july/august arts & culture

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July/August 2011 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 5 Volume 4

TheTrumpet

1THE TRUMPET | July/August | 2011

INSIDE• The Roots of New Orleans Music• Musicians’ Village for the Future• Bunny Friend Citrus Garden• Sistahs Making a Change• Shaping Citywide Policy• 20 Thoughts on Novelist Jerralda Sanders

NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHTUpper9th ward

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

New Orleans is an authentic “city of neighbor-hoods” which embodies an atmosphere of almost 300 years of cross-cultural sharing, helping to deepen understanding of our own cultures while building bridges to others.

This city oozes with an appetite for culture, art and the ever-present sound of music. Regardless of what neighborhood you come from or currently live in, the sounds, smells and sights of the block serve as evidence that a rich and colorful story can be told and, depending upon the teller of the story, you will get a different adventure every time. In past The Trumpet

magazine issues, I’ve used this column not only to heal my painful hurts and unanswered questions that were left as a result of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating landmark, but also to consistently remind myself that I come from a people who are ever-resilient and that this was not the first time this city was rebuilt – but this is my generation’s moment in time to preserve our cultural presence.

From the moment I entered the world or even knew I existed, there was always an artistic expression. Growing up in the Black church, my experience with music, theatrics, prose, visual art and dance were all a part of its dynamics. This was only a double portion for me, living in a culturally rich city like New Orleans.

One early memory I have as a little girl is of performing in a church play and having an old missionary walk up to me after my performance saying, “Young lady, always remember from which you come.” At the time I did not understand, but most recently those words struck my core. I look around the city and wonder how we appreciate the arts and culture that have been a galvanizing force for bringing residents from diverse neighborhoods together. How these two disciplines, arts and culture, have given this city a brand that distinguishes us from other urban Southern cities; and, although it is often imitated, it can never be duplicated. From the many different festivals throughout the year to a weekend visit to your mama’s house for Sunday dinner, to Mardi Gras Indian bead sewing, and brass band music playing or preparing to be the next queen or debutante in the local krewe or social and pleasure club --- the preserving and passing down of our unique cultures from generation to generation are what make New Orleans the culturally rich, vibrant, and complex city it is. It’s the type of place that can take a lifetime to truly understand, but you learn to “get it,” by and by.

I often use the analogy of a patchwork quilt to describe the uniqueness of New Orleans’ diverse neighborhoods and how art and culture are beautifully diverse threads that hold the rich, colorful and tightly woven fabric of our communities together, making the city of New Orleans a beautiful garment. Art in its multiple forms connects to the culture of the people. This connection has the potential to yield commerce through capacity-building and training opportunities. It has served as a platform for economic growth and employment for local community members. Art has shaped New Orleans into a world-class city that conveys a sense of the world coming together. If we look to our foundation, our very core – the spirit of inclusion and freedom that horrified some while fascinating others – we can have the beginning of dialogue on how we can continue to find value in our greatest asset of this city – our people – and be the world-class greatness that we profess.

Sincerely,

Timolynn N. Sams

O N T H E C O V E R : A n o t h e r H a p p y D a y i n t h e U p p e r 9 t h W a r d — P h o t o b y S c o t t B i c k i n g

Always Remember fromWhich You Came...

g

NPN provides an inclusive and collaborative city-wide framework to empower

neighborhood groups in New Orleans.

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

NPN Board MembersVictor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood AssociationAngela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood AssociationBenjamin Diggins, Melia SubdivisionKatherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend Neighborhood AssociationLeslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners Improvement AssociationSylvia McKenzie, Rosedale SubdivisionSylvia Scineaux-Richards, ENONACTilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown Neighborhood AssociationVaughn Fauria, Downtown Neighborhoods Improvement AssociationWendy Laker, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Third Party Submission IssuesPhysical 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 DisclaimersThe 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.

CopyrightCopyright 2011 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.

Letter From The Executive Director

The Trumpet Contents4 Trumpet Theme Stories

12 News & Culture

14 Community Health

16 Neighborhood Spotlight

18 Neighborhood Spotlight Organizations

20 Public Policy

21 Intern Spotlight

22 Government & Politics

24 Education

26 Arts & Features

30 Neighborhood Meetings

N E I G H B O R H O O D S P A R T N E R S H I P N E T W O R K

The Trumpet Editorial Board The Trumpet Editorial StaffBarbara BlackwellGentilly Sugar-Hill Neighborhood [email protected]

Brian OpertMid-City [email protected]

John Koeferl Holy Cross Neighborhood [email protected]

Linedda McIverAARP [email protected]

Jeff KuglerAmerican Red Cross [email protected]

Jermaine Smith Uptown Neighborhood [email protected]

Ray NicholsCarrollton [email protected]

Jessica Goines Spears Consulting [email protected]

Becki ChallGlobal Green, USA [email protected]

Melinda SheltonXavier University School of Journalism, [email protected]

Rocio Mora [email protected]

Sherry LecoqLouisiana Public Health Institute [email protected]

Zoé Belden Creative Industry [email protected]

16Neighborhood Spotlight: Upper Ninth Ward

Healthy NOLA Neighborhoods18 14

Community Health

Aretha Frison, Editor Scott Bicking, Art Director

Kathleen Burns, Copy Editor

Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor Lakshmi Sridaran, Policy & Advocacy Editor

Patricia A. Davis & Tia Vice, Associate Neighborhoods Editors

THE TRUMPET | July/August | 20112 3THE TRUMPET | July/August | 2011

4902 Canal Street • #301New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 [email protected]

Arts & Culture Arts & Culture

It is hard to imagine that two people have single-handedly brought together 140 male and female students – with upwards of 600 on the waiting list – from a wide variety of neighborhoods throughout the city. Derrick Tabb and Allison Reinhardt’s vision was, according to Tabb, “to give kids something to do. There was nothing in

New Orleans for kids or families with no money. I wanted to bring kids together from all neighborhoods to learn how to play music. Never in a million years did I think we would have over 600 kids wanting in to our program.”

Roots: The Origin Tabb and Reinhardt co-founded The Roots of Music in 2007 following

Katrina’s devastating effects on marching band programs as well as many other music programs across the city’s middle schools. The Roots of Music was and still is their passion project that has proven not only to fill a void in music education after the storm but also to cultivate a new generation of New Orleans-style musicians.

The Roots of Music is a registered 501(c)3 organization focused on music education and academic mentoring for at-risk youth. It offers free after-school music education for children from low-income families, representing over 40 schools in Orleans Parish, five days a week, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tabb said, “Shortly after we began our pilot program, we discovered our kids needed academic mentoring and a hot meal. We had no idea that so many of our families are without vehicles.” It is evident that he and his staff have truly created a program that speaks to its students, families and their respective communities. The program now provides its students with transportation, academic tutoring, hot meals, instruments, uniforms and a safe place to rehearse – all at no cost to the students.

With all they have put into this successful program, Tabb and Reinhardt hold their students to a very high standard. Tabb calls this his “no excuse policy.”

Be a Man: Hard Work Pays Off “Education opportunities didn’t exist for me growing up. I don’t want

that for my children. I’m determined to make sure each of my Crusaders is given every opportunity in the world to further his education – whether it’s music or not,” Tabb said.

Not only does Tabb teach his students responsibility and accountability for their actions, he also aims to show them what he has learned from his mentors, his Uncle Patrick and teacher Donald Richardson. “Patrick was my uncle and my first boss. I learned how to become a man. Donald Richardson was my band director who helped me understand that there is a bigger picture to life. Giving back, respecting authority, reaching potential was required in Richardson’s class. But he always showed special interest to those who needed it, including myself,” he added.

Tabb makes it a priority to show special interest in all of his students, and makes it a point to commend those who show a level of commitment that surpasses fellow students. Terence Knockum was a student in need of a positive path, and he found it as The Roots of Music Crusaders Tuba and Band Captain for the 2008-2009 school year. He has since gone on to O. Perry Walker High School, where he received the second highest math score on the high school standardized test and is a section leader for the school’s band. Knockum is just one of the many students who motivate Tabb and Reinhardt to work tirelessly, seven days a week, to make sure these young musicians are given everything they need to succeed.

While the students are the stars when it comes to The Roots of Music, Tabb garnered both local and national attention when in 2009 he was nominated as a CNN Hero. A hero not only in the eyes of us locals, but also in the national sphere, Tabb proves how vital and prominent a snare drummer truly is to any drum set or rhythmic pattern. For those who are not musically inclined, it is important to note that of all percussion instruments, the snare drum requires the greatest level of technique and is one of the most demanding to perfect. The determination required to be an accomplished snare drummer is also required, by Tabb’s standard, to be an accomplished man. His activism in the field of music education is vital in order to maintain a legacy of New Orleans marching band music that is fading and to keep the children of our city off the streets. He is exact in his methods and demanding of all those around him to be the best they can be. Spend one minute face-to-face (if you are six-foot-four) with Tabb, and you will instantly feel his intimidating yet docile presence. He explains the personalities of “snare drummers are outgoing and enjoy being comical” – and he is both. He truly motivates you to work hard, learn from your mistakes and realize your strengths.

It’s All in the TechniqueTabb’s versatility is not unlike that of his instrument’s sound. Depending

on the way you play the snare drum and what you are using to play it with, you will get a different sound. Similarly, Tabb is a versatile man:

he is a father, mentor, musician, businessman and the list goes on. Whatever he embarks on, though, he does everything in his capacity to

excel. It is this mentality that both he and Reinhardt possess that has lead to the great success of The Roots of Music and that has also given Tabb his drive to promote his “Campaign to Sustain.” If the organization is able to raise $1 million this year, it will be able to sustain itself for three years. Over those three years, the program will be able to expand and transfer more students from the waiting list into the program. Of course, Tabb and Reinhardt would love to accept every child who fills out an application into the program; but funding is any organization’s greatest setback and The Roots of Music is no exception.

