Beacon of Hope Spotlights...
Kimberly Matthews, a great neighbor in Paris Oaks
 Kimberly Matthews speaks about the recovery in Paris Oaks, getting involved in the neighborhood, and her efforts to help clean up after the storm. With help from Beacon of Hope and volunteers from around the nation, Kimberly planned a community cleanup to beautify the neighborhood and boost morale in the community. She is truly a Beacon of Hope in her neighborhood!
Please contact Neighborhood Coordinator, Laura Mellem, if you'd like to "spotlight" a great neighbor in your community. 
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Beacon on Jeopardy!
 Check out this question in the "Everyday Heroes" category of the Jeopardy episode that aired January 19th!
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RSD Public Meeting in Gentilly
Community members and parents attended last night's public meeting on the future of Greater Gentilly High School. RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas told the group that UNO-run Marshall will be merged into the Greater Gentilly building this fall. Click here to read more.
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Town Hall on Crime and Perception
On January 18, Touro Synagogue and the New Orleans Crime Commission hosted a town hall meeting entitled "When Perception is NOT Reality: The Real State of Crime in New Orleans." Chief Serpas reiterated that the Police Department relies on the support of the community in fighting crime and that he has zero tolerance for lying, ill treatment of citizens, and other abuses among officers. Since the success of DA Cannizzaro's office in convictions of drug and gun cases depends heavily on the ability of juries to believe the police officer witnesses, he lauds the chief's efforts in boosting the integrity of the department in the eyes of the citizens.
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City Planning Commission Encourages Citizen Participation in CZO
The City Planning Commission (CPC) asks citizens to review current land use maps to verify that the zoning accurately reflects what the land is actually being used for. Your input will help in the CPC's development of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO). To read more, click here.
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Disaster Recovery Unit in City Hall
The Office of Community Development's Disaster Recovery Unit has an open office in New Orleans City Hall to assist homeowners who have questions about their HMGP, IMM, or Road Home cases.
Road Home/Small Rental programs: 1-888-762-3252
HMGP/appointments: 504-284-4020. The office is located on 8th floor of City Hall, room 8E05 and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00am to 4:00pm.
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Low-income Home Energy Assistance
Total Community Action, Inc. currently has appointments available for energy assistance. For more information, click here.
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Councilwoman Hedge-Morrell Awards Beacon of Hope
 In December, Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell awarded Beacon with $1,000 from Harrah's Foundation for its ongoing work in District D. Thank you for the continued support from District D and the rest of the City Council!
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Holiday Raffle Winner a true supporter of the Saints and of Beacon of Hope
Anne Comarada (left) was one of four lucky winners in Beacon of Hope's Holiday Raffle. Her name was chosen Dec. 23rd, among dozens of entries, as winner of a Championship Super Bowl Football autographed by Drew Brees and Sean Payton.
Anne says she entered the raffle "because it was for the Beacon of Hope--such a great organization." She should know, considering she has been involved from the very beginning. Anne says that "from the day [Beacon's Founder Denise Thornton] stood up in a neighborhood association meeting and said that she wanted to open up her home as a resource for the neighbors, we were on board." It is fitting, then, that such a longtime supporter of Beacon of Hope should be drawn as a winner.
But the prize seems even more deserved considering Ms. Anne's lifelong dedication to the Saints: she attended the very first Saints exhibition game with her family in Anaheim in 1967 and has been a Saints fan ever since! When asked what she will do with the prize, she says, "The football is currently sitting on the mantle in my den for everyone to see. I am keeping it for myself, much to the chagrin of my children!"
 Thank you to all of you who entered the raffle and donated to the Beacon of Hope in 2010! The other raffle winners were J. Rozetchki (pictured right with her autographed football and Executive Director, Tina Marquardt), J. Laguaite who won an autographed copy of Drew Brees' book Coming Back Stronger, and P. Huttner who won an autographed copy of Coach Payton's Book Home Team. |
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South Asian Group with New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council Visits Beacon
The New Orleans Citizen Diplomacy Council hosted a delegation from South Asia interested in learning more about the impact of volunteerism in American communities as well as best practices used by organizations to recruit and manage volunteer work in late January. Beacon of Hope was happy to meet with the delegation to discuss the origins of the Beacon, challenges and successes we have experienced in grassroots organizing, and the resources Beacon offers to homeowners and neighborhoods.
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Donnelly Park Builds a Success!
Burbank Gardens residents and other Gentilly volunteers turned out in early December to help build Donnelly Playground, sponsored by Allstate. Despite cold and dreary weather, the playground was completed and is now ready for safe-playing!
City Officials, Allstate representatives, and Burbank Gardens residents hosted a dedication ceremony in early January, where Allstate representatives pledged to build another five playgrounds in the city of New Orleans. Donnelly Playground was the sixth playground built through a partnership with Allstate and NORD, and the second in Gentilly. Click here to read more. |
Ohio State and University of Arkansas Fans Join Forces with Beacon
Fans volunteer in the Lower 9th Ward pre-Sugar Bowl
Fans in town for the Sugar Bowl took time out of their pre-game schedule to volunteer with Beacon of Hope in Early January as part of the 2011 Bowl Community Service Project. Over 200 volunteers cleared 22 lots in the Lower 9th Ward and some made "no sew" blankets for residents. Even both teams' mascots came out for the day which culminated in a mascot dance-off (click here to see a video)!
Beacon of Hope and the Lower 9th Ward Homeowners Association thank all of the volunteers for their hard work!
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Save the date for the Gentilly Open House, hosted by Beacon of Hope Resource Center and the Gentilly Civic and Improvement Association (GCIA) as we celebrate successes, build relationships, and create strategies for the future of Gentilly.
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 Next Harrison Avenue Market
March 16th, 2011
801 Harrison Avenue (at Lakeview Grocery)
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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