NGO Strategies and the Rebuilding of Post-Katrina New Orleans
Case Studies from 3 Neighborhoods
Analysis & Conclusions
Tremé
Holy Cross
Broadmoor
Revitalization Vision
Many local groups and outside NGOs wanted
the neighborhood back as it was before the
storm. Most agreed that the historic
significance of Tremé and its institutions
warranted its preservation.
Sustainable restoration idea introduced by
outside groups almost immediately. This was
followed by new and historic “green” rebuilding.
The first U.S. carbon-neutral neighborhood was
a vision held by NGOs and adopted by
community association.
Rebuilding began with set of citizen driven
planning exercises to determine vision. The
core values of the planning process included:
citizen self-determination, collaboration, skill
building, and cross-cultural representation.
How vision decided
Immediately after Katrina extant help groups
and NGOs allied with key neighborhood
members/groups to rebuild/preserve the
neighborhood and its cultural/historic
institutions.
NGOs and State Department of Natural
Resources officials chose the community for a
greening and sustainable rebuilding example.
The neighborhood association adopted the
green vision due to efficacy and availability of
resources.
Intensive, deliberative neighborhood meetings
led to consensus. Dynamics of just racial
representation incorporated in planning
process.
NGO Process
NGOs, foreign govts. and others worked
through existing trusted help groups and
community associations.
Dozens of NGOs, loosely networked through
the neighborhood association clearinghouse,
all sharing a belief in “greening.”
The Harvard Belfer Center served as research
experts and ‘policy translation’ experts though
all topics and ideas determined by the
neighborhood.
Strategy for working
together
Informal networks of help groups filled in the
gaps and loosely coordinated with one another:
work was help group driven and funded.
The neighborhood association was the
clearinghouse and the NGOs brought funds,
materials and physical help in rebuilding.
Citizen-driven ideas propelled the planning
process with Harvard helping as planning/grant
writer—no funds from Harvard but help creating
fundraising documents.
Demographics
Black/White/Hispanic
93% / 5%/ 1% (2000 census)
75%/ 17%/ 5% (2010 census)
87% / 10%/ 1% (2000 census)
89%/ 7%/ 2% (2010 census)
68% / 26%/ 4% (2000 census)
61%/ 29%/ 7% (2010 census)
House Vacancy
2000/2010
19% / 37%
15% / 41%
10% / 31%
Class
Low income and some middle income
Low income and some lower middle
Low, middle, and upper middle income
State of
neighborhood today
It is a semblance of its former state with
refurbished school (now charter), similar
community groups and increased gentrification
pressure and tensions that existed before the
storm.
There is a new school but no grocery or basic
commercial services. New bike lanes have
been built but many homes are still vacant and
unrepaired.
There is a new school and library and a
community/health center is in the planning
phase. The neighborhood is thriving and even
poorer sections are being rebuilt.
Future prospects
It is difficult to tell a difference between the
older section of the neighborhood (south of
Claiborne) before and after with the exception
of lack of services and some businesses still
shuttered.
The neighborhood is still welcoming green
groups and looking for funds to rebuild, small
steps at a time.
In 2010 the residents voted for a parcel fee—
the neighborhood association is now a taxsupported and elected legal entity advocating
officially for the community.
Copyright 2012 Barbara Allen Ph.D.
This project was supported by a National Science Foundation grant # SES-0821353