The organization has been the recipient of many generous donations including its current home in the Cabildo, provided by the city and the Louisiana State Museum. Funding is also generated by band

performances; however, as transportation is one of the organization’s greatest costs, transport to gigs is not always feasible due to budget constraints. Currently, The Roots of Music is looking into corporate sponsorships that will help it achieve its “Campaign to Sustain”, to allow more New Orleans youth to be exposed to the world of music and mentorship. Additionally, they are looking “to secure a permanent home so expansion is possible.” Tabb has been traveling the world performing since he was 12 years old, and with his talent he could live just about anywhere in the world as a renowned musician. The concept of a permanent home, however, is very important to him and is the reason why he has stayed local. For Tabb, “There is no place like home.”

New Orleans Music

By Elexa Ruth

It’s a Monday afternoon in Jackson Square and the sound of brass instruments fades as you first walk into the Cabildo. In a matter of seconds, a similar, polished sound fills your ears, and it is only after you’ve heard the marching brass band that you realize the power behind the instruments is coming from children more than half your size.

Spend one minute face-to-face

(if you are 6’4”) with Tabb, and you

will instantly feel his intimidating yet

docile presence.

The Roots of



It was only five years ago that the Musicians’ Village, constructed on the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Alvar and Bartholomew streets in the Upper Ninth Ward, with the support

of big names and nationwide reverence for the area’s musical legacy, gave New Orleans one of its most prominent post-Katrina rebuilding success stories. Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, began an initiative to fill homes that would be erected by volunteers on recently purchased land for musicians who were displaced by the storm. If they met the criteria and were approved, they would receive a reduced-rate mortgage, with no interest; this was a traditional Habitat for Humanity deal, but entirely oriented around the city’s most famous profession. Ground was broken, pictures were taken and doors were opened. To ask how it is doing now, one should anticipate an answer as complex as to ask how the city itself is doing now.

On the surface, the story departs from the city’s own. Unlike New Orleans as a whole, the Musicians’ Village is at maximum capacity. All the houses are built, and all but two are without an owner currently. There are no plans to expand beyond its eight- acre spread of 77 homes. The construction, which began on Roman Street, then reached toward the lake on Alvar Street, and the final blocks were completed on Bartholomew Street in the last couple years.

Margie Perez’s home on the 1800 block of Alvar was one of the first built; you can tell by the fact that the solitary tree in her backyard, planted like everyone’s in the neighborhood as a gift from the LSU Agricultural Center, reaches up to the sky just above those of her neighbors.

“I lost everything,” Perez told me, in regard to what Hurricane Katrina did to the downstairs apartment in Broadmoor where she lived before

the storm. Margie, a singer-songwriter in multiple bands, and a regular act on Frenchmen Street, has become a sort of de-facto spokeswoman for the Musicians’ Village – a role that has allowed her to meet former President Jimmy Carter and President Barack Obama, and even took her to Denver for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

A Musical HomeHomeowners who are approved are

required to perform 350 hours of sweat equity in the construction of their home or other Habitat homes, in lieu of a down payment, and Margie takes pride in her experiences.

“I was involved in every step – except the roof. I got up on the roof once, and I said, ‘I think I’ll leave this to someone who has less balance issues than I do,” Perez said. She was also gratified by the fact that volunteers

were coming to give a whole week of their time and their family’s time – sometimes their only vacation all year – to work on her house.

However, if one looks beyond the newspaper snapshots, Margie’s sense of ownership and home comes from a place that isn’t exactly what you would expect. Originally from Washington, D.C., she had actually been living in New Orleans for only a year before the storm. “Once I qualified for the house here, I said, ‘All right, I really got to step up. I’m a musician, and I was in a couple bands before the storm, but … if I’ve got a house here, I got to really represent,’ ” she added. “I started working really, really hard, and it’s stayed with me. I sing in a whole bunch of bands, and I get to make music with some incredibly amazing people, the way it’s supposed to be here.”

“Survivor’s guilt” is a term she threw out, as we strolled along the finely cut lawns, the uniform houses, and the pastel-colored facades, in what almost seems like a suburban utopia. She doesn’t just refer to the weathering of the storm; one must have good credit or no credit to

qualify for a Habitat home; and, given the nature of the business, many musicians didn’t fit the bill. Margie has always had a second job to ensure against these problems, but the fact that several aren’t so lucky clearly weighs on her.

It’s almost hauntingly quiet on this sunny, humid day in June, as we greet young children on bikes and admire one of Margie’s neighbors’ solutions to a flower problem she’s having herself in her front yard. She hugs a friend she hasn’t seen in a while – Jesse Brunet, who lives between Houma and Pass Christian, Miss. The Musicians’ Village is home to Brunet’s godmother, who is renowned Voodoo priestess Mama Lola. Later, I’ll see Mr. Brunet, his wife, and two young people cleaning their boat outside Lola’s house.

As we walk down Bartholomew Street back toward Margie’s, she stops me and, whispering, invites me to listen. I hear the faint sound of someone practicing drums inside their home. It’s the only sound I hear besides police sirens off in the distance, and birds chirping.

Gabriel Velasco is a Venezuelan-born drummer in a number of bands in New Orleans, including, but not limited to Otra, Government

Magic and Equal Opportunity Employment. He was living in a family home in the Irish Channel before the storm, and his story is in some ways the inverse of Margie’s, having experienced exclusion from good opportunities in the wake of Katrina. For almost a year, Gabriel sought refuge in California because it seemed that the only opportunities for musicians remaining in New Orleans were on Bourbon Street.

“Each club has, in my opinion, sort of a level of how they treat musicians and why they pay and what-have-you, and unfortunately some of the better ones took a little bit longer to reopen,” Velasco told me. He would have stayed in California, too, but his Habitat application was approved, and he came back to New Orleans.

However, three years to the day after he moved into his new home on Bartholomew Street, he had to move out. Why? Because Gabriel was a victim of the Village’s most unfortunate problem to date: the drywall issue.

A Place of Remediation, Tradition & Music for the Future

Musicians’ Village

By Michael Gottwald

As I walked down Bartholomew Street with Margie Perez, a tall, graceful singer who lives a block away, stopped to show me a concrete slab where many of the Musicians’ Village’s most famous residents had scrawled their names. Little Freddie King, Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Bob French, and others had marked the ground beneath our feet as theirs. I realized that I wasn’t just strolling down any New Orleans street. I was inside a kind of residential hall of fame of local musicians.

“Survivor’s guilt” is a term she threw out, as we strolled along the finely cut lawns, the uniform

houses, and the pastel-colored

facades, in what almost seems like a suburban utopia.

Read more about this issue now on The Trumpet Blog at [email protected].



Toya ‘T.Church’ Thomas jumped on New Orleans’ poetry circuit in 2007 and has been going non-stop ever since. In fact, her creative abilities have the 28-year-old poet, motivational speaker and visual artist taking even bolder steps in sharing her purpose-driven artistry throughout the Greater New Orleans region. Within the last two months, T.Church has held two art shows during which she has revealed moments of transparency and undeniable giftedness.

Where writers use journals, T.Church’s former apartment – walls, ceilings and all – became a personal diary for

artistic pieces. These depicted human challenges such as character, pride, ego, fear and finding one’s purpose. In May, she exposed others to that intimate setting during her Open House exhibit. Days later, T.Church made a major personal transition. She plastered white paint across those walls, which held vivid memories of her past, challenges and triumphs and transitioned into a new home.

But she didn’t abandon all. Pieces from her Open House were with T.Church when she held her Live Painting Demonstration inside Mad Soulz clothing store in the Oakwood Mall on June 18. Throughout the three-hour show, T.Church produced four solid paintings for mall patrons while listening to music filter through her golden earphones. With hints of something old and something new, the live showing was indicative of things to come.

“I want to do another visual show with me painting in a public place – a bigger venue and a bigger canvas,” she said. “I really enjoy it, but I’ll wait to see what God has in store.”

Showcases TwoShows in Two Months

Artist Toya ‘T.Church’ Thomas

By Nayita Wilson



YA/YA “Aspirants,” the title given to the 13-year-olds who are just starting their education, must attend at least two days of studio classes, complete three hours of community service per semester, learn YA/YA’s history and core values, complete a list of artistic projects, (such as designing stationery or

participating in an art show) and then apply for the next level of YA/YA-hood: Apprentice.

As Aspirants, they receive artistic technique and portfolio organization lessons to help them finish their projects and connect to YA/YA’s greater mission: “to empower creative young people to become successful adults.” For every piece of art that an Aspirant sells at an art show, the young artist receives half the money earned, with the rest going back to the YA/YA programs that educate them. The longer that YA/YAs remain in the program, the larger the percentage of their earnings they get to pocket. Leave your finger paints at home, because this is serious stuff.

YA/YA’s program model and 23-year commitment to its mission stem from its beginnings as “a true experiment, a singular vision on the part of an individual with imagination and generosity of spirit.” In 1988, YA/YA founder Jana Napoli opened her home studio to a group of Rabouin Senior High School students whose seemingly undirected presence in her neighborhood led her to believe that they needed some purpose in their lives. A few months later, their collaborative masterpiece on surrounding Central Business District building facades turned a solid profit. Napoli had found a novel way to enact an old proverb: “Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Through teaching the Rabouin students that their art passion could be their voice and livelihood, Napoli gave her first students, and all her students thereafter, the agency to direct their futures.

