New Orleans Non Profit Blog

minorityweirdos — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:53:43 +0000

Help Build a Playground in Central City!

Dear Friends of KIPP New Orleans,

On November 15, a patch of concrete in the courtyard of KIPP Central City Primary will be transformed into a playground paradise! The students of KIPP Central City Primary have designed their dream playground on paper, and now we need your help to make their plans a reality.

We need your help to build a playground at KIPP Central City! Please consider volunteering on Saturday, November 15 from 8 AM to 3 PM to help build this playspace. Food and music will be provided, as well as a lot of fun!

To register for this project, please e-mail playground@kippneworleans.org or call 504-373-6269.

Please note that you many also receive an E-vite invitation from us for this event.

WHAT:

Playground Build at W.J. Guste School Building /

KIPP Central City Primary

2625 Thalia Street, New Orleans, LA 70118

WHEN:

Saturday, November 15, 8 AM-3 PM

WHO:

YOU and 200 other volunteers from across New Orleans.

WHY:

Because the kids of KIPP Central City deserve a great playspace!

Thanks!

The Playground:

“Come help build our playground!!”

In addition to the playground pictured above, we will be building several side projects such as an outdoor classroom, a tricycle path, and a mural.

minorityweirdos — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:51:09 +0000

Jazz City Java Coffeehouse is a newly established, family-owned jazz-themed coffeehouse in Eastern New Orleans. It is owned and operated by the brother/sister team of Cedric A. Ellsworth and Lisa Ellsworth. We are located in the Lake Bullard corridor on Bullard Ave., near Lake Forest (old bowling alley complex). Jazz City Java serves gourmet coffee, teas, espresso, smoothies and frozen blended coffee drinks along with fresh pastries and assorted desserts. Additionally, Jazz City Java serves lunch from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm featuring delectable Panini sandwiches. Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday 6:30 am. – 6:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am. – 4:00 pm.

Our environment is friendly and inviting, offering Free WIFI and a continuous stream of jazz music. Jazz City Java hosts a number of events throughout the year to provide an opportunity for the neighbors of Eastern New Orleans to gather as a community.

Our next event will feature an exhibit by local artist, Paul R. Boudreaux, with works on display October 18^th through November 30^th, 2008. Paul will host an opening show on Saturday, October 18^th, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Paul R. Boudreaux was born in New Orleans. He paints with oil, acrylic, watercolor and also works in pastel. Paul specializes in all genres of art. Paul recently expanded his art into the field of photography.

Paul is a member of the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Memphis Art Emporium and the Arts Market of New Orleans. He is also an accomplished Musician, Songwriter and Record Producer by profession.

Come out to Jazz City Java Coffeehouse on Saturday, October 18^th, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. to meet the artist and view his works. Paul will be there to introduce his art. The show is free and open to the public. His art works will be available for purchase.

minorityweirdos — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:01:49 +0000

Jazz City Java Coffeehouse is a newly established, family-owned jazz-themed coffeehouse in Eastern New Orleans. It is owned and operated by the brother/sister team of Cedric A. Ellsworth and Lisa Ellsworth. We are located in the Lake Bullard corridor on Bullard Ave., near Lake Forest (old bowling alley complex). Jazz City Java serves gourmet coffee, teas, espresso, smoothies and frozen blended coffee drinks along with fresh pastries and assorted desserts. Additionally, Jazz City Java serves lunch from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm featuring delectable Panini sandwiches. Our hours of operation are Monday – Friday 6:30 am. – 6:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 am. – 4:00 pm.

Our next event will feature an exhibit by local artist, Paul R. Boudreaux, with works on display October 18th through November 30th, 2008. Paul will host an opening show on Saturday, October 18th, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Paul R. Boudreaux was born in New Orleans. He paints with oil, acrylic, watercolor and also works in pastel. Paul specializes in all genres of art. Paul recently expanded his art into the field of photography.

Paul is a member of the Arts Council of New Orleans, the Memphis Art Emporium and the Arts Market of New Orleans. He is also an accomplished Musician, Songwriter and Record Producer by profession.

