Neighborhood Spotlight

September 9, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Clark Thompson

How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

I’ve lived in New Orleans my whole life, but only moved across town into the Bayou St. John neighborhood 7 years ago 

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?

I was involved in Boulingy Neighborhood Association previously.  When I moved, I attended a meeting and was recruited to the board.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

There is a lot to love, the bayou, the shade, lots of people out walking in the street.  It’s the best neighborhood in town for casual cycling.  

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

Renaming our park for Walter “Wolfman” Washington was a win, and our “stop for pedestrian” signs have noticeably calmed violent driving on Esplanade. 

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood?  

We persuaded the DPW to do a traffic study on Moss St. and its speed is being reduced soon. I really want to see Moss become a calm place for people with strollers or wheelchairs to feel safe. That is a constant effort, but most of the people in our neighborhood want that, so I have faith we will get there with patient effort.

I’m also working to calm Claiborne Ave. between St. Louis and Lafitte. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic there with the Greenway and the Ujamma development under the elevated expressway. It’s a real test of patience to press LaDOTD to take action to save lives here.  

I’m also part of the SWB Community Advisory Committee, which helps me to keep my neighbors informed. 

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

Change does not move as fast as you think it should, and there is a lot of moving parts that you and I are not aware of.  When you are pushing for change, be prepared to be reasonable and patient. And be prepared to keep on pushing.  

It’s very helpful to know the jurisdictions and interests when pressing for change.  For instance, at Claiborne and Lafitte, you have LaDOTD, DPW, Ujamma, Lafitte Greenway, NORD, Treme Neighborhood Association, and Parks and Parkways.  That’s a lot of potential partners or obstacles to making changes. It pays to know that landscape and seek out those with common interests.

August 12, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Freddie Leslie

How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

I was raised in the lower ninth ward, where I graduated from George Washington Carver Senior High. I lived in the ninth ward over thirty years.

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?

My activeness in my community began during the time of Mayor Ernest Dutch Memorial. I also became involved with other stake holders in my community and some nonprofit organizations to improve the status of our neighborhoods.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

The lower ninth ward consisted of a vibrant community that had doctor’s offices, pharmacies, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, corner stores, funeral homes, schools, parks, etc. It will never be what it once was, but it can be better.

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

The success there was in this community was being involved in neighborhood meetings, meeting with council members, mayor-liaison code enforcement, and other stake holders. Progress has been made with drains getting repaired, streets being worked on, abandoned homes being demolished, and empty lots with high vegetation being cut.

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood?

Currently, I am working on the continuation of trying to make the ninth ward and the lower ninth a vibrant and safe community to live in again. I also would love to see more individuals in their neighborhood to become more involved.

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

 I am a strong believer that people can make a change. Let your voices be heard!

 

July 5, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Dr. Sonya Forte Duhe

How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

I’ve lived here for 16 years. 

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?         

I volunteered to serve on the Lakeshore Property Owners Association Board some years ago and have remained on it ever since.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

Lakeshore is one of the safest neighborhoods in New Orleans. It is beautiful and steps away from Lake Pontchartrain which is such a lovely area. Our residents are friendly, generous and work together to make it an even better place to live. 

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

After joining the board, one of the first projects we completed was to create a more interactive web site where residents can join the association, pay dues, donate, find links to city and state offices, view a calendar of events and access a member directory. The web site also features gorgeous photos from our friend and professional photographer David Mora. Go to lakeshorenola.com to check it out. 

The upgraded, interactive website is a critical tool that allows neighbors to learn more about LPOA, know who we are and access information about our association.

As part of our plan to continue to improve and beautify our neighborhood, with the help of grants from the Nola Tree Project under the leadership of Connie Uddo, the Garden Study Center of New Orleans and Burke Brokerage Real Estate, we planted 22 live oaks, replacing trees lost to storms and disease.   

