ReInhabiting NOLA was a truly collaborative effort. Many people generously contributed time, energy and resources. Without their assistance this event could not have been possible.
As we mentioned earlier, the Fannie Mae Foundation provided funding for the workshop as well as their years of experience in housing and community advocacy work. In particular, we would like to thank Larry Ottinger and Jim Carr for their personal commitment to making this event possible.
At the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, Dan Etheridge, as co-coordinator of the event, juggled everything from fundraising to invitations to programming, and follow-up activities. Doug Meffert and John McLachlan secured institutional support from Tulane and Xavier universities. Charles Allen coordinated Public Relations and served as master of ceremonies at the workshop. Benetta Horne and Alysia Loshbaugh did much of the administrative work (including travel arrangements and reimbursements), John Vassilopoulos designed and hosted the web presence, and David Maag coordinated all the audio-visual presentations.
At Tulane School of Architecture, Alan Lewis, co-coordinator of the event, organized all aspects of the workshop and was particularly involved in bringing together the architectural, urban design, and planning communities to help envision the agenda and attend the workshop. Dean of TSA Reed Kroloff helped network with other architecture programs around the country from both the academic and nonprofit sectors, and has made it part of TSA’s mission to follow through on some of the recommendations put forth by ReInhabiting NOLA.
Jim Kennedy and Stroud Watson of Kennedy, Coulter, Rushing and Watson (KCR&W) assisted in establishing the framework of the entire workshop process. At the workshop, Stroud Watson presented strategies they have used in redeveloping Chattanooga, Tennessee and Jim Kennedy oversaw the facilitation process. KCR&W waived their fees for this work as a contribution to the people of New Orleans.
Thank-you to e/Prime Communications for documenting the entire event. e/Prime is made up of Kevin McCaffrey, Allen Eskew, and Paul Nakazawa, and at this event also included Neil Alexander and Jan Gilbert. Their work here went beyond documentation and report and website coordination in that the earliest idea to generate this workshop was based on discussions between e/Prime and Tulane University. Kevin and Dan developed the earliest proposals that evolved into this workshop. Thanks specifically to Kevin, Neil and Jan for audio and visual documentation of the workshop. The audio and film records of the workshops were a great resource while putting together this report and will be used to build the ReInhabiting NOLA website.
At the Neighborhood Story Project, Rachel Breunlin and Abram Himelstein, with support from the University of New Orleans and The Literacy Alliance of Greater New Orleans, helped coordinate outreach and organized the field seminars. Rachel also wrote and compiled source material for the booklet on New Orleans neighborhoods that was distributed at the workshop. Thank you to LSU cultural anthropologist Dr. Helen Regis; co-director of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights Monique Harden; and Ninth Ward resident in exile Evella Pierre for helping to envision the field seminars. Thank-you to Abram for taking portraits of workshop participants.
A number of individuals were very helpful as we worked to track down displaced residents to invite to this workshop. Ron Bechet, Chair of Xavier University’s Art Department was instrumental in tracking down many of New Orleans arts community and arranging their participation, as was Kathy Randels of Artspot Productions. Both individuals were great advocates for the role of the arts community in the workshop.
Pam Dashiell of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association and ACORN Housing representatives Beth Butler and Tanya Harris helped us connect with residents of the Lower Ninth Ward. Monique Harden involved members of the Gert Town and Agriculture Street communities. Miriam Isabel Barrios of the International Project for Non-Profit Leadership also helped in networking with Central City based organizations. Helen helped us with outreach to social and pleasure clubs and Charles assisted with outreach to faith-based and political organizations. Lauren Anderson of Neighborhood Housing Services New Orleans was also very helpful with outreach and served as a general advisor for workshop process.
Jason Neville, New Orleans resident and graduate student at University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development, was an early proponent of the workshop concept and helped secure national participation from USC and other universities. He also coordinated work with the Fannie Mae Foundation and organized posters on other relevant national and international rebuilding projects that were displayed at the workshop.
Thank you to Monique again for her opening remarks and Ray Manning of Manning Architects; landscape architect and LSU professor Dr. Elizabeth Mossop; poet and folklorist Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy; and geographer Richard Campanella for such thoughtful presentations on the first day of the workshop. Their nuanced understandings of the social and environmental complexity of New Orleans helped lay a foundation for the discussions that followed.
The amazing feedback that came from this event was balanced by a great group of facilitators. A big thanks you to Helen and Rachel, Dan and Abram, Mona Lisa and Rich; and public school teacher and community organizer Greta Gladney for acting as field seminar facilitators. Some of these facilitation partnerships continued during the small group breakout sessions. Thank-you again to Dan and Abram and Helen and Rachel, as well as Kathy and Alan; Benetta and Alysia; Lauren and Marion Feldmeyer, and Shana Sassoon of New Orleans Network for their efforts.
Due to storm damage at all facilities belonging to the host institutions, we relied on the generosity of Dr Bob Thomas, Director of the Loyola Center for Environmental Communications, and his colleagues to arrange the excellent workshop facilities at Loyola University’s Uptown campus.
The report writing committee was composed of Dan, Alan, Rachel, and Kevin. It was beautifully designed by Mimi Moncier of m.design. Thank you to workshop participants who took the time to read over and comment on our initial draft.
Thank you to all the participants and well-wishers.
Viva New Orleans!
The coordinating committee:
Dan Etheridge, Alan Lewis, Reed Kroloff, Doug Meffert, Kevin McCaffrey, Rachel Breunlin, Charles Allen, and Benetta Horne.