Come out to Jazz City Java Coffeehouse on Saturday, October 18th, from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. to meet the artist and view his works. Paul will be there to introduce his art. The show is free and open to the public. His art works will be available for purchase.

minorityweirdos — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:44:58 +0000

Paint Party for Peace

Saturday, October 25^th

Noon until Dark

XO Press Park

(Press St. and Dauphine St.)

United for Peace in New Orleans is organizing a massive art project, speaking out against violence with poetry, music and visual art. We would like to invite all of our friends and supporters to participate in this important event.

The march needs visual artists to donate their talent and create portraits of the victims. These portraits will be carried during the march as a memorial to those who have been lost. After the march the portraits will be displayed in an art show and finally given to the families of the victims.

For all those willing artist, come out October 25^th and help us paint signs and clothing for the march. We have 400 articles of clothing that we will paint with memories, poetry and pictures so that, on the day of the march, we may walk with our lost loved ones.

We will have a portrait party October 25th from noon until dark at Press St. and Dauphine (XO Press). The rain date will be October 26th.

Please contact Charles Anderson at (908) 328-7956 with any questions.

minorityweirdos — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:44:20 +0000

Peace Pilgrimage

On All Souls Day,

We Unite for Peace in New Orleans

November 1^st

10 am

Start and end at Martin Luther King Boulevard and South Claiborne at the statue of Martin Luther King Jr.

On All Saints Day, we will unite to honor all 500 New Orleanians who fell victim to the violence of the city since the Storm. We will not let our fellow citizens be forgotten in the newspapers of yesterday. Together, we will collectively assert that all New Orleanians are worthy of reverence and remembrance.

With Performances by Original Big Selling Brass Band, Deacon John, Truth Universal, Sunni Patterson, Dee One, Margie Perez, Heavenly Melodies, Joy Nunnery, Terence Slack, The Peace Poets of the Teen Center for Nonviolence

In collaboration with Mothers Hurting Because of Violence, Central City Comeback Committee, OneEVOLution, Ninth Ward Community Center, The Porch, The Teen Center for Nonviolence, Silence is Violence, Horns for Guns

For more information, please call Charles Anderson (908) 328-7956.

minorityweirdos — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:22:58 +0000

Dear Friends and Supporters of SENO:

We hope you can make our Oct. 8th meeting with John Thompson and Tracy Pratt of Resurrection After Exoneration. Also, invite your friends and colleagues who are excited to take part in the New Orleans social change movement to our Oct. 23rd “Be the Change” event–all are welcome! RSVP here.

Best,
SENO Steering Committee (Jewel, Morgan, David, Andrea, Lauren, Eduardo, and Chris)

October 8, 7-9pm: Featuring John Thompson & Tracy Pratt, Resurrection After Exoneration (RAE), Echoing Green Fellow

Resurrection After Exoneration (RAE) is a new non-profit organization formed by a group of wrongfully convicted men coming together to create a positive and enriching future. RAE focuses on exonerated prisoners but will also reach out and help formerly incarcerated men who wish to make a positive change in their lives and who tackle some of the same problems as exonerees once they are released. RAE’s members have served over 247 years in Louisiana’s prisons for crimes they did not commit.

Come listen to John and Tracy, founders of RAE, speak about their experiences building an organization from scratch, and learn how you can support them in their mission to help exonerees transition into the world. For more information on John and Tracy’s story, please read their profile online at www.seno-nola.org or visit their website here.

Starting at 8pm, we will meet in our small committee groups to plan SENO program activities: celebration launch event, public relations/website, fundraising, mentoring/coaching program, and speaker series.

- Location: The Bridge Lounge back room (1704 Magazine St.)
- Program: 7-8pm–Social Entrepreneurs John Thompson & Tracy Pratt; 8-9pm–General Committee meetings
- Everyone is welcome, including dogs!

October 23, 7-9pm: “Be the Change: Celebrating Social Entrepreneurship in New Orleans”–RSVP today!

