We are looking for a million friends to declare their support for New Orleans and surrounding parishes.Friends of New Orleans is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, membership organization for people in the U.S. and abroad who care about the region. Our mission is to advocate for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes, inform people of those key issues that are shaping the national debate and decision making of the rebuilding effort, link individuals who want to help with the communities in the devastated areas and motivate people to take part in the rebuilding effort.
Friends of New Orleans Announces Launch of Forward Cities in Partnership with Aspen Institute and Urban Institute
FORWARD CITIES
A National Learning Collaborative Among Cities of Innovation
Forward Cities is a national learning collaborative project that Christopher Gergen and Friends of New Orleans have launched in partnership with the Aspen Institute and the Urban Institute. Forward Cities brings together donors and key stakeholders, involved in New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland and Durham's innovation/entrepreneurial ecosystems, in a multi-city network in order to achieve the following: a) map and measure entrepreneurial and social innovation activity to determine where there are gaps and strengths (specifically determine where "deserts" of innovation exist); b) share lessons learned, best practices, models and tools, across all 4 cities; c) explore issues of economic inclusion so that the current entrepreneurial boom in these cities does not leave the most vulnerable behind; d) develop more businesses, innovative leaders and entrepreneurs from low income communities and minority communities; e) identify and support entrepreneurs and change-makers in distressed neighborhoods that have demonstrated leadership and talent. The key outcomes that this project seeks to achieve include: 1) increase entrepreneurial activity and connectivity in traditionally disconnected and distressed neighborhoods; 2) create a strong support network between these 4 cities as they go through tremendous transformation; 3) develop strategies to further leverage the work that social innovators and entrepreneurs are doing in all 4 cities; and 4) highlight the great work that is happening in these cities now and, through this multi-city collaborative network, have an impact on national policy and funding decisions.
This two-year collaborative process will include the following components:
Formation of Local Innovation Councils and Innovation Teams: Local advisory councils will be formed in each of the participating cities in order to ensure local input and ownership by the key stakeholders and donors in that city's ecosystem.
Mapping and Research: Map each city's entrepreneurial/innovation ecosystem, while gathering data on the economic and social impact that local entrepreneurs and change-makers are having. This will be done in partnership with the Urban Institute and local research organizations in New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland and Durham.
Cross-City Convenings: Each city will have the opportunity to host a convening so that learning, networking and relationship building can take place. The Aspen Institute will moderate these convenings, in addition to using what it learns from these local donors, entrepreneurs and innovators to inform its new national policy program, the Aspen Institute Center on Urban Innovation. The NOLA convening will be the first convening and that will take place on December 15, 16 and 17 of 2014. Detroit's convening will be taking place at the end of May or in early June of 2015.
Entrepreneurial Collaboration/Networking and Advocacy on a National Scale: This multi city network, in partnership with the Aspen Institute and the Urban Institute and in collaboration with other national organizations and donors that will be involved, will prove to be powerful advocates for sustainable systems change by influencing key economic policy and funding decisions on a national scale.
Open Knowledge Platform for Shared Learning: To facilitate shared learning across a national network of cities and regions, Forward Cities is creating an open knowledge platform in partnership with Issue Media Group that will document lessons learned from the collaborative including multi-media profiles of each of the participating cities.
Congress: Pass the Restore Act and Save The Gulf
For the past two years, Friends of New Orleans has been working with a diverse cross section of key Louisiana coastal leaders* and Global Green, in order to educate people about what is happening along the Gulf of Mexico after the BP Oil Spill. In September 17, 2010, FONO organized a briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to give a voice to these leaders. Following this, on September 22, 2010, FONO presented the DC briefing testimony to a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative Gulf Coast Action Network in NYC. Then on October 26, 2011, FONO took these Louisiana coastal leaders to San Francisco and had them present at an event for Bay Area donors, community and environmental activists, and business investors. And, on March 20, 2012, FONO re-convened the coastal leaders group in New Orleans in order to celebrate the passing of the Restore Act in the US Senate. Based on our work with these leaders, we appeal to the American People to help us move the following agenda forward by:
1. Calling your US Congressmen and asking them to Pass the Restore Act which will be voted on possibly this week, on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.