When YA/YAs graduate from the Senior Guild, they are equipped with practiced interviewing skills, extensive business knowledge, experience in marketing, curating, and selling art, as well as the portfolio of work they have produced through their years as students. Senior Guild graduates also possess teaching skills learned through YA/YA’s Urban Heroes program, a school enrichment program where the older YA/YAs design artistic workshop lesson plans and lead sessions in New Orleans schools: a giving-back-to-the-community leadership experience key to life as socially conscious, successful adults. And that success can be seen in the YA/YA graduate statistics. According to their website, 98 percent of YA/YA artists graduate high school; 40 percent continue to support themselves through their artwork; many graduates continue to showcase their work in prestigious art communities; and nearly all alumni agree that YA/YA had a lasting impact on the course of their lives.

to Youth Empowerment and Art

Just Say

YA AY By Shelly Grimaldi

To be honest, when I heard about YA/YA, (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), I assumed it was simply an after-school program for kids who wanted to paint. But I was quickly convinced otherwise when I learned all the amazing tasks that an entry-level YA/YA participant is required to perform.

For more information about the ways “You can YA/YA,” please visit the website at www.yayainc.com. The easy-to-navigate site has an online application to enroll a child as a YA/YA artist, as well as a list of opportunities work and volunteer. There is also a listing of YA Spots, places around the city where the young artists’ work can be seen and purchased.

411 NOLA is the brainchild of Marcia Wall, a world traveler and linguist who is also a professional writer and photographer. In addition to being an artist, an educator and a community activist, she has also worked in the tourist and hospitality industries in a variety of capacities. A French Quarter resident, she loves to share her passion for New Orleans with the rest of the world. 411 NOLA can be found at www.411nola.com. You can reach 411 NOLA at [email protected].

By Marcia Wall

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras

Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest

Cafe du Monde

Cafe du MondeCafe du Monde

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street

Tourist? Local?

Everything You Need to Know

Is Right Here

Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Cafe du Monde, the French Quarter, Bourbon Street. These are the images that most tourists associate with New Orleans. That is no surprise, but there is so much more to New Orleans than what you’ll find in tourist literature. Our music, our food, our cultural

practices, and our art make our city the most unique and interesting city on the planet. The culture and art of this city are its lifeblood.

411 NOLA, (www.411nola.com), a content-rich website that offers unique and practical insider information for everyone who loves New Orleans, celebrates our lifeblood. It offers its readers articles, guides, listings, links, recommendations, photos and more. On its pages, you will learn about individuals, resources, opportunities and events that you might not find out about anywhere else. You get info you want and info you need, whether you are a local or a visitor.

Case in point: Bet you didn’t know that you and a friend can get into one of seven different New Orleans museums later on this summer for free or that, if you are a local college student, it is more likely than not that you already have a free membership to the New Orleans Museum of Art, (go to www.411nola.com/contests/freebies/ for details.) Another example: 411 NOLA has created an up-to-date guide to free Wi-Fi locations all over the city, from the airport to the Lower Ninth Ward (www.411nola.com/visitor-info/practical-resources/wi-fi-hot-spots/). That is useful information for everyone. This is just some of the good stuff 411 NOLA writes about.

411 NOLA is also the place to find out about up-and-coming cultural stars like Beth Trepagnier, a country rocker who wows her audience with her original tunes. Learn about neighborhood joints like the Who Dat

Coffee Café located at the corner of Burgundy and Mandeville in the Marigny, (http://www.411nola.com/2011/05/25/whet-your-appetite-and-then-satisfy-it/).

411 NOLA also helps you to get to know some of your favorite, (but maybe not so famous) people by conducting interviews and writing profiles. Peruse the pages of 411 NOLA and meet Paul Arceneaux, known to many as “the Pesto Guy” at the Crescent City Farmers Market. Another person whom you should know about, (if you don’t know of him already) is the late Drextal Brumfield, a unique character who worked behind the scenes to make Jazz Fest and other cultural festivals what they are today. Mia Borders and Asia Rainey are two other persons who embody the NOLA spirit and whom 411 NOLA has profiled. You can get to know these folks and more at www.411nola.com/category/personalities/.

411 NOLA is different from other websites and magazines because, although it is not strictly a public service endeavor, it is, at its core, about serving the community. That’s why it lists all kinds of events, including those that are off the beaten path. Want to know where to find events and businesses that welcome the LGBT African-American community? Find out on the events page. Want to know where to go for free wine tastings and King Cake parties? Find out on the events page. Want to know what family-oriented events are happening each week? Find out on the events page. New Orleans is a multi-cultural, multi-faceted city with people from all walks of life. The 411 NOLA events page reflects that.

Every day, we find new ways to live life richly, joyously and beautifully. New Orleans is an endlessly fascinating place whose culture is constantly evolving but is always proudly rooted in its heritage. The more you know about the city’s people and their art and culture, the more you know the city itself. 411 NOLA is in the business of knowing and of sharing what we know with you.


News & Culture News & Culture

What a Bright Idea!Light Bulbs Available to Each Home

By Nicole Mabry, Green Light New Orleans Summer Intern

Green Light’s free CFL installation program remains our biggest and most significant focus. Once residents apply for our service, our volunteers drive out to their neighborhood as soon as possible to exchange the home’s more energy-consuming incandescent bulbs for free, energy-efficient CFLs.

CFLs use a quarter of the energy of incandescent light bulbs. Conservation is the reason behind the bulb’s energy and money-saving impact.

In traditional New Orleans fashion, most residents hear about Green Light’s program via word-of-mouth: So-and-so’s sister’s boyfriend had the light bulbs in his home replaced and I’d like to do the same…. I heard about y’all from Carolyn at the community center…. I met your volunteers when they installed at my neighbor’s home…and so on. This connectivity, this “electricity,” can be thought of as an entirely different type of energy generated by community members. A citywide conversation about energy usage carried on by residents and volunteers becomes intriguing and relatable because individuals can make a difference for free. This discussion may open up new avenues for individuals to reconsider environmental issues and the economic landscape of New Orleans.

The greatest part of a Green Light New Orleans installation in any home has always been and will always be the point at which the volunteers are able to tell the homeowners just how much carbon dioxide, kilowatt hours, and money they’re going to save with this single step. Smiles flood over faces, hugs are traded, mutual “thank yous” exchanged. Green Light’s program, at its very best, offers positive energy and hope. There are no financial qualifications for those who wish to sign up for the free energy-efficient light bulb program. Anyone can receive the bulbs and anyone can contribute to the conversation about energy efficiency that is instigated by those bulbs. The electricity doesn’t discriminate, but rather, it is shared and embraced throughout the New Orleans community.

More now than ever before, Green Light New Orleans has the potential to amplify that shared energy and make an even larger impact on the community. Green Light New Orleans is a participating contractor of Energy Smart, a citywide, City Council-driven energy-efficiency initiative. This partnership has greatly increased Green Light’s capacity to conduct installations. In order to fully take advantage of this new opportunity, however, we need the partnership and commitment of volunteers. Our success as an organization today would, quite simply, not be possible without the continued efforts of local, national and international volunteers. Bulb by bulb, home by home, day by day, our volunteers transform Green Light’s mission into reality. Volunteers prove that the positive use of energy through individual actions can create massive change.

Green Light is looking for volunteers to install CFLs in the homes of New Orleans residents. We send volunteers out Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m.–12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. We can accommodate groups of almost any size, but we require volunteers to provide their own transportation. We prefer large groups to provide one car or van with 3 to 5 volunteers. Each car will have its own route of 4 to 8 homes, depending on the length of the volunteer day. Through volunteering with Green Light, you will help protect the environment, become familiar with New Orleans neighborhoods and make connections with community members. Call us or visit our website to sign up! Call us at 504-324-2429, www.greenlightneworleans.org or [email protected].

In 2006, Andreas Hoffmann decided to offset the carbon footprint of his band’s European tour by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, (CFLs) in New Orleans. What started as a concentrated initiative caught on and grew into what is today Green Light New Orleans, (GLNO). In the five years since Green Light’s inception, thousands of volunteers have installed close to a quarter of a million CFLs throughout the Greater New Orleans area. These energy-efficient bulbs have helped residents reduce their carbon footprint by over 110 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and save $12 million in utility costs. The impact that Green Light’s volunteers have made in the New Orleans community is a significant demonstration of the potential for many small actions to accumulate and funnel positive energy toward the larger goal of a more environmentally-conscious city.


Community Health

By Patricia A. Davis, Associate Neighborhoods Editor

Often, while women are not only addressing the drivers of Type II Diabetes but also living in a city where cui-sine and entertainment are a way of life, they may find it difficult to engage in a healthy quality of life. Many New Orleanians not only eat to live but also live to eat.

However, as we continue to address the issues surrounding our every-day lives, we must remember two important factors: physical activity and nutrition. Indeed, the lack of these factors is what drives Type II Diabetes. New Orleanians can continue to enjoy their world-renowned cuisines; however, individuals cannot engage in a sedentary way of life and in poor nutritional habits.

Sistahs Making a Change is an excellent way to address physical activity and good nutrition while focusing on all aspects of health. The program is under the direction of Jamilah Peters-Muhammad, a registered nurse and professional dancer. Mama Jamilah, as she is known by the community and her colleagues, assures that education, health and wellness are delivered to each class. Regular movement is an ideal way to wellness.

Giselle Nakhid, a professional dancer and choreographer, brings energy to the classes with her tireless dedication to the world of physical activity through dance. To provide participants with diversity, her classes offer every genre of movement from African to Zumba. The goal of Sistahs Making a Change is to engage women to discover “the joy of movement.” In addition, nutritious meals are served after class.