Connect. Create. Innovate.
Come listen to the inspiring start-up stories of our panelists: Carol Bebelle (Founder, Ashe Cultural Arts Center), Craig Cuccia (Founder, Cafe Reconcile), Aesha Rasheed (Founder, Parent Organizing Network), John Thompson (Founder, Resurrection After Exoneration), Dr. Kyshun Webster (Founder, Operation REACH). Come meet others working for social justice and social change. Meet and network with our profiled social entrepreneurs in small break-out groups:

Melissa Sawyer (Founder, Youth Empowerment Project), Reuben Teague & Will Bradshaw (Founders, Green Coast Enterprises), Erica Trani (Founder, In Exchange), Nathan Rothstein (Founder, NOLA Yurp), Jane Wholey (Founder, Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools), Andreas Hoffman (Founder, Greenlight New Orleans), Tess and William Monaghan (Founders, Rebuilding Together), Cliff Doescher (ARC of Greater New Orleans), Marketumbrella, and many more! For the complete list and stories of our profiled social entrepreneurs, please visit our website at www.seno-nola.org.

Location: The Fine Arts Center (www.thefineartscenter.com)
Address: 1733 Constantinople St.
RSVP Today: www.seno-nola.org to register or email achen@seno-nola.org.
Sponsors: Echoing Green, The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, LANO, The Fine Arts Center
*Refreshments will be served.

minorityweirdos — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:44:52 +0000

New Orleans Council on Aging

2475 Canal Street, Suite 400

P.O. Box 19067

New Orleans, LA 70179-0067

www.nocoa.org

(504) 821-4121

Organizational Information

The New Orleans Council on Aging (NOCOA) is a private, non-profit corporation established in 1974, which serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Orleans Parish. As such, NOCOA is responsible for seeing that a comprehensive and coordinated assortment of social, recreational, educational, and nutritional services are made available for persons aged sixty and over in the City of New Orleans.

The mission of the New Orleans Council on Aging is to protect the rights, promote the well being, and enhance the self-esteem of New Orleans’ elderly by generating opportunities for self-reliance and independence.

Among the programs that NOCOA provides, either through direct services or through sub contracts are:

Dental
- Comprehensive dental services, health education, and oral hygiene counseling are provided to ambulatory elderly for low cost at the Central City Senior Center.
Homemakers
- The Homemaker program provides light home maintenance tasks such as housekeeping, laundry, and other chores essential to helping the elderly remain in their home.
Information And Assistance, Assessment, and Outreach
- The services consist of direct information, referral to appropriate services, advocacy, and (when necessary) home visits to the elderly by NOCOA staff. Our workers interview clients for various programs and provide special assistance to obtain needed services.
Legal
- Through the Advocacy Center, legal/advocacy services are provided, including Community Legal Education, Outreach, Intake, Direct Client Services, Law Reform Activities, and Coordination with other legal service providers.
Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD) / NOCOA Post Katrina Case Management and Mental Health Support Services
- MHSD provides the grant for this program that caters to older adults and their caregivers who have returned to the New Orleans area. The mission is to reduce the anxiety of seniors as they rebuild their homes, communities, and lives.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
- NOCOA provides services for family caregivers who care for an elderly or developmentally disabled relative. Services include a monthly support group, information and assistance, counseling, adult day health care, personal care, and in-home respite (when available). Adult diapers and liquid nutritional supplements are provided on a limited basis.
Nutrition
- Each weekday, persons enjoy a nutritious mid-day meal and socialization at various meal sites throughout the city as a part of the “Food and Friends” program. Additionally, homebound elderly receive a balanced home-delivered meal. Meal sites and homebound routes are continuously added as neighborhoods become repopulated.
Personal Care Services
- The agency subcontracts with a local home health agency that provides seniors with bathing, grooming, and assistance with areas of daily living.
Power To Care Utility Assistance Program
- Qualified seniors and those with disabilities are assisted with utility bills. Funding for this program is made possible through donations from utility customers and Entergy of New Orleans.
Repairs on Wheels Program
- The Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans’ Repairs on Wheels program funded by NOCOA provides assistance to live safely and continue to live independently. The program has three components: Home Safety Surveys, Minor Home Maintenance, and Minor Home Repairs.
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
- RSVP provides a link between those 55 and older who wish to volunteer in the community and agencies in the city. The program provides the volunteers with benefits such as insurance, reimbursement of transportation, and recognition events.
Senior Centers
- NOCOA sub-contracts with non-profit neighborhood groups throughout New Orleans to operate Senior Centers. Additionally, NOCOA directly operates the Arthur Monday Senior Center in Algiers and Pontchartrain Park Senior Center. These centers are focal points for the broad spectrum of recreational, educational, socialization, transportation, and nutritional activities.
Senior Companion Program
- SCP provides in-home assistance to the elderly and disabled using trained volunteer companions who perform personal care, home management, advocacy, respite, and other services. Senior companions are low-income persons aged 60 and older who receive a stipend for their efforts.
Senior Rx / Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
- Senior Rx / ADRC links adults 21 years and older with free or discounted medication assistance, provides services and referral to programs that can help individuals with their unmet needs, and offers assistance with Medicaid/Medicare information, enrollment, and counseling.

