration that we all look forward to In addition to the data and statistics, the website will offer a community every year. The 12th night has already come and gone, the first parade health toolkit and community action organizer that will connect the user of the season, Krewe de Vieux, rode through the Quarter and now Carni- to links and suggestions for planning and links to best practices, helpful val is over. organizations, community assets and community events.

Mardi Gras always reminds us why we love this city and how much Finally, it will help neighborhoods identify larger forces in the comfun we are! But what if there was a way that when the parades ended munity context that affect the health and quality of life of residents. These and all the King Cake babies were found that New Orleans could be larger forces include recent events, local and national trends, legislation, seen as not only a fun town, but also a vital town? A place where we government budget cuts, and advances in technology. Healthy Nola could all enjoy life to the fullest…longer?

Neighborhoods recognizes that the drivers of individual and neighborHealthy Nola Neighborhoods, an initiative developed by Neighborhood health include all sectors of life and include whole communities. hoods Partnership Network, Concordia LLC and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), seeks to do this. It is a set of supportive programs that provide community access to information and neighborhood data that Moving forward with Healthy Nola Neighborhoods has previously been inaccessible for most residents. In addition to neighThe website and toolkit are just part of the first step to establishing the borhood information and data, Healthy Nola Neighborhoods provides Healthy Nola Neighborhoods vision. Healthy Nola Neighborhoods hopes tools for planning, action and tracking. The overall goal of the Healthy to support the creation of sustainable, healthy neighborNola Neighborhoods is to provide a broad range hoods not only through the neighborhood data website of neighborhood data and implementation guidand toolkit, but also with implementation guidance, ance, tools and technical assistance to New Orleans Health is not just determined tools, mini-grants, technical assistance, multi-disciplinary neighborhoods recovering from Hurricane Katrina by genetics, but also by the support team, policy and advocacy help, social marketand decades of community neglect for some. physical, cultural, social, ing and peer mentoring. It hopes to also serve those educational, organizational neighborhoods that are already starting or well-along on the and economic factors that Virtual Tool kit for Action path of planning and building their healthy communities. influence people’s lives.

A series of conversations with neighborhood associaHealth is not just determined Thus far, the most significant piece of Healthy tion leaders and a series of focus groups have been conby genetics, but also by the Nola Neighborhoods is a web-based interactive ducted to gain insight and feedback to optimize the conphysical, cultural, social, community data-hub and a “healthy communities” tent and the ease of use and appeal of the web-based educational, organizational tool kit for action. The web-based program will toolkit. The program development team will be working and economic factors that provide residents with unprecedented access to closely with neighborhood leaders and groups like the influence people’s lives. information at the neighborhood level. Healthy Melia Subdivision (whose stories and work are featured Nola Neighborhoods will provide free access to in this issue of The Trumpet) in the coming months. LPHI, this interactive website that will allow you, your neighbors, and your Concordia and NPN are working with the leaders and groups to ensure neighborhood partners to learn how your neighborhood is doing in that the data, website layout and tools are accessible, useful, and relevant regards to health, what is driving your health status (or what could be to their work before the site fully goes online to the general public later causing your illness, disease or disability), and how you can plan to this year. improve your neighborhood’s health.

When approached about the opportunity to work with the web-based The easy-to-use site brings together and shares a broad range of program, Cheryl Diggins of Melia said it would be a great help, espehealth and community asset information at the neighborhood level to cially in the areas of promoting economic development and having adallow residential organizations to make planning decisions for their own ditional ideas and contacts for neighborhood projects. She noted the site neighborhoods. It illustrates a neighborhood’s health status through the could help them further identify and promote promising opportunities for lens of demographics, economy, health, education, environment, transdevelopment that residents already talk about. She mentioned the proximportation and public safety. It includes a clearinghouse of evidence-based ity of the interstate and the areas nearby as a great place to encourage and practice-based strategies, activities and tools to help participants find business growth and potentially even larger stores like Wal-Mart. “Anyand choose specific strategies to reach their goals. thing that will help developing some of the smaller areas in New Orleans The data available for neighborhoods will include: birth rates, death East like ours that get less attention when people talk about working in the rates, low birth weights, teen birth rates, educational attainment, percent East would be useful,” Diggins said. “And when you get to a roadblock, of single-headed households, disability percentage, and statistics on hous- you would have people to call and reach out to -- to help you get through ing, economic development, education, transportation, and public safety. it,” she said.