2. Writing to Louisiana Governor Jindal and asking that the State's Master Plan for Coastal Restoration include: a) meaningful participation and buy-in by local leaders/residents that were affected by the spill in the decision making process and implementation of the plan; b) a requirement that restoration contracts go to the local people, organizations and companies that suffered the most from the spill; c) mitigation for those whose livelihood will be affected by master plan actions such as diversions; d) more in-shore testing and research of coastal and Gulf ecosystems and wildlife; and e) investments in innovative solutions to coastal restoration, such as carbon markets, and for economic development in that region, such as aqua culture and hydroponics.
Please help our message go nationwide by going to the Change.org website and signing our petition. Send the following link to everyone you know:
http://www.change.org/petitions/congress-pass-the-restore-act-and-save-the-gulf
Continue reading "Congress: Pass the Restore Act and Save The Gulf"
Louisiana Leaders Affected by the BP Oil Spill go to San Francisco to Talk about Life in the Coastal Communities One Year Later
San Francisco, CA - Wednesday, October 26, 2011
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Louisiana residents - including fishermen, businesspeople, environmental and tribal leaders - who were affected by the BP oil spill, will offer their insights on recovery work and every day life in the coastal areas today at a cocktail reception which will take place at the Kapor Capital headquarters in downtown San Francisco, CA, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Friends of New Orleans is organizing and sponsoring this cocktail reception in order to give a voice to those who have been most affected by the BP oil spill, and to raise awareness of the amount of work that is still required to make the Gulf region whole again. Guest speakers will discuss the current state of the Louisiana wetlands and coast in the wake of the oil spill; the impact the spill has had on Louisiana fishermen, and businesses that serve or are dependent on the State's seafood industry; the effect on the indigenous coastline cultures; financial reimbursements by BP to date; mental and physical health issues facing those affected by the spill; and the coastal and wetlands restoration work that still lays ahead.
Featured Speakers:
Lance Nacio - Leader in the White Boot Brigade, a Louisiana fishermen advocacy org.
Capt. Michael Frenette - Professional Angler/ESPN contributor, Charter Boat/Tour Co. and Fishing Lodge Owner in Venice La. Marina, Director of Louisiana Charter Board Association
Diem Nguyen - Exec. Director of the Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC which represents and works with the Vietnamese fishing community
Brenda Robichaux - former Chief of the Houma Nation (40,000 strong in Louisiana)
Kirk Cheramie - Manager of the Houma Nation newly launched radio station
Rebecca Templeton - Exec. Director of Bayou Grace, a social service agency serving Bayou Grace area
Diane Huhn - Environmental Outreach Volunteer Coordinator at Bayou Grace
LaTosha Brown - Former Exec. Director of the Gulf Coast Fund a donor that supports these communities
Sharon and David Gauthe - Co-Founders of Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO) which operates in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes
With Special Guest:
Matt Petersen - President and CEO of Global Green USA, an environmental advocacy org. working in New Orleans and Louisiana's coastal communities
To attend this reception, arrange an interview or for more information on the featured speakers and the cocktail, please contact Denise M. Byrne, FONO Executive Director and Board Member, by email (prdenise@aol.com) or cell phone (703-371-7455).
Capitol Hill Briefing Featuring Louisiana Citizens Affected by the BP Oil Spill
Friday, September 17, 2010
10 am - 2 pm
Washington, DC - Key Louisiana residents including fishermen, businesspeople and tribal leaders affected by the BP oil spill will offer their insights on recovery at a briefing on Capitol Hill, September 17 from 10 am - 2 pm, at the Hart Senate Office Bldg. Friends of New Orleans is organizing and sponsoring this briefing to give a voice to those who have been most affected by the BP oil spill, and to raise awareness of the amount of work and resources that will be required to restore the region. Panelists will discuss the current state of the Louisiana coast in the wake of the oil spill; the impact the spill has had and will have on Louisiana fishermen, and businesses that serve or are dependent on the State's seafood industry; the effect on indigenous coastline cultures; financial reimbursements by BP; mental and physical health issues facing those affected by the spill; and the coastal and wetlands restoration work that lays ahead.