The New Orleans Council on Aging community linkages are the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Advisory Council, Elder Action Coalition (EAC), and the Inter-Parish Aging Coalition (IPAC). These collaborations offer a wide range of exceptional services to the NOCOA.

The purpose of the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council is to evaluate and access aging priorities while making recommendations to the New Orleans Council on Aging Board of Directors on changes to meet the needs of those 60 and older in Orleans parish while reviewing the status of the Older Americans Act and identifying gaps in services as well as advocating on behalf of the older adult community.

The New Orleans Elder Action Coalition (EAC) invites participation from anyone who is interested in improving the quality of life for senior citizens in New Orleans. The EAC represents senior centers, nursing homes, services organizations, housing providers, government, home health agencies, business, and industry. Individual members are also invited. There are no dues or officers.

The Inter-Parish Aging Coalition (IPAC) groups together the Councils on Aging in Southeast Louisiana. The participating Councils on Aging include: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany. The mission of the Inter-Parish Aging Coalition is to coordinate across jurisdictions, support community efforts on behalf of older adults and caregivers, and ensure that the needs and concerns of older adults are effectively addressed in all recovery efforts. The primary focus includes housing, transportation, mental health, medical needs, and the financing to make this possible.

The Best Age Is The Age You Are!

minorityweirdos — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:11:10 +0000

Be the Change:
A Celebration of Social Entrepreneurs in New Orleans

www.seno-nola.org

October 23, 2008
7:00-9:00pm

The Fine Arts Center
1733 Constantinople Street

Featured Panelists:
Carol Bebelle, Co-Founder, Ashe Cultural Arts Center
Craig Cuccia, Founder, Cafe Reconcile
Aesha Rasheed, Founder, Parent Organizing Network
John Thompson, Founder, Resurrection After Exoneration
Dr. Kyshun Webster, Sr., Founder, Operation REACH

*$3 suggested donation at the door

Registration Required: Limit 300 attendees. RSVP online here.
Having trouble registering? Email jconstance@seno-nola.org

For More Information: www.seno-nola.org

Event Description:
Connect. Create. Innovate. This event is a celebration of those who see a better world, and can’t wait to get there. Come hear the inspiring and courageous stories of people who have tackled social problems head-on with innovative solutions that are making tremendous social impact, come meet these social entrepreneurs face-to-face, interact with our new website, get inspired and energized, and join the social entrepreneurship community in New Orleans. If you are interested in supporting social entrepreneurs’ start-up organizations, come learn about the ground-breaking and systems-changing work they are involved in, and learn how you can support their needs. If you are working towards social change yourself, come network with like-minded individuals, find out how to get funding for your idea, share your story with us, and apply to be profiled for your good work.