A 2023 Mayor’s Neighborhood Enrichment grant - a green infrastructure and beautification initiative - allowed the LPOA to plant eight more trees to make 30 live oaks added to our beautiful tree canopy.   

We didn’t stop there. Our beautiful oaks have been neglected for decades and funds from the New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund sponsored by Councilman Eugene Green served as seed money to start a major pruning/cleanup effort for our oaks in our public spaces. Residents have stepped up as well and joined the board in donating to the “Love Our Oaks” campaign. 

We have developed a plan for pruning every tree in our public spaces withing a four-year span.  

Through generous donations from residents, we have beautified our entry ways, restored signage, enhanced lighting and cleaned and painted our bus stops, making our neighborhood entrance a more beautiful, environmentally sustainable and ecofriendly area.  

Partnering with the Lt. Governor’s ‘Clean the Boot’ project, The LPOA hosted a successful spring cleanup and social. Neighbors came together to remove weeds and pick up litter and tree debris, collecting more than 100 large bags of trash and stacks of waste. We completed our day with food and music in one of our beautiful parks where we’ve sponsored a dog show, Night Out Against Crime, Halloween social, a chili cook-off with our Lake Oaks neighbors, a Santa Claus visit for families and children and wine socials prior to our general membership meetings. All events are an opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other better.

This fall, our board is planning another clean up and social, a Love our Oaks fundraiser and more planting to replace trees that have died. Of course, we’ll host a number of social events culminating with Santa in the Park in December, where we also work with the United States Marine Corps to collect items for their Toys for Tots campaign. We continue to strive for enforcement of our building and legal restrictions and work with city officials to suppress any nuisances. Councilman Green has given considerable support to LPOA and we have one of the best quality of life officers in the city, SPO Mary Lou Agustin. 

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood? 

In early August, we’ll host local arborist, Roger Mattei, from A Perfect Cut at a neighborhood social to discuss the health of oak trees throughout the city and in our neighborhood. We are also working on “Love our Oaks” fundraisers and informative gatherings to educate residents about our beautiful oaks and native plantings.

While we do have the capability for electronic newsletters, we are adding text messaging to our communications efforts. We continue our efforts to increase membership to keep residents informed and make Lakeshore an even better place. There will be numerous opportunities to meet and greet at fall and winter social events.

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

We have a wonderful team of board members who care deeply about our neighborhood and city. Get to know your city leaders, your council representative, participate in neighborhood engagement events and ask for help from your residents and city officials. If you have the opportunity, sign up for the New Orleans’ Civic Engagement Class where you’ll get to know and learn from other city and neighborhood leaders.

June 7, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Robert Conger

How long have you lived in your neighborhood?

We bought our home in February 2021.

How did you get involved in your neighborhood?

As soon as we learned about the neighborhood improvement association, we started attending meetings and participating in events. When the time came to elect a new board, the former President asked me to run and I did.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

Our beautiful oak lined neutral ground is a great place to walk our dog, catch up with neighbors and meet visitors who have come to see our equally beautiful St Roch Cemetery. 

What successes have you had in your neighborhood?

Litter and pollution continue to be a challenge. I started doing a weekly trash pick-up on the neutral ground as soon as we moved in.  Initially neighbors would thank me. As time has passed there are a few neighbors who have started a similar trash pick-up routine. It really has made a difference. 

What are you working on right now in your neighborhood?

We have an ongoing issue with speeding and reckless driving along N. Claiborne and N. Robertson, which we have been trying to get addressed for over a year. We have had well over a dozen accidents at those intersections since we moved in. Three of which involved cars going into homes (including ours). The St Roch neutral ground is a place where families walk their dogs and children. But the speeding is so bad that it makes it very dangerous for anyone crossing those two intersections. 

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

Be empathetic. Be honest (with yourself and others). Be persistent. But most of all be patient. 