This will provide unprecedented democratization of information for all LPHI, Concordia and NPN will continue to support avenues of feedNew Orleans residents. With this, residents along with planners, comback like these and is establishing more resident-involved focus groups munity partners and city government can develop data-driven profiles of and surveys. neighborhoods that are relevant to each of their respective interests and For more information on Healthy Nola Neighborready to work together. hoods, contact Ashley Burg, LPHI (aburg@lphi.org or Neighborhoods will be able to create a “collaboration page” where they can pull statistics or data about their individual neighborhood to cre504-301-9811) or Tia Vice, NPN (tia@npnnola.com or ate an overall picture of their community. Overall, it will allow residents to 504-940-2207). get a clear picture of the needs and assets of their neighborhood.

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

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City Government News

43 Blocks of City Streets Getting $20 Million Overhaul

Mayor Landrieu Kicks Off Road Projects Across City Mayor Mitch Landrieu and City officials recently kicked off a series of neighborhood street construction projects from the site of the Urquhart Street road project in St. Roch. Four other street construction projects have either begun this week or are slated to begin in the coming week.

“We have over $20 million worth of local road reconstruction hitting the ground all at one time,” said Mayor Landrieu. “We are building for the future. Investing in and improving our infrastructure has been a top priority of mine, so it great to see progress for 43 blocks of roadways in a number of different neighborhoods.”

Landrieu also announced an effort to better communicate with impacted residents. City officials and representatives of the construction companies and project engineers will hold a series of neighborhood meetings specific to each road project. The first meeting was held Wednesday, February 23, 2011, on the Urquhart Street project.

“It is important that we communicate expectations with the residents in these neighborhoods,” said Cedric Grant, Deputy Mayor of Facilities, Infrastructure & Community Development. “At the end of the project, many of these residents will not only have freshly-paved streets and sidewalks but better drainage and utilities.”

City Council Approves

River Dredging, Community Projects

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ecently, the City Council passed a resolution calling for the United States Corps of Engineers to use its funds in a manner that allows the full dredging to 45 feet in New Orleans District of the Mississippi River. On January 25, 2011, the Associated Branch Pilots, who represent state-licensed pilots entering and departing from the mouth of the river, began limiting the draft of ships to no more than 44 feet of draft, which is down from the 45-foot channel depth authorized by Congress. It has been estimated that in order to reduce a ship’s draft by one foot, exporters will need to reduce cargo worth between $250,000 and $800,000 per ship. The resolution, which was unanimously passed by the full City Council, will draw attention to this issue, and will hopefully influence the United States Corps of Engineers to take action.

The Planters Corporation (Mr. Peanut) is transforming a site in Central City into a natural space, which will include a community garden, sustainable water elements and local artwork. The project will serve as a tool to teach local youth about sustainable land development. New Orleans is the first among five cities selected for the project. The others include Miami, Washington DC, San Francisco and New York.

Further goodwill to the City of New Orleans came from Delaware North, a hospitality management and food service company.

Councilman-At-Large Arnie Fielkow gave a welcome during their annual General Managers meeting, which was recently in New Orleans, and thanking them for coming to New Orleans, and especially for giving back to our great city. A component of their annual meeting included a community service project to refurbish the clubhouse and do minor work along the grounds of Taylor Park in Central City. The City of New Orleans, Rebuilding New Orleans Together and the Salvation Army were partners in this endeavor.

The City of New Orleans has also entered into agreements with two different organizations to operate Methodist Hospital in New Orleans East. The Franciscan Mission of Our Lady, which will run the hospital, and Daughters of Charity, which will oversee clinical operations, will service the roughly 80,000 people that reside in New Orleans East.

Silence is Violence events took place in several areas of the city in late January. The overall sentiment was that, even if it takes the entire community working in concert, every child should have the resources to turn away from violence and towards a life of health and safety.

City Recycles 8,000 Christmas Trees for Coastal Restoration The City’s Department of Sanitation, Office of Coastal and Environmental Affairs and the Materials Management Group led the effort to collect, sort, and bundle 7,000 Christmas trees, and shred over 700 trees for recycling. Volunteers from Playworks NOLA and Walker & Dunlop also assisted with this effort.

Recently, the Louisiana National Guard began collecting the trees via helicopter and depositing them in pre-selected coastal zones as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The strategic placing of trees in wetland habitats will stimulate the formation of new marsh, and provide areas for fish and wildlife to flourish.