**For more information about the event and the social entrepreneurs being celebrated, please click here.

Sponsors:
The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
Echoing Green
Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO)
The Fine Arts Center

minorityweirdos — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:31:23 +0000

It may still be September, but here at the Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi, we’re already thinking about turkey and cranberry sauce! We’ll be hosting our Annual Thanksgiving Celebration on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, and everyone’s invited. Last year more than 600 people enjoyed turkey with all the trimmings, and this year we’re hoping to do even more!

The 2008 Thanksgiving Celebration will also include a Crop Walk, so volunteers, staff & guests at the meal can help fight hunger in addition to enjoying food and fellowship with family and friends. The Crop Walk will include a “Walk on the Web” option, so even people who can’t be in St Bernard to walk the route here can do their own walking wherever they may be.

Right now the Community Center is looking for partner agencies, groups and volunteers to help with various aspects of the Thanksgiving Celebration. Food drives and food donations are needed, as well musical entertainment, and help with meal prep, serving and cleanup. Anyone interested in participating should email the Community Center at ccstbp@yahoo.com Please indicate what areas you are able to assist with:

canned food drive
donation of prepared food for the meal
donation of gift cards
donation of Tshirts for staff and volunteers
donation of paper goods for meal service
volunteers for setup on Thursday morning 10AM – 1 PM
volunteers for meal service 1 PM – 3:30 PM
volunteers for cleanup until 5 PM
volunteers to assist with Crop Walk registration
volunteers to participate in the Crop Walk
music or other entertainment during the afternoon

Thank you all for your support – with your help, this year’s Thanksgiving Meal will be a true expression of community fellowship for residents and volunteers alike as we come together to celebrate another year forward on the road to recovery.

minorityweirdos — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:42:43 +0000

Dear Friends of SENO (Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans):

We hope to see you tomorrow at our SENO General Meeting, September 17th, from 7-9pm at the Bridge Lounge. The guest speaker will be Erica Trani from InExchange!

Details:

SENO General Meeting–Wednesday, September 17th, 7-9pm–Featuring Social Entrepreneur Erica Trani: We will be featuring social entrepreneur Erica Trani from InExchange to speak about her experiences starting a nonprofit fair trade boutique located on Tulane’s campus. There will be a Q & A with Erica as well as a chance for the group to help Erica brainstorm new ideas for her store. For more information, please read Erica’s profile online at http://www.seno-nola.org/profiles/trani.php and visit In Exchange’s website at www.inexchange.org. Starting at 8pm, we will meet in our small committee groups to plan SENO program activities: celebration launch event, public relations/website, fundraising, mentoring/coaching program, and speaker series.

- Location: The Bridge Lounge back room (1704 Magazine St.)
- Program: 7-8pm–Social Entrepreneur Erica Trani; 8-9pm–General Committee meetings
- Everyone is welcome, including dogs!

Join in our movement to promote and nurture social innovation across New Orleans:

We are currently recruiting talented people to volunteer with a committee (public relations, website, fundraising, mentoring program, launch party, networking luncheons, speaker series, etc.) to offer professional expertise as a mentor, coach, or consultant, and to head up some exciting current and future projects! Please visit www.seno-nola.org/involved.php for more complete details. Or, read through the attachment for full descriptions of committees.

About Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans (SENO) www.seno-nola.org
SENO’s mission is to promote, nurture, sustain, and support the next generation of social entrepreneurs in New Orleans in order solve our city’s most entrenched social problems. Just as “entrepreneurs are essentially drivers of innovation and progress” in the business world, social entrepreneurs “seize opportunities that challenge and forever change established, but fundamentally inequitable systems” (Ashoka.org). We are currently working to promote the progress and success of local social entrepreneurs, establish an active community of social entrepreneurs, connect early-stage social entrepreneurs to funding and support, nurture the promising ideas of emerging social entrepreneurs, and inspire residents to take action on opportunities to solve problems in New Orleans.

Best,
SENO Steering Committee (Jewel, David, Morgan, Lauren, Chris, Eduardo, and Andrea)