Featured Speakers Participating in the FONO Briefing include:
Mike Tidwell - "Bayou Farewell" Author & Head of Chesapeake Bay Climate Action Network
Byron Encalade - Director of the Louisiana Oystermen Association
Lance Nacio - Leader in the White Boot Brigade, a Louisiana fishermen advocacy org.
John Tesvich - Owner and CEO of the AmeriPure Oyster Co.
Capt. Michael Frenette - Professional Angler/ESPN contributor, Charter Boat/Tour Co. and Fishing Lodge Owner in Venice La. Marina, Director of Louisiana Charter Board Association
Father Vien The Nguyen - Chairman of the Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC working with the Vietnamese fishing community
Tuan Nguyen - Deputy Director, Mary Queen of Vietnam CDC
Brenda Robichaux - former Chief of the Houma Nation (40,000 strong in Louisiana)
Kirk Cheramie - Manager of the Houma Nation radio station
Rosina Phillipe - Grand Bayou Shrimper and Elder Leader in the Atakapa tribe
Courtney Howell - Director of Bayou Grace, a social service agency serving Bayou Grace area
Diane Huhn - Environmental Outreach Volunteer Coordinator at Bayou Grace
LaTosha Brown - Exec. Director of the Gulf Coast Fund
Beth Galante - Director of Global Green New Orleans, an environmental advocacy org.
Tracy Kuhn - Director of Louisiana Bayoukeeper, a wetlands advocacy organization
David Gauthe - Co-Founder of Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing (BISCO) which operates in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes
Patty Whitney - BISCO Environmental Advocate
To attend, arrange an interview or for more information on the featured speakers and the briefing, please contact Denise M. Byrne, FONO Acting Executive Director and Board Member, by email prdenise@aol.com or cell phone (703-371-7455). This FONO event is supported in part by the New Orleans Fleur de Lis Ambassador Program (fleurdelis.tulane.edu).
Please click here to view bios and photos of these leaders.
New Orleans leaders go to Aspen, CO to mark the 5th Anniversary since Katrina and discuss how neighborhood leadership is helping the city come back better than before - July 23, 2010
Friends of New Orleans hosted a benefit dinner and discussion, "While Frustrations on the Gulf Rise, New Orleans Leaders Take Action" on Friday, July 23, in Aspen, CO at the home of Alex Kaufman. Over 80 VIPs from the Aspen community attended this special event organized by FONO to raise awareness of the great strides made to date in the rebuilding and restoration of Southern Louisiana after Katrina, and the challenges that lay ahead due to the BP Oil Spill catastrophe. In addition to HBO's hit series The Wire and Treme actor, Wendell Pierce, the panelists included: LaToya Cantrell, President of the Broadmoor Improvement Assoc. and the Broadmoor Community Development Corp., who has become a case study at Harvard University for how to do community development; Denise Thornton, President and Founder of the Beacon of Hope Resource Centers, who has become a model for how communities can harness the power of "neighbors helping neighbors" to come back from a disaster; Dr. Vera B. Tripplett, President of the Gentilly Civic Improvement Assoc. and COO of the UNO Charter Schools Network, whose work is helping the city's public schools become the best in the State; and Father Vien The Nguyen, Pastor of Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church and leader of the East New Orleans Vietnamese community which includes many of the region's fishermen whose livelihood has been destroyed by the BP Gulf spill.
This discussion was moderated by New Orleans native and FONO Founder, Walter Isaacson, President of the Aspen Institute. Please click here to view bios and photos of these leaders.
Since Katrina hit the coast of Louisiana and the levees broke, Friends of New Orleans has helped the city and its surrounding parishes by:
1. Advocating for the Region and Informing Policymakers
Every year FONO hosts educational briefings and panel discussions for policymakers, congressional staff and decision makers, to discuss the progress made by New Orleans and surrounding parishes, post-Katrina, and the challenges that still lie ahead.