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THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

600 is an Impressive Number But Does Not Guarantee Impressive Results

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ublic safety has become the top priority of most, if not all, government agencies, non-profits and individuals living and working in New Orleans. How we get a safer New Orleans together and without causing more harm than good is the challenge all of us working in the criminal justice system face.

Orleans Parish District Attorney, Leon Cannizzaro recently decided we get safer with 600 trials per year in a system already overburdened, inefficient, and expensive. Mr. Cannizzaro has not explained how 600 trials – the most expensive and least efficient means of disposing of a criminal case – make us safer. Indeed, he can’t. I know of no study, research or story which suggests more trials equal more safety.

Public safety is measured not by trials, but by outcomes. One important outcome for a criminal justice system is to move the most violent and dangerous individuals efficiently and fairly through the criminal justice system. Trials do not guarantee this result any more than other disposition tools do. In fact, 600 trials would most certainly guarantee the opposite – the criminal justice system will spend more money and more time with less certainty. This obsession with trials will shift resources away from better alternatives and courthouse innovation.

As the least efficient and most expensive way to move cases, trials add months and sometimes years to the time it takes to process one case.

Mr. Cannizzaro argues it would only mean 1 trial per week for each section of court, but because of inevitable delays associated with trial; this will cause a backlog in criminal court dockets. For example, any time a trial goes, the rest of the docket set for that day is reset, and a trial which lasts multiple days will reset multiple dockets. It is happening right now. During the week of February 7th, the courthouse ran out of jurors the first three days of the week, creating not just a docket backlog, but a trial backlog. Additionally, innocent people will remain stuck unfairly in a criminal justice system as they wait their turn to be heard. We have made

so many strides in recent years to improve our criminal justice system and help our city be healthier and safer. Mr. Cannizzaro has been at the forefront of this effort, but forcing 600 trials through our system is not an improvement.

I am also deeply concerned about the cost that 600 trials will bring to our city. Trials are extraordinarily expensive. Investigations, experts, lab work, attorneys, and support staffing for both the prosecution and the defense is largely a burden carried by taxpayers. Doubling or tripling the amount of trials each year would mean doubling or tripling those costs.

The Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD) will not be able to keep up. We already cut services because of budget shortfalls and forcing more trials will cripple our ability to meet the task of providing constitutional defense. Trying to prepare for 600 trials per year is virtually impossible with our resources. Multiple lawsuits will emerge when the public defender – unable to uphold constitutional service – fails to appear or is unprepared. Simply put, OPD cannot meet the expense of Mr. Cannizzarro’s initiative. It would bankrupt the entire criminal justice system, all for the sake of saying, “we have a whole lot of trials in New Orleans.”

Triple the costs, millions in lawsuits, and an already struggling system brought to a standstill is what we will pay for 600 trials. New Orleans cannot afford the cost, the inefficiency and the loss of public safety such an initiative brings us. We cannot afford a city made less safe for the sake of numbers that have no connection to better outcomes. We have schools and parks to save, children and families to help. Mr. Cannizzaro reaches too far with this initiative. The government agencies, non-profits, and individuals living and working in our city deserve to see their money and efforts better spent.

Derwyn Bunton is the Chief District Defender for the Orleans Public Defenders. He can be reached at dbunton@opdla.org.

St. James Playground Restoration in Gentilly Brings Celebration, Hope to Residents

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just wanted to give a shout out to Kaboom!, Kellogg, and all of the wonderful sponsors of the St. James Playground restoration in Gentilly recently. I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the revival of a neighborhood playspace that was a key part of my growing up in New Orleans. The playground has been out of service for so long that one of the New Orleans young adults (under 25) present to help wasn’t sure if the playground was a new site or whether it was ever used before.

Wow, has it been that long?

I remember my sisters’ and my looking forward to going to the St. James Playground (of course we never really knew the name of it) after leaving a hard day’s of scholastic obligations at St. Raphael School on Elysian Fields, and John McDonogh #39 elementary school, just down the street on St. Roch.

“OH the memories,” my sister posted to Facebook after looking at the Kaboom! Build pictures. She now lives in Georgia with her two daughters.

“I’ll have to bring the kids there, just for old times’ sake. I remember Mama used to go walking in the area while we played - the good ole days.”

The good old days meant jumping onto moving merry go rounds, challenging each other on an obstacle course that included THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

hanging from the monkey bars, and torturing the youngest and lightest ones of us on the up-end of the seesaw. As budding young adults, we played tennis at the court just across the street, which continued into my 20’s as I met new friends there to engage in healthy competition and comradery. At that time, we had to rush with our rackets and tennis balls to stake our spot, or otherwise spend half the day waiting our turn for the free court.