Most importantly, Sistahs Making a Change partners with other community organizations that bring valuable resources on developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle while addressing the drivers of Type II Diabetes.

Sistahs Making a Change is located at Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. Carol Bebele, co-founder of Ashé, devised the concept of Sistahs to give inner- city women a place where they could come to exercise and get useful health information along with a healthy dose of culture, the other Vitamin C.

Classes are free and are held every Monday and Thursday. Donations are graciously accepted.

Class ScheduleMondays, 6 p.m., Dance Class with Giselle Nakhid,

and 7 p.m. Health & Wellness SeminarThursdays, 6 p.m., Dance Class with Giselle Nakhid,

7 p.m. featuring a guest artist, (contact Ashé for a current class schedule).

Ms. Ruby Melton, healthy neighborhood leader of the Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association in the Upper Ninth Ward and Desire areas, eagerly shared and displayed the progress of their community citrus garden with members of Healthy NOLA Neighborhoods team.

“We began planning last year in 2010 and actually started creating the garden in 2011,” Ms. Melton noted. Access to fresh fruit and access to fresh vegetables have been concerns for residents for some time now. Though the citrus garden will not provide all of the fresh food the neighborhood would need or like, it is a welcomed addition.

Located on Gallier Street, (between N. Roman and Bunny Friend Streets), the garden is a few steps away from the Bunny Friend Park which has seen the recent positive additions of park benches, picnic tables, recently planted trees and more. The citrus garden is the product of collaboration between the neighborhood association, partners Project Homecoming and the Tulane Prevention Resource Center, as well as a grant from the Foundation for Louisiana to help build their capacity.

At the monthly neighborhood association meeting, Ms. Melton encouraged residents who have not yet seen the garden to stop by to volunteer to help or just to visit. She noted that the garden will soon have park benches where young and elderly residents alike can enjoy sitting in the shade of the citrus trees once they are larger. Until then, residents are still invited to sit in the garden once the benches are in place to watch the trees grow and enjoy the peacefulness of the space.

Thinking of how the positive addition of the garden will provide fruit, vegetables like red and jalepeño peppers, as well as a nice green space for the neighborhood to enjoy, Ms. Melton added that they have also recently reached out to collaborate with another fresh food initiative that is also in the neighborhood. “We just connected with the leader of a vegetable garden that is just a few blocks away,” she said. “He came to our neighborhood meeting and shared with our group what they were

doing and we shared what we were doing with him. We hope to work together in the future.”The progress on the citrus garden, the revitalization of Bunny Friend Park, as well as other neighborhood initiatives will be on display during the neighborhood’s Health Fair to be held July 16 at Bunny Friend Park. Bunny Friend’s success so far is a positive example of how neighborhood groups in collaboration with community partners continue to work towards healthy and holistic neighborhood and community revitalization.

Beta-Web Trainings & Feedback Sessions

On May 31 through June 2, Healthy NOLA Neighborhoods, (also known as Vital NOLA Neighborhoods) held the first series of beta-website trainings and feedback sessions on the web-based resource center that will soon be available to general public. Catholic Charities’ Sojourner Truth Neighborhood Center, (2200 Lafitte Street) hosted the neighborhood association leaders, community non-profits, health workers and others who previewed the site. Participants provided feedback on the ease of use of the ‘Beta’ or ‘test-website,’ and tested the set of functions the site currently offers. It was also an opportunity to preview the types of neighborhood-level data, community-building promising practices, and mapping features that will soon be available to the public at large.

Participants’ questions and feedback ranged from wanting to know more about the various data sources and reliability of statistics to the site’s future maintenance and ways groups and individuals could potentially utilize the resource in a range of community-building work. Beta-training and feedback sessions will continue in early July in preparation for the public launch later in the summer.

For more information on upcoming trainings and feedback sessions, information about the Vital NOLA Neighborhoods initiative, or how to become a potential partner contact Ashley Burg, [email protected], 504-301-9811 or Tia Vice, [email protected], 504-940-2207.

Making a ChangeSistahs

Sistahs Making a Change believes the health and wellness mantra that “If you know better, you will do better.” So come on out and join Sistahs as they wiggle their way to wellness, and dance to their hearts’ content. For more information, call 504-569-9070.

By Tia Vice, Associate Neighborhoods Editor

Bunny Friend Neighborhood Citrus Garden

First Fruits of Hard Work Appearing in the

Healthy NOLA Neighborhoods / Vital NOLA Neighborhoods are part of a community initiative started with partners Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), Neighborhoods Partnership Network, (NPN, and Concordia, LLC.


The Upper Ninth Ward was created when the Industrial Canal was built and divided the Ninth Ward in 1923. The prominent neigh-borhoods that make up the Upper Ninth Ward today are Bywater, Desire, Florida and St. Claude. The rough geographic boundaries of all these neighborhoods encompass the area from the Missis-

sippi River in the Bywater to Chef Menteur Highway in Desire, and from the Industrial Canal on the east to Franklin and Almonaster Streets to the west.

The Bywater neighborhood is the oldest populated neighborhood of the four. Its name comes from the fact that two of its four boundaries are water boundaries. Initially, the area was laid out in plantation-type strips, with the first parcels of land given to private owners by the Company of the Indies shortly after the city’s founding in 1718. By the 19th century, the area had developed into “no less than six Creole faubourgs or suburbs – Danois, Montegut, deClouet, Montreuil, Carraby, and Lesseps – collectively known as Faubourg Washington” (according to the New Orleans Architectural Tour of Bywater, Bywater Neighborhood Association and the Preservation Resource Center). One of the first plantation owners was M. Dreux, who built “La Brasserie”, which was one of the first manufacturing enterprises of the city, and occupied the area that would become Faubourg Danois, the Cotton Press, and the Bourg Montegut, which together formed the upper portion of Bywater.

The Press Street Corridor railroads cut through the Bywater as one of the defining geographic features of the neighborhood. The railroads show the early dedication to the various business enterprises in the area and, most importantly, the cotton press industry. Residents of the Bywater made up a significant part of labor and services for the cotton industry in their neighborhood, and the cotton industry influenced the growth of the area for more than a century.

The ethnic background of the area varied widely through the decades. French Creole was a dominant presence in the early 19th century. There was a very strong German immigration by the mid-19th century – in fact, for a time Bywater was referred to as “Faubourg des Allemandes” (Suburb of the Germans). In the mid-19th century, Irish Catholic churches were built for the burgeoning Irish immigrant populations, and then the Italians and their saints and churches moved into the area toward the end of the 19th century.

The major thoroughfare running throughout the Upper Ninth Ward, from which the St. Claude neighborhood gets its name, St. Claude Street, was originally named by Bernard Marigny as Rue des Bon Enfants (Good Children’s Street). It was changed later to honor Claude Treme, an important land owner of that period.

Farther back from the Mississippi, St. Claude’s neighborhood development came from the slow and steady expansion of the Bywater’s Creole faubourgs and associated industry, which pushed the original residents farther and farther lakeward. Development was slow, however, because of swamp drainage difficulties. By 1910, the Franklin Avenue Canal, Florida Avenue Canal and Alvar Street Canal all provided drainage for the St. Claude area; and by 1950, residential settlement was complete.

The Florida neighborhood also was originally cypress swampland, and its development did not begin until the late 19th century, with most construction occurring after 1920. Railroads initially were built nearby in the mid-1800s, and development plans in the Florida area began soon after; however, drainage, water and sewerage services weren’t proposed until the turn of the century. At that point, several canals were built with the last, the Claiborne Avenue canal, being completed by 1920. Water service increased in the 1920s, and the first sewage lines were built in the neighborhood in 1927.

Development was successful enough that two schools were built in 1937: the William Franz School on Alvar between North Galvez and North Miro for “whites”, and the Johnson Lockett Public School on Law between Louisa and Piety for “coloreds”.

As in many other areas of the country, there was a population explosion in the Florida Area in the post-WWII era, with new house sales directed toward black homeowners and GIs. According to the City of New Orleans Office of Policy Planning’s Neighborhood Profile (1979), “. . . the neighborhood has been impacted by industrial and transportation activities beyond its borders, although it is a primarily residential neighborhood. The Industrial Canal, railway lines and yards are all nearby. It is a cross between an automobile and streetcar suburb, caught between the inner city and the suburbs.”

The Florida Project public housing development began construction in 1942, and, due to interruptions in material production caused by the war, was ready for occupancy in 1946. In the 2000 census, 1,604 people, 399 households, and 346 families resided in the neighborhood. The complex was completely razed after Hurricane Katrina, due to significant damage.

The Desire Area was also cypress swampland until well into the 20th century. Even after drainage began, it was primarily slums and a garbage dump until after World War II, when utilities were provided. The Desire Area was one of the first neighborhoods in the city to encourage black homeownership. Most homes were built with four rooms and with a porch standard on 60’x80’ lots, priced between $3,000 and $5,000. The neighborhood was primarily a transportation and industrial district, with residential development as an afterthought. Desire was significantly damaged during Hurricane Betsy, and it was continually influenced by the Agriculture Street Landfill. Use of the landfill was begun in 1909, and it was designated as an EPA Superfund Site upon its closure in the late 1960s. The area is also extremely isolated from the rest of the city by the Industrial Canal, Interstate I-10, industry and vacant land; public transportation to the area did not exist until after the development of the Desire housing projects in 1956.