2. Linking Local Leaders/Organizations with Donors that Care to Create Opportunities for Action
FONO provides opportunities for neighborhood leaders and local organizations from New Orleans to meet donors and discuss what is working in the recovery efforts, as well as the continued needs of the communities. FONO organizes and hosts educational donor events all across the country.
3. Putting a National Spotlight on the City and Giving Local Leaders a Voice
FONO events highlight key issues for the region's recovery - such as better levees and coastal restoration, good schools and adequate healthcare, safe and vibrant neighborhoods - that generate national media attention. FONO makes it possible for local leaders to tell their stories of how they are making New Orleans a better place to live, and the challenges they face on the road to recovery.
"New Orleans - The Business and Social Entrepreneur Revolution" 2010 FONO Events Will Celebrate What People with Vision and Passion Can Accomplish on April 6 in San Francisco and in Los Angeles (Date TBD)
The purpose of these April FONO California events is to educate business leaders, investors and donors in California on the business and social entrepreneur movement in New Orleans that is capturing everyone's imagination. (Made the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine - "New Orleans: Four Years After Katrina, Entrepreneurs are Reconstructing the Iconic City" Aug 09, NY Times - "Entrepreneurs Leverage New Orleans's Charm to Lure Small Business" Jul 09, Wall St. Journal - "Entrepreneurs Take to Big Easy" Aug 09.) The two FONO events will highlight the cool and exciting things that are happening in New Orleans and, in the year of the 5th anniversary of Katrina, will celebrate how far the city has come. The LA event will feature James Carville (CNN Political Strategist and FONO Founder), Taylor Hackford (Academy Award Winning Film Director and FONO Board Member) and Harry Shearer (Comedian, Actor, Musician and FONO Board Member). New Orleans leaders behind the business entrepreneur movement who will be highlighted at both events include: Michael Hecht (President of GNO Inc.), Tim Williamson (President of Idea Village), plus the CEOs of 4 local startup companies that have gone national including Matt Wisdom of TurboSquid, Robbie Vitrano of NAKEDPizza, Chris Laibe of the Schedulist and Stacey Danner and Lea Keal of Sustainable Environmental Enterprises. Social entrepreneurs that FONO will also highlight at both events include: Beth Galante (Executive Director of Global Green New Orleans), Pat Cooper (President of the Early Childhood and Family Learning Center Foundation) and Phyllis Landrieu (Leading NOLA Early Learning & Child Advocate), Kyle Wedberg and Sally Perry (President/CEO and Executive Director of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts), and Dr. Benjamin P. Sachs (Dean of the Tulane Medical School and leader behind the Tulane Community Health Clinics).
For more information on these incredible NOLA entrepreneurs and the fascinating work they are doing, Click Here.
The San Francisco after work reception and talk on April 6 is by invitation only and will be limited to Bay Area business leaders and investors, in addition to corporate, foundation and individual donors who are interested in learning more about what is happening in New Orleans. The Los Angeles VIP reception and benefit dinner (date TBD) will take place at a Hollywood home and will be open to all FONO donors and sponsors. Sponsorship levels for the Los Angeles VIP reception and benefit dinner are available at the $1,000 and up levels. For information on how you can sponsor and/or attend these events, please contact FONO Acting Executive Director and Founding Board Member, Denise Byrne at prdenise@aol.com.
FONO Visits with Leaders Behind the Central City Renaissance - October 24-30, 2009
From
October 24-30, FONO Acting Executive Director, Denise Byrne met with the key
neighborhood leaders and organizations that are doing work in Central City plus
the funders that are supporting this work. Right now the Central City area of New Orleans is undergoing
a renaissance of sorts thanks in part to the major investments being made by
large national foundations such as Ford and Kellogg, in addition to local and
regional funders such as the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) and the
Foundation for the Mid South.
