The recovery of post-Katrina New Orleans has unleashed a new generation of social entrepreneurs. A sterling example: the Broadmoor Improvement Association and its dynamic president, LaToya Cantrell. Broadmoor is a racially mixed, middle-class historic district dating to the 1920s. During Katrina, it saw 7 feet of flooding. The venerable association found a new mission after the storm, when much of the area was in danger of demolition and rezoning as green space. Neighbors collaborated with researchers from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and students from Bard College on a comprehensive development plan. More than 70% of the area's homes have been restored. The group successfully lobbied for better police presence and emergency services, reopened their local school as a charter, and built a new playground. Besides fostering exceptional cohesion -- broadmoor lives! signs are on every lawn -- they've become a model: Cantrell has spoken around the country about the power of community.
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Related Stories: | Topics:Ethonomics, Magazine, Fast Cities, New Orleans, post-Katrina, , New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Hurricane Katrina, Taipei |
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Recent Comments | 4 Total
July 22, 2009 at 3:44pm by Jason Seoul
I'm just so amazed at how the people of New Orleans could rebound back within such a short period of time. Though discourage, the New Orleans were never disheartened. The rebuilding process has been so rapid that tourism has recovered to previous highs. The economic downturn is a new strain but the people of New Orleans will be able to muscle it through and excel with flying colours. There are so many inspirational stories happening there that I've lost count.
Jason Seoul
November 1, 2009 at 9:34pm by Liontin Myer
Although the city as a whole is far from back to normal after the fearful lashing from Katrina in 2005, and the waterlogged aftermath, the historic old areas of the French Quarter and the Garden District were located in the narrow strip of land that didn't flood. This made up only about 20 per cent of the city that wasn't flooded, and while everywhere was knocked sideways by the disaster, these areas recovered the quickest.
This is thanks to the fact that the early European colonists chose to build on the high ground albeit just a matter of inches.
Liontin Myer
Kayu Jati | Wheatgrass Grow | Kefir Grains
December 24, 2009 at 9:29am by Bill Covert
Before Katrina, there was 6 of us guys that used to go to N.O. twice a year as a get-away. Then in July 2005 I got married and haven't returned since :-(
Fast forward to today, we have two amazing boys (2 & 4) that I want to travel to N.O. and see again as a family - although I'll miss being single there!!!
The first time I was there was 2001 - and while there I invented the Dream Bar Cafe - which is a system for Entrepreneurs to gain Clarity, Confidence & Focus. I will always Thank the N.O. inspiration!!! You've got a Blessed City!
Bill Covert
http://www.acceleratorforsuccess.com