The Desire projects peaked in population in 1963 with 12,123 residents. They were also damaged terribly in Hurricane Betsy in 1965. In 1970, the National Committee to Combat Fascism had a violent confrontation with the NOPD, when they barricaded themselves in Desire Project apartments. The Desire housing project was torn down in 2003 as part of the HOPE VI Project, a major Federal Housing and Urban Development plan meant to revitalize the worst public housing projects by redeveloping them as mixed-income developments. Preparations for rebuilding were underway when Hurricane Katrina hit and impacted the area detrimentally.

According to the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, repopulation in these four areas varies widely. In the Bywater, 85 percent of the population have returned, while in Desire (figures exclude the housing project) only 41 percent have returned and in the Florida area 45 percent. St. Claude falls in the middle, with a 77 percent return rate as of June 2010.

Throughout the history of these neighborhoods, there have been social, economic and racial disparities that formed between them. Being closest to the river, the Bywater Area has always been a more valuable piece of property, with the less-desirable cypress swamps behind it that would one day become the St. Claude, Desire, and Florida neighborhoods. In the 1960s, racial tension was thick and often ended in violence between the predominantly black residents of the Desire housing projects and the mostly white residents of the Florida housing projects. To this day, the St. Claude, Desire and Florida neighborhoods are often overlooked in city planning and continue to exist in relative isolation.

With such a diverse history, the entire Upper Ninth Ward continues to fight for post-Katrina rebuilding. As a result, their neighborhood groups, especially NPN members Bunny Friend (serving St. Claude and Desire) and Bywater associations, are among the most active and vocal in the city.

By Nora McGunnigle & photos by Scott Bicking

Upper Ninth Ward


Neighborhood Spotlight Organizations Upper 9th Ward & neighborhood partners working together for a better community. Spotlight Organizations


The Entergy Innovation Center (EIC)

The business incubator offers affordable office, retail and community meeting spaces and technology access which, combined with targeted outreach and programming, aims to foster self-sustaining economic development in the neighborhood.

3232 N. Galvez Street * [email protected]@ideavillage.org

Bunny FriendNeighborhood Association

Our mission is to stimulate revitalization and building through a comprehensive approach focused on neighborhood rebuilding.

P.O. Box 770167New Orleans, La [email protected]

Upper Ninth WardFarmers Market

Holy Angels Church3500 St. Claude Ave.

504-482-5722

Bywater Neighborhood Association

The Bywater Neighborhood Association (BNA) is a 501C-3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to developing community awarenessin and about the Bywater neighborhood.

[email protected] [email protected]: www.bywater.org

The Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association

The Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Associationhas a full board and has been a registered 501(c)(3) since 1998. The goals of the neighborhood organization are to assist with redevelopment of housing stock in the area, to create home ownership opportunities and act as a catalystfor economic development.

504-945-9557 [email protected]

St. Claude Main Street

St. Claude Main Street existsto cultivate, nurture andsustain an economic revival of this historic commercialdistrict. The organization supports and encourages a safe and healthy community, and the preservation of the cultural character of the entire St. Claude corridor and its’ adjacent neighborhoods.

504-616-7637 [email protected]

The Faubourg St. Roch Project (FSRP)

The Faubourg St. Roch Project (FSRP) is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a holistic revitalization of the St. Roch neighborhood.

St. Roch Market

2381 St. Claude Ave.504-943-6666

Meet NPN intern Sarah Bindman. She is a junior from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT) in Boston, studying Urban Planning and Economics. Originally from California, Sarah became interested in New Orleans through her studies at school.Her particular focus is on municipal infrastructure and how neighborhood groups can advocate for better transit services and access to public services. Sarah says she is excited to spend an extended period of time in New Orleans, and to learn from the people and resources here.

During her time at NPN, Sarah plans to work on projects related to transportation initiatives. Specifically, she will review the transportation provided by the New Orleans public schools. Her goal is to see how the system can be made more financially sustainable and equitable. Also, she will assess the planned St. Claude streetcar extension. Sarah hopes to identify mechanisms through which neighborhoods can be assured that they will benefit from the project. Finally, she will be working with NPN to develop a Capacity College workshop in which residents can gain tools to advocate for improvements concerning the New Orleans transit system. Welcome, Sarah!

Srav Puranam from San Jose, California, will be a junior this fall at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT) where she is majoring in Materials Science and Engineering and in Political Science. Hoping to eventually pursue an M.D./Ph.D., Srav is extremely interested in public policy and advocacy, particularly on issues surrounding public health and education.

Recognizing the need that New Orleans has for better policy and services as well wanting to meet and interact with the people of New Orleans, Srav has been interning at NPN and other non-profits in various capacities this summer. She has found living and working in New Orleans to be an extremely vibrant and rewarding experience. For example, Srav has been involved in the Healthy NOLA Neighborhoods initiative,

working with both NPN and LPHI to expand its outreach. Also, Srav is visiting different neighborhoods across the city to develop services directories for them and to raise awareness about healthy food access and mental health, two issues that Srav has become very passionate about during her time in New Orleans.

Additionally, to aid NPN’s Advocacy Task Force, Srav is looking both at how city zoning can affect infrastructure and how the current public school transportation system can be transformed to become a more effective and equitable system.

After her internship, Srav said she looks forward to coming back to New Orleans, and that she would like to thank the entire NPN team for providing her with this wonderful learning experience. You’re welcome, Srav!

On March 23, the City of New Orleans unveiled the revamped summer recreation and job opportunities for New Orleans youth to be offered by JOB1 and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission.

“Creating meaningful summer opportunities for all of our kids is a top priority for our administration,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu recently. “Our best tool in improving our economy and reducing crime is by investing in activities for our youth, which is why we doubled funding for recreation in 2011 and have completely revamped the summer jobs program. We now have opportunities for youth ages 4 to 21, with a new focus on teens. We must ensure that our youth will have world-class recreation, work, and educational opportunities that are worthy of their great promise – now and for all future generations. That’s why this improvement in summer programming is so important,” he added.

This summer, NPN has three outstanding interns from JOB 1. Our interns were selected to join Neighborhoods Partnership Network based on their responses to a supplemental application. They are participating in the city’s Intern NOLA program. This program retains local talent and

engages the private business sector by offering high-quality internship opportunities to local residents ages 18 to 21. All internship positions will focus on research and short-term projects that provide impact to the host organization. Participants will receive a high-quality intern experience in a local business, firm, or public office. Intern sectors include businesses, city government, education, finance, health care, human services and philanthropy.

All of our interns are working in the NPN Resource Library to update our information catalog and resources for our members. Davion Wiltz, 18, of MidCity is working in the NPN Resource Library as a library catalog assistant. Fredricka Woolridge, 16, also from MidCity, will attend the ReNEW Accelerated High School this fall. She is working closely with NPN’s Executive Director Timolynn Sams as an administrative assistant. Maya Singelton, 21, of the 7th Ward, is a graduate of O. Perry Walker High School. Maya will assist in managing Trumpet Media and the NPN website.

We congratulate our New Orleans summer interns and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Beginning as a network of neighborhoods organizing to gain access to recovery resources from the city, NPN has now become involved in shaping citywide public policy. NPN members now have the opportunity to examine issues that they have traditionally addressed solely in their

neighborhoods at a citywide level, through NPN’s Advocacy Task Force. The task force is made up of any and all interested members and meets on a monthly basis to discuss these citywide concerns and formulate ways to resolve them.

NPN’s Advocacy Task Force is run by members who are responsible for executing two citywide campaigns of their choosing this year. With professional consultation from The Alliance Institute on governance and campaign planning, the group has chosen education, (specifically school governance) and infrastructure (specifically the citywide reporting process for problems) as the two campaigns for 2011. The task force has selected co-chairs for each campaign, prioritizing the education campaign first because of the rapid changes in education policy occurring at the state and local levels.

NPN’s Education Action Team has teamed up with the Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) on their One Step Campaign. The One Step Campaign is designed to provide informational resources and best practices to communities around some of the most challenging issues in education. One Step Campaign issues dovetailed with the issues concerning NPN members the most, particularly parental involvement in schools, choice v. neighborhood schools, special education needs, and early childhood education. While the One Step Campaign will provide the informational tools for the Advocacy Task Force, the Education Action Team is also engaged in helping shape the Community Engagement

Process for school site selection that New Schools for New Orleans will propose to the Recovery School District. This process, if done right, can get task force members and their communities directly involved in their neighborhood school selection process.

NPN’s Infrastructure Action Team hopes to work with the city of New Orleans to shape how the city’s 311 stystem can operate most effectively. A 311 system in New Orleans, adopted in most other cities, would allow infrastructure problems, particularly blight to be reported directly to a centralized entity within the city that would then dispatch the concern to the appropriate city department. Ideally, the person reporting the problem would also receive a case number that he or she could use to track progress on how the issue is being handled and then receive a final output.The Infrastructure Action Team is also involved in the city’s budgeting process. By understanding the overall city budgeting process and then focusing on the city’s infrastructure budget in particular, the task force hopes to recommend how city funds can more equitably address capital improvements in all neighborhoods. NPN, as part of the New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance is preparing a plain language guide to the city budgeting process that the Advocacy Task Force will be able to utilize for this purpose.

NPN’s Advocacy Task Force welcomes new members. The meetings are once a month on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. at NPN’s office. There are also special trainings on education and infrastructure issues from our community partners. Involvement in the task force also counts toward volunteer hours to fulfill NPN membership for your organization. For more information, please contact NPN Policy Coordinator Lakshmi Sridaran at [email protected], 504-940-2207.