During this visit FONO met with the following nonprofit and neighborhood
leaders to learn more about what is happening with Central City so that FONO
can begin to put a spotlight on their work and get others to get involved. These included: Phyllis Cassidy/Good Work Networks - They do micro enterprise
development with an equity focus. Kysha
Brown and Saundra Reed/Central City Renaissance Alliance - Think of themselves as the
leaders and conveners in the neighborhood. Carol Bebelle/Ashe Cultural Arts Center - Vibrant African American cultural
arts center and a key player in the neighborhoods development. Lynette Colin/OC Haley Blvd Merchants
Assoc - Working to make the OC Haley Corridor a
cultural, historical, business corridor and the "spine" of the neighborhood. Craig Cuccia and Sister Mary Lou/Café
Reconcile - Best
place to have lunch and a key player rehabilitating the neighborhood and
putting people back to work. Douglas
Evans and Jay Banks/Dryades YMCA - Run one of the neighborhood's charter schools and provide
training and support to families so that they can become self-sufficient. Patrick Cooper/Mahalia Jackson Early
Learning Center - Renovating
an existing building into an early learning center with a neighborhood resource
center which will do outreach work to every family in Central City. Una Anderson, Linda Pompa, Shawn Escoffery
and Jocquelyn Marshall/CJ Peete -This is a huge mixed income housing development project in
the heart of Central City where the CJ Peete projects stood before. Audrey Browder/Central City Partnership
- This is the neighborhood
association for Central City.
Funders involved in
Central City that FONO met with and spoke to about Central City include: Dr. Albert Ruesga and Ellen Lee - Greater New Oreans Foundation
(GNOF), Joan Coulter
- Reily Foundation,
Patty Riddlebarger
- Entergy, Flozell
Daniels - Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Byron Harrell - Baptist Community
Ministries, Ashleigh Gardere - JP Morgan Chase, Dr. Ivye Allen - Foundation for
the Mid South, William
Buster - Kellogg Foundation and Jerry Maldonado - Ford Foundation.
FONO Board Members and Local Partners Present at The Great Mississippi River Symposium - New Orleans, October 25, 2009
The Great Miss. River Symposium was an international event organized by the Greek Orthodox Church and included dignitaries and attendees from all over the world. FONO Board Members, John Barry and Denise Byrne were asked to present as panelists. There were also several FONO local partners that also made presentations during the conference including: Anne Milling/WOS, King Milling/America's Wetland, Beth Galante/Global Green New Orleans, Charles Allen/Holly Cross Neighborhood, and Sandy Rosenthaal/Levees.org.
For transcripts and videos of this entire conference go to http://www.rsesymposia.org.
FONO Works with Deutsche Welle Radio to cover New Orleans' Rebirth Story in Europe during the 4th Anniversary of Katrina - August 2009
FONO Acting Executive Director, Denise Byrne, met with Christina Bergmann, Washington DC correspondent of Deutsche Welle Radio, one of the most important radio station in Germany. FONO gave Christina information on key issues still faced by the residents of the NOLA metropolitan region on their road to recovery plus put the correspondent in direct contact with key NOLA leaders whom she interviewed the week before the 4th Anniversary of Katrina. These included: Janet Woodka (Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding), Sarah Usdin and Tony Recasner of New Schools New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell of Broadmoor, Father Vien of East New Orleans, Dr. Benjamin Sachs of Tulane Medical School and John Barry, Head of the New Orleans Levee board and FONO board member. As a result of these meetings, Deutsche Welle Radio ran three major stories on German radio the week of August 29, 2009 which ran all over Europe and were also covered in part by National Public Radio in the US.To view these articles and hear the
audio reports in German go to the following links:
Article #1: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4607813,00.html.
Audio for Article #1: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/episode/0,,4490422,00.html?maca=de-podcast_fokus-welt-1698-xml-mrss
Article
#2: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4607945,00.html.
Audio for Article #2: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4602356,00.html.
Article
#3: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4652179,00.html.
