Neighborhood Spotlight

May 9, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Patrick Braud

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

6 years

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

My neighbor told me about the Central Carrollton Association and the volunteer opportunities they had to help out in the neighborhood. I started out volunteering with the Tree planting committee and my involvement grew from there. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

The location. We really aren’t close to anything but it feels easy to get everywhere. I also love that we are at the start of the St Charles street car, cause there is always a seat when we get on.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Enhanced Airbnb regulation was a big focus of our organization a couple years back and we were happy to see what the council and city implemented. While the enforcement of the rules may be subpar so far, it feels good to know that we have taken major steps toward curbing the impact these Short Term Rentals are having on the cities housing stock and affordability. 

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Keep on, keeping on. When things are feeling incredibly frustrating and hopeless, just relax and try to enjoy the process and people involved. Positive change never happens over night and staying the course will go along way. 

April 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Commelita McKee

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

25 years 

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I started by getting involved with my homeowners association and then in 2021, applying to and graduating from, the New Orleans Civic Leadership Academy.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I live in Lake Barrington and I absolutely love the beauty, serenity and peacefulness of the lake. I love the family friendly nature of the neighborhood. I love that people move here, and stay for decades  here and still come back to this neighborhood.  We are under a 30 minute ride to the airport and everything in between. 

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I actually consider all of New Orleans East(NOE) my neighborhood. It was my stomping ground when I was in high school at Ursuline Academy. I have been successful in fostering a love and pride of  my greater  NOE “neighborhood”by spearheading efforts to clean it up and keep it clean. I created the New Orleans East Resident Volunteer Illegal Dumping/Code Enforcement Task Force(a subcommittee of Nee Orleans East Matters Coalition).  The goal of the Task Force (TF) is to find and track illegal dumping and code enforcement infractions in our areas. Volunteers are asked to take ownership of several neighborhood blocks, monitor it on a schedule convenient to them and 311 reports that the TF tracks on a spreadsheet. Our TF team, Terrance Neely, Desha Greely and Tricia Mims, have been extraordinarily successful in heightening visibility of outstanding 311 ticket issues and problematic 311 processes by creating and sharing with city council members our data set report extracted from the 311 system. We’ve heightened awareness of tire dumping and partnered with state agency Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality(LDEQ), our councilman’s office and city leadership to get things cleaned up. We have seen success with getting LDEQ involved in the cleanup behind  Eastover Subdivison, getting  Michoud Blvd cleaned more than once and the tires dumped on the street behind the old Lowes building cleaned up more than once. We have located tire dumping sites and funneled  that information to Alex Pavlakis at the Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board to ensure that they are tested and treated until picked up by Sanitation.  We’ve been successful in expediting the long overdue clean up of the old St. Simon Peter school site at 7600 Gannon Road.  We’ve seen tire clean ups along the I-10 Service Roads, but sadly, illegal dumpers thwart our efforts by finding new spots or re-dumping in old ones. BUT, WE WILL NOT BE DETERRED!!  We have already begun to bifurcate our efforts to finding and helping institute stricter preventative measures at both the federal, state and city level to hopefully prevent this once and for all.  

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

Three major things. First, we’re hoping that a suggested change to the 311 “resolution” email be adopted. Instead of sending an email advising residents that their 311 issue has been resolved, we are advocating that that email instead “ASK” if the issue has been resolved.  This will give the power to the resident to confirm and keep contractors accountable.  Second,  we’re currently focusing heavily on Operation Turn! On! The! Lights!  This initiative is just what it says. We want all of the lighting that has been out for years in corridors in the East, turned on. I moved back home in 2019, and there is patchy lighting on the interstate from the base of the high-rise to Bullard Avenue, Crowder exit streetlights, Morrison Road from Read Road to Wright Road and every exit off of 510 into the East is out. And coincidentally, it is an area where some of the most egregious tire dumping is occurring. We have been really really encouraged and are grateful for conversations with both Councilman Thomas’s and Councilman Giarusso’s offices to ensure that the lighting is fixed, hopefully before hurricane season commences in June.  Lastly, we’re working with LDEQ and Councilman Thomas’s office to get the tires dumped on Dwyer Road cleaned up. 

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

If you really care, get involved: make inquiries, send emails, build partnerships, shake up the status quo.  Don’t assume someone else is out there advocating for the changes you want in your neighborhood. Sometimes “someone” has to be YOU!