December 8, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Tim Garrett

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I moved to Marlyville in 1993, exactly 160 years after its namesake Pierre Marly, a free man of color, acquired this part of town, and 120 years since my great granduncle, Bernard Fellman, began developing it. Our neighborhood has such an interesting history, if you care to read more about it online at bitly.com/hist-marl-font.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Having served as a block captain since the 1980s, I naturally gravitated to all the neighborhood association meetings here. The problem was that every street had its own group, plus three different patrol services! My long-term goal was to unify all of them under one umbrella, so all residents could have an equal voice. That took me over 20 years to accomplish.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I love that Marlyville is so uniquely self-reliant. New Orleans comprises between 73 and 320 (depending whom you ask) neighborhood entities, often overlapping, each with its own peculiar purpose, personality and charm. But right there in the middle of everything sits Marlyville, quietly minding our own business and getting things done.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

After Katrina reset the clock, our residents quickly pulled together to restore normalcy, with an eye toward staying visible on City Hall's radar. Our greatest success, perhaps, was to finally embrace the historic "Marlyville" brand. This has given us a sense of identity, place and purpose which did not exist pre-storm. Everyone knows about Marlyville now, from Realtors and newsies to the mayor herself.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

After many delays, the first of seven major roadway projects is finally underway here in Marlyville-Fontainebleau. The hope – aside from making sure everything goes smoothly for our residents over the next two years – is to coordinate other much-needed improvements: creating park space, restoring buried sidewalks, reopening abandoned passageways, planting new trees, improving signage, expanding bicycle access and so forth.

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

My mantra is, "Eliminate gatekeepers!" Those advocating at the neighborhood level should aspire to connect residents directly with city services. Don't tolerate information silos established by the old guard. Seek instead to identify fellow change-makers, empower them with the proper tools – such as NOLA311, the Neighborhood Engagement Office, and free classes like Civic Leadership Academy – so they can help you pave the way for good things to happen.

November 10, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Ed Blouin

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I brought my house on Brittany Court, in 1979, from my best friend and knew my neighbors from me visiting him.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

After Katrina, I attended a lot of Master Plan meetings.  At one of those meeting, I met Marie McCoy.  She and I revitalized the Village de L'Est Improvement Association, she as president and I as the vice.  Soon afterward, Marie passed away and I became the president since that time until now except for two years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

What I love about my community are the fine people that I can truly called my friends.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

My successes has been the ability to facilitate the improvement meetings, that help kept my community vibrant.  We have had guest speakers from every office and department in the City.  My community appreciate being informed.  And as the president, my attendance at meetings for the community intertest, enable their concerns and needs to be addressed, be it at a CPC meeting or in front of the City Council.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

As our community president, I have availed myself to join other groups in the East for the betterment of the whole East community.  For support for my community, I unite us with ENONAC and ask help from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Engagement whenever the need arrives.  I am presently involved with the men's group, the Community Legion, helping in the formation of Dad's Clubs in our elementary schools, bring our males into our young students lives and along with the Voters East of the Industrial Canal, working to increase the East voters participation.  My recent involvement is being a member of the Six Flags committee, under the New Orleans East Matters Coalition.  We are seeking a developer to bring that blight to life. 

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

My only advice is the thing that keeping me going,  know that servicing others is serving God.

October 12, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Renee Cambrice

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have lived in Liberty Terrace since May of 2020, but I grew up in Carollton, near Xavier University.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I got involved in my neighborhood after canvassing the area during an election. I quickly realized the lack of local representation and the lack of knowledge from the residents.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I love the friendliness of the neighbors! Everyone makes sure to keep each other informed on what's going on in the area. 

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

We've been able to keep the neighborhood clean! This includes clearing debris from catch basins, keeping trash off the streets, and preventing illegal dumping - a big issue several years ago. We also now have crime cameras in the neighborhood, and since they have gone up, crime has gone down. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

We recently were able to have a few overgrown lots in the area cut by the City. This has helped us reduce the amount of debris in the area and has also reduced the amount of wildlife in the neighborhood. 