MIT Student Has Wide-Ranging Look at New Orleans

The City of New Orleans/ JOB 1 Provides Local Interns to Assist NPN

Shaping Citywide PolicyNPN’s Advocacy Task Force

NPN Summer Interns

MIT Student Looks at City Transportation Issues

Shelly Grimaldi studies Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley. She is thrilled to be here in New Orleans interning with NPN for the summer. This is her fourth visit to the Crescent City. She originally came down to New Orleans every summer while in high school to par-ticipate in Habitat for Humanity’s house-building projects. But those visits were only a week long each time. Since arriving for this internship at the end of May, she has been to more festivals, seen more neighborhoods, met more locals, and ridden more streetcars than she did the first three

times. In July, she is looking forward to taking advantage of the free dance lessons at the WWII Museum on Sundays. But, Shelly is beginning to miss her Mom, Dad, little sister Zoe, and three-year-old, pit-bull-mix dog Cami. But Shelly has always loved traveling, and being in New Orleans for the summer is very novel and special to her.

During her internship at NPN, her personal project will be to research food access inequity across the city of New Orleans. So far, Shelly plans to write a report showing how having limited transportation significantly

Berkeley Student Examines How Food Sources Are Energy for All

hampers some neighborhood residents’ ability to buy truly fresh produce. As part of figuring out the unique “food landscape” of different areas in New Orleans, she wants to talk to neighborhood members about what kinds of food stores or sources they want to see in their areas. For exam-ple, some people would choose to support a farmers market while others would prefer to shop at a larger grocer. Shelly hopes the report will be a useful tool to NPN’s Advocacy Task Force when they team up with all you Trumpet supporters to tackle the food-related infrastructure.

In addition to the food access/food justice report, Shelly will be involved in as many different NPN projects as possible. Due in part to her public health background, Shelly firmly believes that the best solu-tions to problems are preventive programs, not to bandage the solutions. And she believes that NPN’s mission to engage and support citizens in creating positive change is exactly the ground-up approach which yields sustainable practices. Thanks Shelly!

Public Policy Intern Spotlight


Trumpet Blog PreviewRead These Stories NOW at: www.npntrumpet.blogspot.com

• Using the Fine Arts to Advocate for Community Change

• Local Rancher Uses Horses to Empower Youth

• Current Government & Politics

• Tips on How to Manage the Perfect Neighborhood Workshop

• Community Photos, News and More!

Hutson has been in office since June of 2010. The IPM’s mission is to improve cooperation and trust between the community and the New Orleans Police Department, (NOPD) through

objective review of police misconduct investigations. By providing outreach to the New Orleans community and making thoughtful policy recommendations to the NOPD and the City Council, the IPM works to promote accountability and to increase the NOPD’s openness and responsiveness to the community it serves.

In addition to the weighty responsibility of taking complaints, reviewing complaint investigations, assessing patterns inside the Police Department and making policy recommendations, the IPM also builds a bridge between the police and the community.

The IPM recognizes the importance of public space and protection of First Amendment rights to publicly gather and to make and express culture. Hutson’s collaboration with the NOPD and the Mardi Gras Indians around Super Sunday is an example of that important piece of work.

In prior years, the Mardi Gras Indian community had a very tense relationship with the New Orleans Police Department. On previous Super Sundays, a sacred event to the Indian community, antagonisms came to a head and the Mardi Gras Indians were not allowed to have the sacred spiritual gatherings they had planned. But, through some groundbreaking work between the Indians, community groups, the IPM and the NOPD, Super Sunday 2011 was a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The Mardi Gras Indians were so pleased that they gave the NOPD a cake. “I’m from Texas, and I’ve never quite seen anything like Super Sunday. It was a pleasure to be there and to be part of a new era of cooperation between the NOPD and the cultural community of New Orleans,” said Police Monitor Hutson.

This single example is just one of many ways that the IPM serves the New Orleans community.

What Can IPM Do for You?• Hear your complaints about NOPD. You don’t have to go to the

police department or make your complaint to a police officer.

• Review complaint investigations. If you don’t believe that your complaint was adequately investigated or you just have questions about how the investigation was conducted, the IPM will review your investigation.• Craft recommendations to improve the quality of services of the NOPD by considering aggregate data from complaints, investigations, community concerns and public policy.• Create opportunities for police and community to know and have trust in one another.

The Police Monitor’s Office is a resource for all people in New Orleans, and we look forward to working with each and every one of you.

How Can I File a Complaint about an NOPD Employee?You can file a complaint with the IPM in the following ways:• Complete the online form at our website http://nolaipm.org and

someone with the IPM office will contact you to follow up.• Contact us by phone at 504-681-3217.• Make an appointment to meet with us in person at our main office

at IPM, 525 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130.• Mail your complaint to us at the same address.• Contact us via Facebook or Twitter @NOLAIPM, and someone will

contact you. • Go to a neighborhood remote intake site. Currently, they are: Safe Streets/Strong Communities, 1600 Oretha Castle Haley

Boulevard, 504-522-3949 and Women With A Vision, 215 N. Jefferson Davis Parkway, 504-301-0428.

You can also file complaints with the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau (Public Integrity). You can file in person, by phone or by mail at 118 N. Rocheblave St., New Orleans, LA 70119, 504-658-6800

With ongoing school reform both at the district and individual school levels, New Orleans has the unprecedented opportunity to ensure that the city’s future will be brighter than ever. A high-quality and equitable school system – one that helps all

students attain high-level critical thinking and opens them up to all life opportunities, regardless of zip code, neighborhood or home situation – is not just necessary for the economic prosperity and public safety of our neighborhoods. It is also essential for the artistic and cultural flourishing that we are so famous for. As New Orleans continues to move forward, our children are going to be the ones to carry on the traditions of the Crescent City’s unique and vibrant culture. They are the next generation of artists, musicians, writers and other citizens who will keep this city going. Essential to this are good arts and music programs in our schools and positive, creative outlets in the community for kids to express themselves. But just as important, I would argue, is play -- pure, unstructured, fun play.

Swiss philosopher and developmental psychologist Jean Piaget believed that kids learn to read the world through play. As a critical component in the cognitive process, play helps kids discover the world, develop an understanding of its rules and conventions, and develop empathy for one another. In other words, it is the process by which kids come to understand the outside world and other people. Reading the world in this way is not only an important step in any person’s cognitive development – it is also essential for the artistic process. After all, what is art if not an intensely personal and creative engagement with the world?

Play has other benefits. In the face of the current, tunnel-vision-like focus on standardized test scores, data suggest that students test better and generally do better academically when they have the opportunity to play every day. Their focus improves, and behavioral problems in the classrooms are alleviated. And when playtime is managed effectively –

allowing children the freedom to play as they wish while reducing the likelihood of uncontrolled conflicts – children do better socially as well, which improves their empathy, their emotional understanding and their decision-making.

I have been involved in the arts, from playing snare drum in marching bands to writing for a theater company, for most of my life. But when I was a child, my life revolved around recess during the day and playtime after school. Every single afternoon after I did my homework, I would ask my mother if I could walk to my best friend Jeff’s house. She never said no. Jeff and I created elaborate sports games, leagues and tournaments, creating a fake sports network called “H&H Sports”, that was also the namesake and chief sponsor of the sports arena we constructed in his basement. In H&H Arena, we played hockey, soccer, basketball; when the weather was nice, we went outside to the open air “stadium” we imagined in his backyard to play baseball and football. We were always playing. These are my fondest memories from my childhood and were essential to my maturation into a well-adjusted, active and happy adult.

Increasingly, though, our children don’t have these same, crucial opportunities for play, either in their neighborhoods or in their schools. It doesn’t have to be this way. In New Orleans and across the country, groups are rebuilding playgrounds so that kids can go play safely in their neighborhoods. And organizations like Playworks – which has been in New Orleans since 2008 and has ongoing plans for expansion into more schools in the city – are working to make sure that kids have the opportunity to play during the school day. Playworks’ name is appropriate: Whether the focus is on arts and culture, public safety, economic development or anything else, a high-quality and equitable school system must be part of the conversation. And in New Orleans, we cannot forget – as we work to turn our system of schools into something wonderful – that play does, indeed, work.

What the Office of the IPM Can Do for YouBy Ursula Price

Ursula Price is the Executive Director of Community Relations for the Office of the Independent Police Monitor.

The Office of the Independent Police Monitor (IPM), an independent, civilian police oversight agency, was created in August of 2009. The office was created by a City Charter amendment that was overwhelmingly supported by New Orleans voters. The current police monitor, the first one publicly selected, is Susan Hutson.

“I’m from Texas, and I’ve never quite seen anything like Super

Sunday. It was a pleasure to be there and to be part of a new era of

cooperation between the NOPD and the cultural

community of New Orleans,” said Police

Monitor Hutson.

The Value of Incorporating Playful Arts in Our SchoolsBy Alexander Hancock

Government and Politics Education


In the article, Landrieu said, “The city’s Sci Academy is one remarkable example of a successful charter school. Sci Academy opened in 2008 with 90 ninth graders entering a rigorous and inspiring environment. More than half of the ninth graders who entered Sci Academy’s

inaugural class had failed state promotional tests, and more than 70 percent read well below the ninth-grade level. Many of these students had missed a full year of school because of Hurricane Katrina, and were significantly behind other students their age. Incredibly, that same freshman class later scored a 76 percent on our state test, making it the third most successful high school in New Orleans.”

Perhaps Landrieu should look deeper into the data related to the inaugural class of Sci Academy. Basically, the school started with 83 students in its inaugural year. That first class cohort dropped to a population of 63 in the second year of existence. By the third year of existence, the enrollment dropped to 45 students. Where did these students go? Do we know the performance level of those who left? Were they higher or lower-scoring students?