March 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Nick Harris

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have lived and worked in my community and the City of New Orleans for over 40 proud years, and for 33 years as an employee at Dillard University located in the Heart of Gentilly.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Having the privilege of working in the administration of Mayor Ernest "Dutch" Morial as Director of Minority Business and learning the history this great city,  up to this date as Director of Community and Church Relations at Dillard University and realizing the contribution Dillard has made to Gentilly and the City of New Orleans.  Dillard University was commited to helping in the revitalization and repopulation of the City of New Orleans in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The Office of Community and Church Relations was created in January 2006 to assist in the massive recovery effort of bringing vital resources such as health services, home repair, youth programs, financial assistance, and many more to the front doors of the residents.  Realizing that most curcial services where not located in our immediately community Dillard University hosted several townhall meetings,  business breakfasts, business lunch meetings and receptions for corporate private and public sector organization to come to tour the Gentilly neighborhood and hear the voices of the residents on how we could all partner together to created a model community.  Dillard University Community Relations created an Advisory Board consisting of neighborhood associations in close proximity to our campus to understand and act upon the concerns the residents were faced with upon their return to the community and how we can obtain resources to help in rebuilding "better" and repopulate this Jewel of a community called Gentilly. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

The history, the charm, located in the center of New Orleans and the fact that we have several higher educational institutions in Gentilly.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Created an annual Housing, Health and Community Resources Fair which is now in its 15th year, created community gardens at several churches, opened a the Dillard University Community Resource Centers for neighborhood association to host meetings, erected neighborhood signage at the entrance of ten neighborhoods in Gentilly, installed pole signage along Gentilly Blvd. welcoming visitors to Gentilly and encouraging residents and visitors to shop in Gentilly.  

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

Sponsoring COVID-19 Vaccination locations in Gentilly and throughout the City of New Orleans in underserved communities, sponsoring and hosting webinars for Small Businesses, organizing community Broadband Technology Classes at Dillard University and several churches in the area, and many more outreach programs.

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Get involved with your neighborhood association.  There's still a lot of work to be done.  If you are looking for a location to host the meetings please remember that the Dillard University Community Resource Center is the location for all your activities.  

February 7, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Julie Whiteman

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have lived in the St. Roch neighborhood for a little over ten years.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I first started getting involved through my church, St. Roch Community Church. Our church is very involved in the life of our community. Eventually FSRIA started hosting their meetings at the church and that’s how I learned about and started serving with the neighborhood association.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

The people!! St. Roch is a beautiful and unique community of the best people you’ll ever meet! It’s full of neighbors who look out for one another, truly care for one another, and also love to have fun!

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

One of the successes of FSRIA is simply our monthly meeting where we have built a strong network of city departments and community organizations that show up every month to serve our community and share information and resources. It’s a place where questions can get answered and action can be implemented. I like to think it’s also a fun and welcoming place to be as we try to have local for dinner each month and try to sprinkle some fun activities in as well.

Each year we host a Back to School Jam event in August and Night Out Against Crime event in October. These events have been huge successes in bringing together and serving our community. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

This year we are really focusing on growing FSRIA as an organization by building on many of the things we are already doing. We are implementing committees again as we empower leaders in the community to bolster their efforts with FSRIA’s support and opportunities for expanding projects and initiatives by adding more people to a formal and organized committee. The two committees we are focusing in on are the Green-space Committee and the Blight Committee.  

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Listen and collaborate. It’s important for us to really listen to one another and work together in such a way where everyone’s voice can be heard, respected, and valued. This is the recipe for beautiful and powerful change. 

Seek out and reach out to those whose voices tend not to be heard as loudly. Especially the elderly within our communities.

There are so many wonderful people - old, young, and in between - in all of our communities who have great ideas, passions, talents, and gifts to offer in serving our neighborhoods. We must work together, lift one another up, and encourage one another as we care for our communities.

January 10, 2022 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Candes Carter

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

My Great-Grandparents owned a home in District B on Fern Street, and I've always had a love for the people and this community for over 10+ years.  

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

My journey started after participating in the 6-week Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) offered through the Neighborhood Engagement Office, and as
a founding member of Together Gert Town Neighborhood Association and current President.  We offer an opportunity for the Gert Town community to bring forth their concerns, providing direction and connecting them to resources to resolve their issues.  

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I love that our community is a very close knit village devoted to supporting the needs of our children and neighbors.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

There were many successes in the last year, but I am most proud of us creating safe spaces for kids to enjoy wellness activities from swimming at the Gert Town Natatorium by hosting Gert Town Day August 2021 in partnership with CMHDRE Xavier University, Lagniappe Pharmacy, NOLA Ready, Resilience Force, August 2021 and Community Skate and Trunk -or- Treat in partnership with United We Skate 504, October 2021.  Additionally, receiving our first round of funding from New Orleans Business Alliance, December 2020, canvassing the neighborhood to increase voter turnout, September 2021, Neighborhood Cleanup at The Gerttown Park (Norwood Thompson Park), September 2021, Providing Hurricane Ida Relief in partnership with Resilience Force, Councilman Jay Banks and Senator Karen Carter-Peterson, September/October 2021.      