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

Stay in contact with neighbors, and keep them informed on what's going on in the city. Be accesible and transparent. Check on your older neighbors, and make sure they are okay. They may need you to make a run to the grocery store. 

September 7, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Greg Ravy

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have been a proud resident of Algiers for over 35 years.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I saw very important issues that needed to be addressed immediately as it relates to the lack of youth opportunities, community activities, after school educational programs and much more.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

We are a tight knit community that works together and have each other's back.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have successfully started one of the only non profit organizations (Heroes of New Orleans) that works directly with the community, engaging in community police relationships, professional development for youth as well as paid; on the job experience training for youth workers.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

In light of the protesting happening around the country and police brutality, we are taking a first step to bridging the gap. Currently we're working on forming a Heroes of New Orleans Youth and Families police officer First Encounter Engagement Program. This program will work to increase relationship building opportunities with police officers and community members while decreasing the rate of crime, juvenile detention population and truancy. Each participant who completes the First Encounter Engagement Program will leave with a certified membership card. The membership card provides the youth with a mentor contact for the NOPD and Heroes of New Orleans which can aid as a resource during a time of need.

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

Now is the time to come together and work as one community by sharing resources, opportunities, facilities & anything we have that our community can benefit from.

 

 

August 10, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Debby Pigman

 

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I have lived in Faubourg Delachaise for about 18 years. I grew up in New Orleans, left for college, grad school, Peace Corps, teaching in the US and Africa before returning home to New Orleans to be close to family and teach at McGehee School.

 

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

When we moved in we inquired about a neighborhood group and immediately joined the Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association. There we met more neighbors and found out about issues in the neighborhood. At meetings, we always had some speakers: council people, Neighborhood Engagement representatives, police, and business owners. Around election time, we often had candidates for office.

 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Faubourg Delachaise is a very walkable neighborhood and close to the action on Magazine with shops, restaurants, drug stores, a grocery, coffee shop, snowball stands, and bars. There is a diverse community which reflects our city: newcomers and long term residents; retirees, college students, and working people; a mix of black and white residents. NORD’s Lyons Center (when open) offered activities in the gyms, dance studio, meeting rooms, and fields. Also, there is good access to downtown, Audubon Park, as well as Bayou St. John and the lake.

 

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

FDNA has been active in issues involving land use. The owner of CAVAN (restaurant on Magazine) came to several of our meetings to get feedback on their plans before they opened. The city process on some changes to buildings and zoning require neighborhood input; we have actively followed these issues and have had an impact when we felt that the change would be detrimental to the neighborhood.

 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? 

Since we are not meeting in person, I am forwarding important information from the city and other sources to our email list. We may have a ZOOM meeting for our next quarterly meeting. Additionally, we are keeping up with the District B Office and the Office of Neighborhood Engagement.

 

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

Get to know your neighborhood association as well as the adjacent neighborhood associations and the important players and businesses. Walking your neighborhood is invaluable in addition to being good exercise. Also, build a relationship with the councilperson for your district and the staffers in his/her office. They can be quite helpful when issues arise. The Office of Neighborhood Engagement is also a good resource. Importantly, assume people will be reasonable until proved otherwise.

July 13, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

Neighborhood Spotlight: Michael Shlenker

 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I was born in Lakewood North and our family moved to Lakewood South in the 70’s.  I bought the family home after Katrina and then moved back to the neighborhood, so I have lived here 40 years (was uptown in District A for the missing years).

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

I initially took over the social media page for the board and then became an active board member after that.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Everyone has great pride in their homes and continues to make our neighborhood a wonderful place to live. We’re also less than fifteen minutes to anything in New Orleans in a vehicle.

WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Our biggest event that pulls everyone together is our annual Halloween party. It unites all our families in a big street party.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

We are working diligently with Cox Communications to investigate poor service which has been an ongoing issue for years. 

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

Just do your best to make your neighborhood a better place than when you started your position. Get as many people involved so you will have your total community support to move issues forward.