Furthermore, while Sci Academy started the year with a student body enrollment of 83 students, they only tested 67 to 68 students in English Language Arts and Math, respectively, for the state’s spring iLEAP test. Where did 16 of those students go by testing time? Landrieu says half of these “90 students failed the state’s promotional test. She said these same freshmen later scored 76 percent on the state test. This is very confusing, since our state test scores are not reported in terms of percentages. Not only is it inaccurate to say these same students scored 76 percent on the state test; it’s also inaccurate to say that these “same” students scored anything on the state test since 16 of the students no longer appeared to be at the school. If these students were at the school, why weren’t they

administered the ninth-grade iLEAP? We don’t know the performance level of the students who mysteriously disappeared from Sci Academy’s rolls by testing time. We can assume that the scores of those missing

students would have an impact on the apparent success or lack of success of Sci Academy during its first year.

When looking at Sci Academy’s data, we do find that 12 students were tested using the eighth-grade LEAP test. It’s safe to say that these 12 students came to Sci Academy having failed the state’s promotional tests, but were promoted on waivers to the ninth grade since state enrollment data does not indicate that Sci Academy enrolled any eighth- grade students in its inaugural year. If these 12 students took the 8th-grade LEAP rather than the ninth-grade iLEAP that could account for 12 of the missing students from Sci Academy’s testing roll for the spring iLEAP. If these 12 students also took the spring iLEAP, then there are only 12 students who failed the state’s test; and we know that 12 students out of 83 don’t equal 70 percent.

Landrieu should double-check her facts regarding the performance level of the inaugural class. Generally, you can’t enter ninth grade if you have failed the state’s eighth-grade LEAP test unless you enter as a waiver student. The Sci Academy miracle is often repeated as an example of the success of charter schools in New Orleans, but there are various inaccuracies in the Sci Academy story as told by Landrieu.

Landrieu’s poor grasp of the facts surrounding Sci Academy brings up the very real issue of the lack of independent review of the charter school movement in Louisiana. We need an independent entity to make sure senators and ordinary citizens have access to accurate data in an easy-to-read format so that they can see for themselves if this charter school movement is successful. I urge Senator Landrieu to refrain from promoting unproven education reform strategies such as charters, and to help provide greater funding for studying such reforms to determine their effectiveness. T

here are a number of ways to cut down on wasted water in the bathroom. Toilets are the number one use of water indoors, and we pointlessly flush away more than we should. A dual flush converter kit, which can be purchased at a hardware store for about $25, allows a conventional toilet to use either a full or

a half flush, depending on need. The kit can be quickly installed without tools. If your toilets were installed before 1994, switching to low-flow or high-efficiency models can save a family of four from 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of water per year, according to the EPA. A new dual flush, high-efficiency toilet will stretch your water savings even further.

More than one trillion gallons pour out of faucets across the U.S. each year. Low-flow aerators can be added to nearly any standard faucet to reduce flow rates and save water, without sacrificing pressure. Aerators act as a sieve, introducing air into the water stream to maintain pressure, and usually cost a mere $3 to $5. They’re easy to install.

Newer bathroom faucet aerators can use as little as from a half gallon to 1 gallon of water per minute.

Conservation measures like these don’t only save water – they also reduce the demand for all the energy needed to treat, transport and heat the Mississippi to make it faucet-ready. Water conservation is an important issue for everyone, not just those in drought-prone areas; and we can all take small steps that will help us save cash as we save water.

Senator Landrieu Wrong on Sci Academy

Charter Schools and Louisiana’s Accountability System

In a recent opinion article published on TheHill.com, a website published by Capitol Hill Publishing Corporation, Senator Mary Landrieu talked about the role of charter schools. I agree that there is a need for a variety of schools, but I was disturbed by an example from New Orleans used by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu.

Landrieu should double-check her facts regarding the performance

level of the inaugural class.

By Laney White, BIBG Community Outreach VISTA

Come learn more at Global Green’s free Green-It-Yourself Workshop on July 26 at 841 Carondelet Street, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Local experts will discuss how indoor water efficiency and moisture control measures can be applied to your home. For more information, call 504-525-2121.

Easy Indoor Water SavingsWater shortages are predicted to hit Louisiana and 35 other states in the U.S. by 2013, according to

a federal report. Luckily, small home improvements and changes in behavior can have a major impact on day-to-day water consumption, saving you money while helping the planet.

Education Education

By Karran Harper-Royal


Capacity College Summer Colloquium ClinicFor more information, email

[email protected]

on Novelist Jerralda Sanders

600 Poland Avenue, New Orleans

Culinary Corner with Simone Victoria at Arts & FeaturesArts & FeaturesCeCe Gets BacchanalW

hen you enter this laid-back, Bohemian-style restaurant, the front of the building serves as a wine retail store. There are up to 400 wines to choose from, and you also can pick from a variety of soft, creamy or pungent cheeses.

Once you have your wine and cheese, you proceed through the restaurant to the courtyard to grab a chef’s menu and to hear the sounds of New Orleans. There’s amazing local, live music playing on stage nightly.

The “Back Yard Menu” has exquisite choices, such as Grilled Octopus Salad, Drum Fish Ceviche or the Chocolate Bark which is served with olive oil, almonds and sea salt – all prepared by Chef Joaquin Rodas, who is the official chef of Bacchanal. He’s there five nights a week, and there is a guest chef on Sundays.

For the past eight years, Bacchanal has been the hangout spot in the Upper Ninth Ward. It is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until around midnight. The courtyard is beautiful, especially when a nice breeze comes through on the night air and makes the flame from the Tiki torches flicker higher or when it blows some flowers off the trees and they float across the yard. This is a perfect spot to go and wind down at the end of the night.

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


The special bond the city shares with musical performance is not lost on visitors nor is it for the locals. Yet, it is not uncommon that the artists we enjoy curbside, corner side and club side are working hard at day jobs to support their true passion by night – creating new music and sharing it with the public. For local start-up company RabbitHole Consulting, the thought that passionate musicians must eke out a living at jobs which do not celebrate their creativity is out of tune with the musical notes of New Orleans.

Born out of a senior thesis project for the Music Industry Studies program at Loyola University in the spring of 2010, RabbitHole Consulting was founded by three friends, David Buttrey of Nashville, Tennessee, Patrick Reagin, a na-tive New Orleanian raised in MidCity, and graphic designer Joe Fleming. As enterprising individuals who shared a mutual love for inventive and ambitious musical exploration, the three sought a way to create a business that made it possible for artists and musicians to follow their dreams sans day laboring.

With this goal in mind, RabbitHole Consulting was formed with the inten-tion of, as stated by co-founder David Buttrey, “keeping musicians from having to work day jobs,” so those wishing to pursue their passion could make their dreams a paid job rather than an after-hours hobby.

Buttrey, Reagin and Fleming named RabbitHole Consulting in reference to the Alice in Wonderland question, “How far do you wish to go?” The company utilizes various techniques, not only to educate the public about the musical talent of their clients but also to educate their clients about the ways they can invest in themselves as a business.

RabbitHole does this by “working with individual artists and bands to create tailored strategic plans to maximize exposure,” Buttrey said, through methods of branding, marketing, social media publicity, print media advertising and website design. RabbitHole seeks to educate artists about the business side of their creativity, “to help bands become aware of themselves as a business” and avoid being taken advantage of by record labels.

Having partnered with a multitude of local musicians and bands such as e.company, Sasha Masakowski and The Session at venues like the Degas

House and La Maison on Frenchmen Street, the founders at RabbitHole Consult-ing are constantly revising, testing, trying and experimenting with new ways to further involve the New Orleans community in what could easily be their neighbor’s musical pursuit.

Buttrey and Reagin’s latest project, Same Art New Direction, or SAND, is a collaborative effort with saxophonist James Partridge aimed at bringing new music from experienced artists to soon-to-be new fans. Sponsored by Rabbit-Hole Consulting and having commenced its first series of weekly musical events at the Degas House in February, the SAND Collective plans to host another series this summer to “connect musicians to one another, and then to spaces in which they can share their efforts with the public.”

Through exposure, education and devoted client-consultant relationships, RabbitHole endeavors to help their clients – the musicians – make careers out of their passionate pursuits, playing the curbs, corners, and clubs of the city.

Whether Buttrey, Reagin and Fleming are drawing up business plans for musicians who seek to survive off their creative craft or whether they are manag-ing bands like local quintet e.company, their driving motivation remains the same – a “passion for realizing the dreams of creative individuals by monetizing their passions” – because, “There are too many great musicians in the city who need to be heard, need to be paid, and need to be respected,” Buttrey added.

New Orleans’ biggest music festival may be over, but local companies like RabbitHole Consulting will continue to work to educate musicians on how to carve careers from their passions, earning a living as well as earning respect for their creative offerings. And, thankfully, companies like RabbitHole will continue to help guarantee that although Jazz Fest is over, both the music and the musician will never stop.

Arts & Features

New Orleans geographer and historian Richard Campanella describes our many neighborhoods as having “soft” boundaries: borders that shift with changing times, residents and purposes. The St. Claude neighborhood is exactly that: As large to some as all of the Upper Ninth Ward minus

Bywater, and as small to others as the narrow commercial corridor along either side of St. Claude Avenue.

For the members of the New St. Claude Association of Neighbors, (NSCAN) their neighborhood is about 100 square blocks, stretching from the Industrial Canal west to Franklin Avenue, and from St. Claude Avenue north to Claiborne – new because no association has represented them in the past, and an association of neighbors because it simply sounds friendlier than the same words the other way around.

Seven St. Claude residents have been meeting for months to shape an organization that will be both representative of and attractive to their neighborhood’s distinct makeup and character. It is a “lunch pail” community of low- to middle-income workers, predominantly African American; a family place, with many elderly and lots of kids; a neighborhood anchored by a foundation of longtime homeowners, with a large and often transient rental population. It is a neighborhood where the challenges of every day leave little time or energy for planning for tomorrow. Until now, that is.