Free. Free tap, gymnastics, baton twirling, marching in parades – NORD was such a key part of my mother’s strategy to socialize her young girls so that we could go on to be fearless.

As I rode past the playground last week, a mother was pushing her child on the swings. I am so glad I was in that number - hundreds of neighbors and friends of diverse ages, ethnicities, regional residences and abilities - as we resurrected a sacred space that I hope offers the validation and respect to future generations that it did to me and my siblings.

Alisha Johnson is a member of the Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association. Email her at alisha2709@gmail.com.

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Arts & Features

The People Say Project

Unites Diverse Artists for Creative Exchange

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ecently, the LHC hosted the first installment of a four-part interview series, “The People Say Project”, produced in conjunction with Loyola University’s English Department. The series started with an installment on music featuring singer-songwriter Alex McMurray and hip-hop emcee Truth Universal in a conversation with LHC Program Director Brian Boyles.

In four events this spring, with focuses on music, the visual arts, theater, and the culinary arts, “The People Say Project” will bring together artists from different backgrounds and generations to discuss the ways in which they make art and make a living in the city today.

Throughout the Spring 2011 semester, students in the Developing Digital Content course at Loyola will build www.thepeoplesayproject.org, a website featuring original articles and archival material related to the eight artists profiled in the series.

Coming Events: 3/22: Visual Arts: Ayo Scott & Bunny Matthews 4/5: Theater: Andrew Vaught & John O’Neal 4/19: Culinary: Stay tuned!

These events are free and open to the public.

Call 504-620-2632 or boyles@leh.org for more info.

The LHC is located at 938 Lafayette Street in the CBD.

Andrea Richey is Named Director of Sales at HRI Lodging’s Historic Chateau Bourbon Hotel

S

easoned hospitality professional Andrea Richey has joined the Chateau Bourbon New Orleans a Wyndham Hotel in New Orleans’ French Quarter as the new Director of Sales. Sarah Gagnon, Vice President of Sales for HRI Lodging, owner and operator of the hotel said that Richey will be a great asset to the hotel’s team. “We are very excited to welcome Andrea into the Chateau Bourbon Hotel family,” said Gagnon. “Her sales experience in both branded and independent hotels makes her an invaluable asset to the Chateau Bourbon sales team,” she added.

Richey brings 20 years of extensive knowledge and experience to the Chateau Bourbon Hotel. She has worked in the hospitality and real estate industry in cities across the South including Birmingham, AL; Gatlinburg, TN; San Antonio, TX; and Atlanta. She moves to New Orleans after serving as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the 329room Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Prior to working at the Wynfrey, she earned the “Sales Team of the Year” award at the Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center in Gatlinburg.

Also, she has received numerous other recognitions, including the “Hyatt Sales Manager of the Quarter” at the Hyatt Regency Suites in Atlanta and the “Outstanding Revenue-Index” citation for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Richey earned a bachelor’s degree from East

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Tennessee State University and is a licensed real estate agent.

The 250-room Chateau Bourbon Hotel is located in the building where the legendary D.H. Holmes Department Store operated for more than 140 years. HRI restored and converted the building into a hotel in 1995 after D.H. Holmes closed its doors for the final time in 1989. The building was donated to the City of New Orleans, which in turn formed a public benefit corporation that partnered with HRI Properties to convert it into a hotel. The building was made famous worldwide in the opening scene of the novel Confederacy of Dunces, when the book’s protagonist, Ignatius Reilly, impatiently waits for his mother beneath the D.H. Holmes clock. That clock was recently refurbished and installed in its historic location by HRI Lodging.

About HRI Lodging HRI Lodging owns and operates hotel properties in New Orleans and Shreveport, LA; Jackson, MS; and Richmond, VA. HRI hotels include restorations of the King Edward Hotel in Jackson, MS, and the Miller & Rhoads Department Store in Richmond, VA, both of which fly the Hilton Garden Inn flag. For more information, go to www.hrilodging.com.

About HRI Properties Based in New Orleans, HRI Properties (HRI) is a full-service real estate development company and a national leader in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. HRI’s mission is revitalizing cities by creating diverse, vibrant, sustainable communities. For more information, go to www. hriproperties.com.