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

We are continuing to build out more wellness opportunities for our youth, increasing the voter turnout in our precinct through education, and continuing to build relationships with community members and supporting our local businesses.  We are hosting our first community meeting of the year Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 6pm - 7:30pm at The Gert Town Community Center (3425 Audubon Court, New Orleans, La, 70125).  Feel free to stop by.  

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Always lead with authenticity, integrity and be transparent.  

November 9, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Bishop Lester Love

When did The City of Love open in the Hollygrove neighborhood?

We made our home in Hollygrove in 2011 after a couple years of renovations in our current building which was previously a catholic church and school.

HOW DID YOU first GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Since our initial move we have provided resources to the community around our ministry and throughout the city. We started by placing door knockers around to let the people know that we were here to serve. In the years since, we have partnered with many organizations to assist in our community projects. This includes local and national grocery stores, department stores, food brands, attorneys, politicians, and community partners. One of our major events was a Conrad Park Thanksgiving giveaway in which we provided over 1000 turkeys annually to the community. We have done several things since then like school supplies, backpacks, coats, socks, free groceries, hair cuts, trunk or treat, and Christmas gifts. For several years prior to COVID-19, we have fed over 2,000 people weekly through our outreach ministry, LOVE365.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT the NEIGHBORHOOD?

We love the people! They are so resilient. They embraced us from the time we have been here and it has felt like family ever since. We are not just called The City of Love but we believe in spreading authentic love which transforms lives.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN the NEIGHBORHOOD?

We believe our greatest success has been seeing the lives of people transformed and elevated. It has always been a dream of ours to see our church love the community to wholeness.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW in the community?

We are so excited to begin our next project from the ground up. Our plan is to create a community garden which can provide needed vegetables and fruit to those in the neighborhood.

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Listen to the community so you can know what the needs are.

Learn more about the people you serve.
Lead. Cast the vision and gather people together to make serving our people a top priority.
Listen. Learn. Lead. In that order.

October 12, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Cynthia Guillemet

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I grew up in Lower 9th Ward, moved in 1973 and returned in 1999 after death of my parents.  We wanted the property to remain in our parents memory.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I got involved in working in my neighborhood through the Lower 9th Ward Homeownership Association who helped my sister and I with Road Home.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I had a fantastic childhood.  We  played together and basically went to the same school.  We had working parents who felt homeownership was important and made a point of keeping their properties in top notch condition..   Our parents assisted each other in raising  each other children.  You were fully aware that you were to respect all adults and each other.  We had Black owned businesses that served our community.  I would love to see our community return to that status.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

We have had some success in our community since Hurricane Katrina, not as much as  should have been accomplished.   It has been 16 years and we should have far more progress in our community.   There are  new homes being built for homeownership but more for rental.  Prior to Hurricane Katrina our community was centered around homeownership.  Roadwork is providing us with new streets, drainage, etc. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

I am working on clean up and maintenance of overgrown lots, illegal dumping, helping residents with succession, assisting residents with FEMA (Hurricance Ida).

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

Sometime I think I am running in circles, not much is being accomplished and it becomes frustrating, tiring and overwhelming.  I believe it is because we set goals and want them to be accomplished as soon as possible.  Neighborhood leaders and change makers don't give up ,we have to keep fighting.  I also believe we have to get the younger people involved. show them the way, because eventually they will have to take over for us.

September 21, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Culture Aid NOLA

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Culture Aid NOLA was formed in response to the Covid pandemic. A coalition of nonprofits and disaster response professionals came together in support of the cultural community, with a mission to serve and support those hardest hit. We worked with restaurant partners and volunteers to cook and serve 500 meals from Liberty’s Kitchen on March 23rd, 2020. The next week we did 750. The week after, 5,000. Our organization has continued to grow and evolve, adapting to meet the rising need. We currently serve groceries to over 3,000 people a week from our sites in St Roch and Treme. 

 

HOW DID the organization get involved in the community?

Culture Aid NOLA was fortunate to be able to begin with the help of Second Harvest, The New Orleans Musician’s Clinic and Assistance Foundation, MaCCNO, lowernine.org, Sankofa, World Central Kitchen and many others. We believe strongly in amplifying community support networks, and working with community leaders to learn and grow together. We currently work with eight community partner organizations, to serve good food directly into the neighborhoods. 

 

 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR organization?

What I love most about Culture Aid NOLA is that not only are we no-barrier, we're no-stigma. Not only can you come and get groceries for your family twice a week, every week, without hassles or paperwork, but we also hire local DJ’s and bands, we greet people as guests not clients, and we do our best to make it easy to ask for help when you need it. Everyone deserves fresh, good, healthy food, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, grace, and hospitality.

 

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN the city?

