Our Hope for New Orleans

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Our Hope for New Orleans

Our hope is for New Orleans to be rebuilt in a way that leverages its physical, cultural, social, economic, organizational and educational infrastructure in a way that will most authentically manifest the SOUL and SPIRIT of the city and its people.

The soul and spirit of New Orleans PHYSICAL infrastructure has historically been manifest through its natural (semi-tropical) environment and through its rich variety of architecture, visual arts, food, music, literature and other objects that occupy physical space. These objects have evolved through a wide variety of social and ethnic influences. Moving forward into the future, these traditional forms must be preserved and new forms added that resonate, through the same principles of grace, distinction and harmony, with the diversity of its people.

• The soul and spirit of New Orleans CULTURAL infrastructure has been manifest through a commitment to celebrating life as a soulful and spiritual experience. Moving forward, these values can be preserved and expanded through a new commitment to apply these same values to education and economic well being of all members of the New Orleans community.

• The soul and spirit of New Orleans SOCIAL infrastructure has been manifest through the diverse origins and economic means of its people. Moving forward there is an opportunity for the community to be more open to celebrating both our similarities and differences.

• The soul and spirit of New Orleans ECONOMIC infrastructure has been manifest primarily through importing tourists who appreciate the celebration of its rich cultural heritage. Moving forward the New Orleans community can move beyond tourism and support the exportation of is cultural and social heritage to expand its economic sustainability beyond its current dependence on fossil fuels and shipping.

• The soul and spirit of New Orleans ORGANIZATIONAL infrastructure has for too long been manifest through a dependence on strong individual leadership. This has had positive and negative consequences. There is an opportunity for New Orleans to embrace a more collaborative and democratic form of governance wherein the diverse interests and talents of all of its residents can become more useful. This can occur through the willingness of a broad constituency in the community (i.e. cultural workers) to organize, work together and elect leaders who are good facilitators, who are trustworthy, who understand the power of broad based collaboration and are willing to work in the best interest of the community as a whole.

• The soul and spirit of New Orleans EDUCATIONAL infrastructure has been manifest at the K-12 level through a corrupt and ill fated school system. An opportunity exists to create new models for education that build on New Orleans rich social and cultural heritage, models that incorporate the visual arts and music, for example, as teaching and learning tools. There is an opportunity to develop learning tools that manifest mathematical, scientific, language and social studies content through themes that are familiar and inspiring to local children and residents of all ages. Some of these educational models can be housed in cultural institutions like the Zoo (like the Zoo School in Minneapolis, Minnesota); or in museums (like the Henry Ford Academy in Dearborn, Michigan) or even the Superdome (like the proposed Big Picture School which has already been funded by the Gates foundation but not yet implemented by the Orleans Parish School District), the Armstrong Performing Arts Center and many other rich and inspiring potential learning environments that already exist in the city. Furthermore, a whole new system of multi-use community NEXUS centers can be constructed in every neighborhood to replace old stand alone school buildings. These centers could house the most advanced facilities for educational, cultural and social programming all together, within walking distance of neighborhood residents. Parents can accompany their children to school again. New mixed income housing can provide rich social and cultural diversity in lieu of forced bussing. These community learning NEXUS centers can also provide a unique context for learning in the Crescent City in response to the latest educational research around best practices for hands-on, project based and other forms of real world learning.

THE DREAM

Having said all of that, our dream for New Orleans is for its diverse citizens to work together to build on our rich cultural heritage to create an environment where the community's physical, cultural, social, economic, organizational and educational goals are all the same. For example, a place where rich cultural and educational opportunities are tied to economic development and vice versa. A place where social programs are integrated with cultural opportunities. A place where leaders understand the value of the soul and spirit of the city as a primary force for change and economic development. A place where children can have access to creative educational opportunities that link learning to a way of life that most cities can only dream of. In short, a place that New Orleans has always aspired be, and deserved to be, but could never become because the obstacles were too great. But this time the opportunity to succeed is even more eminent, as is also the alternative for failure.

Our dream is for the urgency to live beyond the storm, for Katrina to be a force that brings people together to build and realize the dream. Our hope is that this event will be a springboard not only for New Orleans, but for the nation to wake up to the realities of poverty in America and the opportunities for creativity in the face of the challenge. The aftermath of the storm is a time when New Orleans can shine, and so our ultimate dream is for New Orleans to meet and exceed the goals that any of us can imagine. To develop the tools that our country needs for change. To demonstrate what democracy can mean in the hands of well meaning citizens. Our belief is that the plight of New Orleans is only a symptom of a larger national and international challenge and that the example that can be developed through the unique culture of our city can become an important part of a much larger resolution.

Concordia

Comments

Everyone in New Orleans needs to be thinking this far ahead and this grand. Everyone needs their own vision and not the apathy I hear from time to time. It is self defeating. But it is a reality that before many can commit to a vision and think about a rebuilt school or neighborhood they need to know that the area will be protected. That the wetlands, barrier islands and levees will get the adequate funding and comprehensive plans necesary. If not all our rethought neighborhoods and improved communities will be at risk forever.
blake on November 16th, 2005

I guess this question is for Steven and Bobbi: Can New Orleans be planned? New Orleans seemed liked an explosion of everything that makes us smile. I just wondered about the process of planning it. Troy BOdy
Troy Body on February 6th, 2006

Troy, Can't describe the process of planning it just now in this space, but be assured that we are passionate about it and will be involved. New Orleans is still exploding, mostly in a good way. Come on down and watch the fireworks.
Bobbie Hill on February 7th, 2006

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