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

20 Thoughts Book Launch

News From Around The Neighborhood

Attracts Local Celebrities Simone’s and Honors Women Culinary Corner

By Aretha Frison, Editor

Southshore Donuts & Grill 7929 Downman Road (504) 244-9876

By Simone Victoria

photos by 504 Source Magazine

Photos: (left) The book “20 Thoughts Every Woman Should Have”, (top right) CeCe along with honorees, (bottom right) CeCe signing a copy of her book at the book launch at The McKenna Museum.

I must say, the book launch for 20 Thoughts Every Woman Should Have by local author Christy “CeCe” Chapman held at The McKenna Museum in January was a success.

This handbook has been quoted as “a simply, yet very needed handbook” by WWL-TV4 news anchor Sally-Ann Roberts. This motivational book is a precious gem for ladies of all ages. It discusses everything from relationships to finances to self-respect, while bringing to life these imperative issues through an array of thought-provoking illustrations and pictures.

CeCe gained the idea for the book from her life experiences as she wavered and moved through many challenges and victories. CeCe says she uses her writing as her “silent voice”—a muse—to express her thoughts and values.

Throughout the night as guests mingled at the event, they sported pink ribbons—CeCe’s signature color—and sat at tables decorated with pink linens that were adorned with pink roses and pink carnations.

Honoree Casey Branden of Precise Planning & Advertising said 20 Thoughts is a book that will appeal to women of all ages. “The launch was a first-class women’s empowerment event at its finest, too,” Branden said.

CeCe also used this opportunity to honor 20 influential local women. Among them were Jive Records recording artist Kourtney Hart; Cheryl Charles , general manager of WBOK 1230am; Janice Mereditch of Salonlocators.com; Gina Brown of HBO’s Treme; activist Leona Tate; Cecil Dalton of Seal’s Class Act; and Bobbie Cornish of Children of Katrina.

CeCe is also a mentor to young ladies and speaks at youth seminars, high schools and universities, in addition to serving her community through volunteerism. Through her books, CeCe creates a message to all women to appreciate their value, to hold on to joyful promises and to value their self-worth so they can be able to live victorious lives.

20 Thoughts Every Woman Should Have can be purchased at www.barnesandnoble.com. Contact Erin Freeman at 469-230-7124 for more info.

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

If you’re looking for an all night, friendly and inviting atmosphere, Southshore Donuts & Grill is the place to be. Southshore was one of the first places to open its doors in New Orleans East following Hurricane Katrina. But don’t let the looks deceive you because the atmosphere is warm just like the weather on the Lakefront on a hot summer day---which by the way is located just minutes away! This quaint, inexpensive diner is one of the best places to get a wide variety of hot and fresh donuts, coffee and good conversation every morning. While serving daily specials for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this neighborhood gem has a steady stream of local clientele. With New Orleans inspired diner food, this 24 hour grill is a great way to enjoy foods such as shrimp Po-boys, fish plates, crab cakes or smothered pork chops for a reasonable price.

About Simone Victoria She was born and raised in Algiers and graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in 1992. She furthered her studies at Grambling State University and then moved to Atlanta, Georgia. While living in Atlanta, she worked in restaurants such as Houston’s, Long Horn Steakhouse and 10 Degrees South. She also obtained an Associate of Occupational Science degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and became a member of American Culinary Federation. After finishing her degree, she decided to complete an three-month internship at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. She eventually became a full-time at the restaurant. At the end of 2008, she was offered a position at the New Orleans Job Corps Center as the Culinary Arts Instructor, where she is currently teaching technical culinary skills to young adults.

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Neighborhood Meetings

Neighborhood Meetings

Algiers Point Association Every 1st Thursday of the month @ 7pm Holy Name of Mary School Cafeteria Broadmoor Improvement Association 3rd Monday of every other month @ 7pm St. Matthias Church 4320 S. Broad Street Bunny Friends Neighborhood Association Every second Saturday of the month Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 3721 N Claiborne Ave.

Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA) Every 3rd Tuesday of every month, upcoming meeting to be held on July 20th 1809 O. C. Haley Blvd. http://www.myccra.org Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meetings time/date TBA Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Ave.

Bywater Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month Holy Angels Cafeteria 3500 St. Claude Ave.

Downtown Neighborhood Improvement Association (DNIA) Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 7p.m.

Musicians’ Union Hall 2401 Esplanade Ave. (entrance through parking lot on Bayou Road and Rocheblave Street)

Carrollton Riverbend Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month Parish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (corner of Carrollton and Zimple)

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

St. Leo Church 2916 Paris Ave.