To date, Culture Aid NOLA has served well over 1.7 million pounds of groceries in a year and a half. Recently, we responded to Hurricane Ida with our friends, partners and volunteers, serving good restaurant food from the CBD. We were serving about 4,000 meals a day, from the sidewalk, because that’s what our community needed. We also did ‘Fill The Fridge’, which was a massive grocery giveaway in City Park. We fed over 75,000 lbs of fresh food to 2,500 families, and we had brass bands, and DJ’s and dance krewes and 250 volunteers. It was a really beautiful experience, to watch our city come back together after the storm. New Orleans knows knows how to care for each other.

 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?  

Right now we’re committed to our twice weekly distributions, Wednesdays at 6:00 pm at 1835 St Roch, and Saturdays at 9:00 am at 2022 St Bernard. We’re also working with our partners to figure out how we can work together to serve even more communities. We know that there’s still a lot of people being left behind, and we want to work for everyone who needs a little help right now.

 

ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER Community organizationS AND CHANGE MAKERS?

I think the most important thing is to do the work. Show up. Keep your promises. Keep doing the work. We need people who want to care for each other every day. As the Mayor says, New Orleans has experience being our own first responders. We know that families were struggling before COVID, before Ida, and it’s our job to come together and ask questions and trust each other, so we can grow and share and learn and do better.

August 9, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Bryan Smith

 

 

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How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

Less than one year.

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?

I met with the District D liaison for advice about how to get involved. He recommended that I get involved with the neighborhood association. I emailed the group and started attending the meetings. 

What do you love about your neighborhood?

I love the bike paths, scenic views as well as the proximity to City Park, Lake Pontchartrain, Joe Bartholomew Golf Course and grocery stores. Additionally, I appreciate the quality of citizens within Oak Park. The vibe is a nice mixture of seasoned residents and young couples.

 

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

We had a nice social event for the residents. Additionally, we have increased engagement with the Mayor’s office and the NOPD. Also, we have seen strong communication regarding the garbage collection issue. The City has been attentive to our 311 requests. Recently, we have seen increased attention from Parks & Parkway as they have removed a few dead trees in a high traffic area. 

 

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood?  

We are working to get AT&T service in our area. Additionally, we are working to get the tennis court (at Oak Park Playground) fixed. We have a couple of events coming up including Night Out Against Crime and monthly meetings.

 

Any words of advice for other neighborhood leaders and change makers?

You have to work with others and have hope. I’ve learned that there are many people in the local government, and in my neighborhood, who really care. By working with them, I have been able to help my community and the causes that I care about. You have to learn how the government works and how to effectively communicate with it.

July 8, 2021 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Kelsey Foster

 

How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

I've lived in Algiers for eleven years. 

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?

I was asked to join the Algiers Point Association in 2015. Over the next few years I served as the Vice President and President before stepping down to attend graduate school in 2020. I also serve as an At-Large Board Member for Old Algiers Main Street. I began working professionally as the Executive Director for the Algiers Economic Development Foundation in April 2020. I love being able to work full-time on issues that are important to Algiers!

What do you love about your neighborhood?

Algiers is such a tight-knit community. We know each other; we know our neighbors, the local business owners, and the familiar faces we see on the levee or at the store. I love living in a place where communities support each other, whether that's filling sandbags before a storm or coming together for a hot plate fundraiser. Because we're across the river, Algiers folks have an extra way of taking care of each other, even in a city like New Orleans.

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

This year, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation launched the Algiers Clean Sweep program with Councilmember Kristin Gisleson-Palmer. Twice a year in the spring and fall we host an Algiers-wide clean up that brings together folks from all of Algiers to clean litter from the side of the road, drop off large debris, and recycle glass and used tires. In our first year we recycled almost 1,000 used tires that were dumped on our streets.

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood?  

The Algiers Economic Development Foundation piloted our first-ever workforce development program in partnership with then State Representative Gary Carter, Jr. We welcomed juniors and seniors who live or attend high school in Algiers to sharpen their professional skills through resume writing, job interview training, and one on one virtual or in person job shadows with professionals in the community. It's been amazing to see Algiers come together to volunteer time to serve as resume reviewers, mock interviews and job shadows. We're really proud of our neighbors and the small business community for welcoming these students at a time when life has been extra challenging for everyone.  

Just as important has been the work we're doing to support our small businesses as we readjust to life following the pandemic. Our goal is to meet with at least one new business owner in Algiers every week so that we can get to know people's challenges and help find solutions.

Any words of advice for other neighborhood leaders and change makers?

Listen. Your neighbors care about your community just as much as you do, but they might not show up in the same way you do. As a leader, make room for your people to plug in where they fit. For some folks, that's a neighborhood clean up day, for others it might be following zoning changes or advocating for safe, affordable housing. We all have different skills and we can all be public servants.