Audio for Article #3:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4655924,00.html
"Housing, Education and Health in New Orleans Today" FONO Event at the Aspen Institute in Colorado - August 12, 2009
This
event helped to highlight the complex issues that the Greater New Orleans
region still faces on the road to recovery, in addition to celebrating the
progress that local leaders and residents have accomplished. Distinguished
panelists included Dr. Benjamin Sachs (head of Tulane Medical School) and Dr. Jim
Doty (Stanford
University Professor of Neurosurgery, on boards of Tulane University and FONO)
who spoke about the role of community health care clinics in giving residents
much needed access to basic and preventative medical services. Tony Recasner (Chairman of the Board
of New Schools New Orleans, and Vice Chair of the Greater New Orleans
Foundation) and Dr. Albert Ruesga (President/CEO, Greater New Orleans Foundation)
spoke about New Orleans transforming its schools and neighborhoods, and
becoming a model for the rest of the nation. "The City had one of the nation's worst public school
systems but, in the wake of Katrina, neighborhoods have been taking their
schools back. Sixty percent of the
city's children now attend a public charter school, neighborhoods have taken
ownership of their schools and test scores are on the rise," Recasner said. Allison Plyer of the Greater New
Orleans Community Data Center said that 90% of pre-Katrina residents have moved
back to their homes and Kristin Palmer (Executive Director of Rebuilding
Together New Orleans) spoke about the incredible rebuilding effort that is seen
throughout the city and the role of nonprofits and volunteer programs such as
AmeriCorps in these efforts. Karen
Gadbois
(Carrollton Neighborhood Leader and Watchdog Blogger) and Harry Shearer (comedian, actor,
musician, New Orleans resident and celebrity blogger) spoke about civic
engagement and holding the government accountable for its actions and promises.
The event was moderated by Walter Isaacson (President/CEO of The Aspen Insitute and
FONO Founder) and the MC for the evening was Stephen DeBerry (CIO at Kapor
Enterprises and FONO Board Chair).
Janet Woodka, the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, under
the Dept. of Homeland Security, spoke about the new administration's efforts to
better coordinate the release of funds and to reduce friction between local,
state and federal agencies. Following
the talk at the Aspen Institute, these New Orleans leaders were recognized and
celebrated at a VIP reception and benefit dinner with FONO donors at the home
of Alex Kaufman.
For
a video recording of this FONO event "Housing, Education and Health in New
Orleans Today" please go to the following link
http://vod.grassrootstv.org/vodcontent/8362-1.wmv
An
article on this event by the Aspen Daily News can be viewed at http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/136071
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano queried by FONO on the future of South Louisiana - June 3, 2009
On June 3rd Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, spoke at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC. The talk "Homeland Security Today: Progress Made; Challenges Remain", was moderated by Clark Kent Ervin, a former FONO board member and current Director of the Aspen Institute Homeland Security Program. Before attending the event, FONO Acting Executive Director Denise Byrne solicited ideas for appropriate questions/comments from several Louisiana leaders working on coastal rebuilding and levee protection, and got suggestions from Ann Milling (founder, Women of the Storm) and John Barry (author, Rising Tide and FONO board member). Based on their feedback, Denise asked the following questions to the DHS Secretary: "Is keeping the New Orleans and surrounding parish residents safe a priority for you? Why hasn't the current administration shown that rebuilding New Orleans is important? The president has not visited New Orleans since he was elected. And right now there are $6-$8 billion in protection and rebuilding projects in the state, within 2 years of turning shovel, yet the administration has only committed $25 million for this specific purpose." Secretary Napolitano answered by describing her last trip to New Orleans with the HUD secretary, and she spoke about removing bottle necks to the federal dollars, the monies being put into housing and getting people out of trailers, etc. Unfortunately, not much was said about coastal restoration, levees or the Corps.
FONO surveys key New Orleans neighborhood and nonprofit leaders on the focus of their work and their needs moving forward - April 6-12, 2009
From April 6-12, 2009 FONO board members reached out to and met with leaders from 7 neighborhood groups representing various parts of New Orleans and surrounding parishes (Mid City, Lakeview, Plaquemines Parish, East New Orleans, St. Bernard, Holy Cross/Lower 9th, Broadmoor and Gentilly) and 13 local organizations working on education, rebuilding, coastal restoration and levee protection, economic development, green initiatives and more (New Schools New Orleans, Beacon of Hope, New Orleans Institute, Women of the Storm, Americas Wetland, Neighborhood Partnerships Network, Levees.org, Idea Village, New Orleans Creative Arts Institute, St. Bernard Project, Global Green, Operation Comeback/PRC, Rebuilding Together New Orleans). Information gathered from these meetings will help shape FONO's work and advocacy message moving forward.In a letter to the FONO Board of Directors, Acting Executive Director, Denise Byrne stated the following observations: "There is a lot of excitement and energy throughout. In the words of Tim Williamson, President of Idea Village, the city of New Orleans is an incredible laboratory for social innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. All of these neighborhoods and nonprofits have been able to accomplish amazing things, under incredible stress and with scarce resources and a lack of capacity. Many have developed cutting edge models for how to do things right and they want to share it with others around the world. Whether we are talking disaster recovery, citizenry engagement and leadership, economic development, public school reform, green building, arts and science education, or the power of volunteerism, New Orleans is setting the trend for the rest of the nation to follow."