The mission of the organization is to bring neighbors together to collectively define, maintain and improve their quality of life in a

revitalized neighborhood; to serve residents as a source of information and communication; and to preserve the racial, economic and cultural diversity which colors and characterizes St. Claude. The focus of the collective, however, is to strengthen and empower individuals within the community.

While the standard issues facing every neighborhood everywhere will have their natural places on our agenda, zoning and pothole repairs may take a back seat to literacy and children’s health. A ride-sharing program that enables the elderly and single mothers to access affordable, quality groceries may be as important as ensuring plentiful and convenient street parking. Reducing crime may focus as much on quality recreational programs and facilities as on increased street patrols and police presence.

In line with the empowering of individuals, decision making will rest largely in the hands of the general membership. Although a hard-working board and committee structure is designed to keep the wheels of the association rolling, the direction of the organization and its stand on issues will be made entirely by the larger member assembly. Communication will be very personal. In a neighborhood of few personal computers, street captains and block lieutenants will hand-deliver and communicate what websites and e-mails deliver elsewhere.

A hands-on association of neighbors communicating personally and deciding collectively; the power of many enhancing the power of one: that is the New St. Claude Association of Neighbors.

The New St. Claude Association of Neighbors

Announcing a New Creation

By John Messinger

RabbitHole Consulting

Making Sure Musicians Never Stop

Arts & Features

By Rebecca Marshburn

Learn more about RabbitHole Consulting by visiting www.rabbitholeconsulting.com. You can view their blog at http://rabbitholeconsulting.com/blog/.

Photos courtesy of e.company and RabbitHole Consulting

JazzFest is over. For most cities, that would mark a return to normalcy – fewer tour buses, fewer shows, and quieter nights. New Orleans, however, is not most cities.


TheTrumpet

Advertise in the Trumpet!The Trumpet is New Orleans only community magazine written by neighborhood

residents, for neighborhoods, and about New Orleans neighborhoods.

The bi-monthly magazine, with a circulation of 5,000 copies throughout greater New Orleans, has over 110 contributors from our network who is fulfilling our vision of “community voices orchestrating change.”

And, We Would Like to Invite YOU to be a Part of this Symphony!As an advertising partner, you will help us shape each issue’s theme, which also

contributes to the news and stories that affect our city, neighborhoods and residents.

You can choose from either a 1/2, full or 3/4 page, which you will own for the entire year, (six issues).

Whether you want to write something “article style,” or use the full space for a single graphic to highlight a service or event, you are welcome to shape your advertising space to best communicate your message.

In addition, you will also have access to our other communication outlets, including our website, www.npnnola.com, The Trumpet Blog and our weekly newsletter, Trumpet Tidbits, which currently reaches 3,500 readers.

To Advertise, email [email protected]


District A Susan G. GuidryCity Hall, Room 2W801300 Perdido StreetNew Orleans, LA 70112Phone: (504) 658-1010Fax: (504) 658-1016Email: [email protected]

District B Stacy HeadCity Hall, Room 2W101300 Perdido StreetPhone: (504) 658 -1020Fax: (504) 658-1025Email: [email protected]

District CKristin Gisleson PalmerCity Hall, Room 2W701300 Perdido StreetPhone: (504) 658-1030Fax: (504) 658-1037Email: [email protected]

District DCynthia Hedge-MorrellCity Hall, Room 2W201300 Perdido StreetPhone: (504) 658-1040Fax: (504) 658-1048E-mail: [email protected]

District EJon D. JohnsonCity Hall, Room 2W601300 Perdido StreetPhone: (504) 658-1050Fax: (504) 658-1058E-mail: [email protected]

Council Member-At-LargeArnie FielkowCity Hall, Room 2W401300 Perdido StreetPhone: (504) 658-1060Fax: (504) 658-1068Email: [email protected]

Council Member-At-LargeJacquelyn ClarksonCity Hall, Room 2W501300 Perdido StreetNew Orleans, LA 70112Phone: (504) 658-1070Fax: (504) 658-1077

Ask City Hall

Algiers Point AssociationEvery 1st Thursday of the month @ 7pmHoly Name of Mary School Cafeteria

Broadmoor Improvement Association3rd Monday of every other month @ 7pmAndrew H. Wilson Charter School Cafeteria3617 General Pershing St. New Orleans, LA 70125http://www.broadmoorimprovement.com

Bunny Friends Neighborhood AssociationEvery second Saturday of the monthMt. Carmel Baptist Church3721 N Claiborne Ave

Bywater Neighborhood AssociationEvery 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7p.m.Holy Angels Cafeteria3500 St. Claude Ave.

Carrollton Riverbend Neighborhood AssociationEvery 2nd Thursday of the monthParish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal ChurchCorner of Carrollton and Zimple

Carrollton UnitedEvery second Monday at 5:00p.m. every other monthSt. John Missionary Baptist Church, corner of Leonidas and Hickory

Central City PartnershipEvery last Friday of the month @ 1p.m.Allie Mae Williams Center 2020 Jackson Ave.

http://www.centralcitypartnership.orgCentral City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA)Saturday, September 19 @ 2p.m. 1809 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.http://www.myccra.org

Claiborne-University Neighborhood AssociationQuarterly Meetings, time and date TBAJewish Community Center5342 St. Charles Ave

Downtown Neighborhood Improvement Association (DNIA)Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 7p.m.Musicians’ Union Hall2401 Esplanade Ave(entrance through parking lot on Bayou Road and Rocheblave Street)

DeSaix Neighborhood AssociationEvery 2nd Saturday of the month @10a.m. Langhston Hughes Academy3519 Trafalgar Streethttp://danadesaix.org

East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ENONAC)Every 2rd Tuesday of each month @ 6 p.m.St. Maria Goretti Catholic Churchhttp://www.enonac.org

Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood AssociationQuarterly meetings, time/date/location TBAhttp://fdna-nola.org

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

Faubourg St. Roch Improvement AssociationEvery 2nd Thursday of the month @ 6:00p.m.True Vine Baptist Church2008 Marigny St.

Filmore Gardens Neighborhood Association (meet the 4th Thursday of each month)Rouse’s Food Market (Leon C. Simon & Franklin Avenue)6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m.(No meetings in Nov. and Dec.)

Garden District Association1 annual meeting per year, time/date/location TBA

Gentilly Civic Improvement Association (GCIA)General Membership- Every 3rd Saturday of the month 10am Board Meeting - Every 3rd Wednesday of the month 6:30p.m.Edgewater Baptist Church5900 Paris Ave.

Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood AssociationEvery 3rd Monday of the month @ 6p.m.Dillard UniversityDent Hall – Room 104

Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood AssociationEvery 3rd Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m .VOA – 2929 St. Anthony Ave.(meetings on hold until further notice)

Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement AssociationEvery 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pmGentilly Terrace School4720 Painters St.http://www.gentillyterrace.org

Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood AssociationEvery 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 5:30p.m.Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church3327 Toledano Street

Hollygrove Neighbors AssociationQuarterly- Saturdays at noonJanuary 9April 10July 10October 16St. Peters Church 3424 Eagle St. Eage St. and Edinburgh St.

Holy Cross Neighborhood AssociationEvery 2nd and 4th Thursday @ 5:30Center for Sustainability, Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church5130 Chartres, Lizardi and Chartreshttp://www.helpholycross.org

Irish Channel Neighborhood Association2nd Thursday of the month at 7p.m.Irish Channel Christian Fellowship819 First St.http://www.irishchannel.org

Lake Bullard Homeowners AssociationSee website for meeting scheduleCornerstone United Methodist Church5276 Bullard Ave.http://www.lakebullard.orgLake Catherine Civic AssociationEvery 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 7p.m.

Lake Willow NeighborhoodEvery 2nd Saturday of the month @ 10a.m.St. Maria Goretti Church

Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA)Every 2nd Saturday @ 12 noonNENA – 1120 Lamanche St.http://www.9thwardnena.org

Melia SubdivisionEvery 2rd Saturday of the month @ 5p.m.Anchoren in Christ Church4334 Stemway Drive

Mid-City Neighborhood OrganizationGeneral Meeting – Second Monday of every month@ 6:30p.m.Grace Episcopal Church3700 Canal Streethttp://www.mcno.org

Oak Park Civic AssociationEvery 3rd or last Tuesday of the month

Paris Oaks/Bayou Vista Neighborhood AssociationLast Saturday of every month @ 4p.m.Third District Police Station4650 Paris Avenue

Pensiontown of Carrollton Neighborhood AssociationEvery 1st Saturday of the month @ 2p.m.Leonidas House Community Center (under renovation)1407 Leonidas St.Temporarily housed at St. Paul AME Church8540 Cohn St. (corner of Leonidas and Cohn)

Pontilly AssociationPontilly Disaster Collaborative – Every 3rd Wednesday of the monthGeneral Meeting – every 2nd Saturday of the monthhttp://www.pontilly.com

Rosedale SubdivisionLast Friday of every month @5:30Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church4253 Dale Street

Tall Timbers Owners AssociationSemi-annual meetings: 2nd Wednesday of October & April 7p.m. Board meetings: 2nd Wednesday of every other month 7p.m

Tunisburg Square Homeowners Civic Association, Inc.Every 2nd Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m.http://tunisburg.org

West Barrington Association1st Tuesday of every month @ 6p.m.Holiday Inn Express70219 Bullard Avenue

NeighborhoodMeetings


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Neighborhood Partnership Network4902 Canal Street • #301New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 [email protected]


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