Highlights from November's Market
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Free Seminars on Construction Financing for a New Home
Build Now is holding a series of free information sessions about putting together a financing package for the construction of a new home. Sessions will address HMGP, ICC, and Road Home funds, as well as private loans.
December 16th
6:00pm
5713 Elysian Fields Ave
Build Now is a non-profit organization that constructs new homes in New Orleans' flooded neighborhoods. All events are free and open to the public. Due to space considerations guests are asked to pre-register for events they plan to attend.
For more information and to pre-register call 373-6962 or visit www.buildnownola.com.
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NOPD 3rd District Race Against Crime
Show your support for the New Orleans Police Department 3rd District, our community and our united fight to make our community safer by participating in the "Race Against Crime", a 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, December 18, 2010. The entry fee is $30 per person and includes entry into the race, the after party on
Fulton Street
with plenty of free food and drinks, a "Race Against Crime" T-shirt, and a free ticket to the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
This fundraiser is invaluable in helping the NOPD and individual districts raise money needed to supplement us in our fight against crime. The money helps pay for necessary training, equipment, and supplies which are not always anticipated or provided for in the department budget. The residual effects greatly benefit the communities we serve by further enhancing our ability to provide professional police services. Since the money raised by each district goes directly back to them it is important to support the district where you live or work!
If you, your family, business, or co-workers are interested in participating please contact any of our 3rd District Community Policing Team.
We look forward to seeing you at the race!
Sergeant Christopher Prochaska
cprochaska@nola.gov
(504)239-0333
Police Officer Patrick Smith
pmsmith@nola.gov
(504)444-7514
Police Officer Henry Newton
hnewton2@nola.gov
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Thank You Harrah's Foundation!
 Beacon of Hope Resource Center wishes to thank the Harrah's Foundation for awarding us an additional $40,000 to support our volunteer and outreach program. With this grant, Beacon of Hope will coordinate over 3,000 volunteers in the next six months to assist over 100 homeowners in their recovery. We appreciate the continued support from Harrah's Foundation. |
A Moonlight Success!
 Thank you to all who came out for our first annual Moonlight Madness Bike Ride in October! We had over 80 riders participate in the leisurely ride around Lakeview. Check out photos from the event, courtesy of photographer Micheal Maples and photos from the Times Picayune.
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Beacon Hosts 600 Volunteers in the Lower 9th Ward
Volunteers from the Jewish Federation clear lots, and residents gear up for survey
 | | Click to watch WWL's Bill Capo report on the project |
On November 8th, Beacon of Hope, Lower 9 Homeowner's Association, and lowernine.org coordinated a lot clean-up with 600 volunteers from the Jewish Federations of North America. All partners are committed to bringing a better quality of life to residents by making the neighborhood and streets safer.
Volunteers cleared lots twenty feet in from the street in an effort to increase visibility and safety in the neighborhood, while still allowing neighbors to demonstrate to Code Enforcement that the properties are abandoned. Thanks to the hard work of the volunteers, 22 lots were cleared in the Lower 9th Ward.
Lower 9th Ward resident leaders and stakeholders met with Beacon of Hope staff last week to plan a comprehensive property condition survey of the neighborhood. Beacon will work with the group, including Sankofa CDC who has already begun a survey, to collect data on each property in the community in an effort to address blight.
The data collection and mapping process is one of Beacon's signature programs which has enabled residents of Lakewood, Lakeview, Gentilly, Hollygrove-Dixon, and Carrollton to track and reduce blight while streamlining the Code Enforcement process.
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Survey Project in Filmore Gardens
 | | USGIF Volunteers survey properties in Filmore Gardens |
On November 1st, the Filmore Gardens Neighborhood Association and Beacon of Hope partnered to coordinate a neighborhood data collection project with volunteers from the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF). A group of residents and forty volunteers from the Young Professionals Group of the USGIF conference volunteered part of their time in New Orleans to help collect data on each property in the Filmore Gardens neighborhood. They recorded a description of each parcel, its condition, if it is vacant or occupied, and its land use status.
 | | Gloria Decuir Robert, President of FGNA, helped coordinate the project with USGIF Volunteers |
Once the data is entered, the association will turn efforts toward identifying and contacting owners of blighted properties and urging them to rebuild, offering resources to help when needed. Additionally, Gloria Decuir Robert, President of FGNA, and a team of neighbors are working with NORA to set up a community garden on a vacant lot in the neighborhood.
The volunteers from the USGIF were able to use their mapping skills to help the Filmore Gardens neighborhood build the capacity to take its recovery into its own hands. Thanks to all who participated to collect this invaluable data!
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Mayor Introduces twice-monthly BlightStat Meetings Open to the Community
In an effort to make the City's new plan to reduce blight more transparent, Mayor Landrieu has set up a public meeting every two weeks to evaluate the progress of various City Departments in executing the strategies outlined in the plan.
"BlightStat," modeled on other community meetings like ComStat, is a meeting of key staff from departments that are working to eradicate blighted property--such as Code Enforcement, Environmental Health, City Attorney, Sanitation and NORA, among others. Each department reports on day-to-day progress in reaching the goals outlined by the blight plan.
Community members are invited to attend the meetings, ask questions, and give feedback. Upcoming BlightStat meetings are listed below:
December 2nd
December 16th
December 30th
8:00 am at 1340 Poydras St., 9th Floor
See notes from the November 4th BlightStat.
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3rd District Hot Sheets Available Electronically
A Message from Sergeant Christopher Prochaska and Officer Patrick Smith
Click here for the Third District "Hot Sheet". This form can be used to report numerous quality of life issues. In the interest of better serving our citizens we have made the form computer friendly. Now you have the ability to fill out the form on your computer and email it directly to the Third District Community Policing Unit. In the event you do not wish to do this you may print out the form, fill it out and fax it to the Third District station at (504) 658-6169. If you experience any technical problems completing or sending the document please let one of the members of our Third District Community Policing Team know so we may resolve the issue and make reporting these violations as easy and convenient as possible!
Sergeant Christopher Prochaska cprochaska@nola.gov (504) 239-0333
Quality of Life Police Officer Patrick Smith pmsmith@nola.gov (504)444-7514 |
 Next Harrison Avenue Market
December 8th
801 Harrison Avenue (Across from Starbucks)
5-8:30 pm
Live music, 70+ vendors, great food and fun for all!
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Mission:
Leading the way home, Beacon of Hope Resource Center provides
a model for recovery in neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Katrina, as well
as other areas affected by disaster. Providing information
and resources, encouraging
civic action, and fostering repopulation form the foundation on which
we build and grow. Beacon of Hope empowers residents to
facilitate their own recovery while providing a hub of resident driven
activities and a safe environment to create the synergy essential for
restoring
viable neighborhoods and improve the overall quality of life for
residents.
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Beacon of Hope Resource Center
145 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70124
504-309-5120
www.lakewoodbeacon.org
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