Carrollton United Every second Monday at 5:00 P.M. every other month St. John Missionary Baptist Church, (corner of Leonidas and Hickory)

East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ENONAC) Every 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 6 p.m.

St. Maria Goretti http://www.enonac.org

Central City Partnership Every last Friday of the month @ 1p.m.

Allie Mae Williams Center 2020 Jackson Ave.

Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings time/date/location TBA Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Monday @ 7p.m.

3201 Orleans Ave. http://www.fsjna.org Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month @ 6:00p.m.

True Vine Baptist Church 2008 Marigny St. Garden District Association 1 annual meeting per year, time/date/location TBA Gentilly Civic Improvement Association (GCIA) General Membership- Every 3rd Saturday of the month 10am Board Meeting - Every 3rd Wednesday of the month 6:30pm Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Ave. Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood Association Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 6p.m.

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

VOA – 2929 St. Anthony Ave.

Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association Every 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters St. http://www.gentillyterrace.org Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 5:30pm Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 3327 Toledano St. Hollygrove Neighbors Quarterly- Saturdays at noon Next meeting July 10 & October 16th St. Peters Church 3424 Eagle St. Eage St. and Edinburgh St. Holy Cross Neighborhood Association Every Thursday @ 5:30 Center for Sustainability, Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 5130 Chartres, Lizardi and Chartres http://www.helpholycross.org Irish Channel Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month at 7pm Irish Channel Christian Fellowship 819 First Street http://www.irishchannel.org Lake Bullard Homeowners Association Every Saturday @ 3p.m.

Cornerstone United Methodist Church 5276 Bullard Ave. http://www.lakebullard.org

Get Connected to the New Orleans Neighborhood Network.

Post News & Events for Your Organization at NPNnola.com 30

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Neighborhood Meetings

Ask City Hall District A Susan G. Guidry City Hall, Room 2W80 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1010 Fax: (504) 658-1016 Email:sgguidry@cityofno.com

Lake Catherine Civic Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 7 p.m.

Lake Willow Neighborhood Every 2nd Saturday of the month @ 10a.m.

St. Maria Goretti Church Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA) Every 2nd Saturday @ 12 noon NENA – 1120 Lamanche St. http://www.9thwardnena.org Melia Subdivision Every 2rd Saturday of the month @ 5 p.m.

Anchoren in Christ Church 4334 Stemway Drive Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Board Meeting – Every last Tuesday of the month 6 p.m. General Meeting - Every 1st Monday of the month 6:30 p.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 3700 Canal Street http://www.mcno.org

Oak Park Civic Association Every 3rd or last Tuesday of the month Paris Oaks/Bayou Vista Neighborhood Association Last Saturday of every month @ 4p.m.

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

Leonidas House Community Center (under renovation) 1407 Leonidas St. Temporarily housed at St. Paul AME Church, 8540 Cohn St. (corner of Leonidas and Cohn) Pontilly Association Pontilly Disaster Collaborative Every 3rd Wednesday of the month General Meeting every 2nd Saturday of the month http://www.pontilly.com

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

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL

Rosedale Neighborhood Association Meeting Last Friday of every month, 5:30 p.m.

Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church 4253 Dale Street New Orleans Tall Timbers Owners Association Semi-annual meetings: 2nd Wednesday of October & April 7p.m.

Board meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every other month 7.p.m Tunisburg Square Homeowners Civic Association, Inc. Every 2nd Monday of the month @ 6:30 p.m. http://tunisburg.org West Barrington Association 1st Tuesday of every month @ 6 p.m.

Holiday Inn Express 70219 Bullard Avenue

District B Stacy Head City Hall, Room 2W10 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658 -1020 Fax: (504) 658-1025 Email:shead@cityofno.com District C Kristin Gisleson Palmer City Hall, Room 2W70 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1030 Fax: (504) 658-1037 Email: kgpalmer@cityofno.com District D Cynthia Hedge-Morrell City Hall, Room 2W20 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1040 Fax: (504) 658-1048 E-mail: chmorrell@cityofno.com District E Jon D. Johnson City Hall, Room 2W60 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1050 Fax: (504) 658-1058 E-mail: jdjohnson@cityofno.com Council Member-At-Large Arnie Fielkow City Hall, Room 2W40 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1060 Fax: (504) 658-1068 Email: afielkow@cityofno.com Council Member-At-Large Jacquelyn Clarkson City Hall, Room 2W50 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1070 Fax: (504) 658-1077

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THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL