HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
I have lived in Faubourg Delachaise for about 18 years. I grew up in New Orleans, left for college, grad school, Peace Corps, teaching in the US and Africa before returning home to New Orleans to be close to family and teach at McGehee School.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
When we moved in we inquired about a neighborhood group and immediately joined the Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association. There we met more neighbors and found out about issues in the neighborhood. At meetings, we always had some speakers: council people, Neighborhood Engagement representatives, police, and business owners. Around election time, we often had candidates for office.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
Faubourg Delachaise is a very walkable neighborhood and close to the action on Magazine with shops, restaurants, drug stores, a grocery, coffee shop, snowball stands, and bars. There is a diverse community which reflects our city: newcomers and long term residents; retirees, college students, and working people; a mix of black and white residents. NORD’s Lyons Center (when open) offered activities in the gyms, dance studio, meeting rooms, and fields. Also, there is good access to downtown, Audubon Park, as well as Bayou St. John and the lake.
WHAT SUCCESSES HAVE YOU HAD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
FDNA has been active in issues involving land use. The owner of CAVAN (restaurant on Magazine) came to several of our meetings to get feedback on their plans before they opened. The city process on some changes to buildings and zoning require neighborhood input; we have actively followed these issues and have had an impact when we felt that the change would be detrimental to the neighborhood.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
Since we are not meeting in person, I am forwarding important information from the city and other sources to our email list. We may have a ZOOM meeting for our next quarterly meeting. Additionally, we are keeping up with the District B Office and the Office of Neighborhood Engagement.
ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS AND CHANGE MAKERS?
Get to know your neighborhood association as well as the adjacent neighborhood associations and the important players and businesses. Walking your neighborhood is invaluable in addition to being good exercise. Also, build a relationship with the councilperson for your district and the staffers in his/her office. They can be quite helpful when issues arise. The Office of Neighborhood Engagement is also a good resource. Importantly, assume people will be reasonable until proved otherwise.