FONO Hosts Nonpartisan Benefit Events at National Party Conventions - August and September 2008
During the week of the third anniversary of hurricane Katrina, Friends of New Orleans hosted benefit events at both the Democratic and Republican national party conventions to showcase the best of Louisiana food and music, while calling attention to the ongoing rebuilding effort and the immediate need to prevent further loss of Louisiana's coastal wetlands.For more information on the events, click here.
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans Receives FONO's 'Hero of the Storm' Award - June 27, 2008
FONO today announced that Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, a local group responsible for many successful regional reforms post hurricanes Katrina and Rita will receive FONO's 'Hero of the Storm' award.
Formed shortly after the storms in November 2005, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans is a voice for change and renewal for Greater New Orleans and Louisiana. The group serves as a platform and resource for citizens to take action to rebuild Greater New Orleans. Its founders, a group of citizens who were enraged after the state legislature failed to pass levee board reforms after the storms, have brought about positive regional change.
Briefing on Efforts to Save Louisiana's Coast - June 17, 2008
FONO teamed up with Environmental Defense Fund for a day of activities on Capitol Hill to bring attention to the urgent need to restore Louisiana's disappearing coastline. The series of events included a briefing in the Senate Russell Building on the status of coastal Louisiana wetlands restoration, and efforts to restore the damage caused by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO).Continue reading "Briefing on Efforts to Save Louisiana's Coast - June 17, 2008"
St. Bernard Project Receives FONO's Hero Award - May 3, 2008
Today, at a construction site for local nonprofit St. Bernard Project, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) presented the organization with a Hero of the Storm award for its efforts to help the residents of St. Bernard parish rebuild and move back to their homes post hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The St. Bernard Project has been chosen as the fourth recipient of the award by Friends of New Orleans (FONO), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that advocates for New Orleans and its surrounding parishes.
Continue reading "St. Bernard Project Receives FONO's Hero Award - May 3, 2008"
DC Briefing on New Orleans' Cultural Recovery - February 12, 2008
Experts and leaders from community groups driving the effort to preserve the distinctive architecture, arts, music and cuisine of Louisiana shared their perspectives on the state of the region's cultural recovery in a Washington, DC briefing organized by FONO on February 12, 2008. The briefing took place one week after Mardi Gras, after visitors from all over the world traveled to New Orleans to take part in the celebration, and enjoy the traditional food, music and art found only in this region.Continue reading "DC Briefing on New Orleans' Cultural Recovery - February 12, 2008"
The Clock Is Ticking for the Wetlands
In his article The Clock Is Ticking for the Wetlands, Times Picayune reporter Bob Marshall outlines what Governor-elect Bobby Jindal should do to immediately address the issue:-- He should lead an effort to give the CRPA quick-take authority over private property so projects that have been -- and will be -- delayed for years can move forward quickly enough to make a difference.
-- He should quickly move forward a plan to sell bonds on the future offshore revenue so the state will have money on hand to move forward projects without waiting for federal funding.
-- He should move aggressively to tap even more sources of revenue from energy industries that transport their riches through our state.
-- He should quickly increase the budgets and staff on the state agencies that research land titles, as well as those that will have a hand in planning and building projects.
-- He must quickly lead our congressional delegation in a national effort to have Louisiana's coastal projects taken out of the Water Resources Development Act and moved through Congress as a separate piece of legislation.
