Jessica Yang
NENA Design Studio Intern
CBR Assignment 1
Background
The Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association is a nonprofit organization that
began in response to the inadequate disaster assistance after Hurricane Katrina in the
Lower 9th ward. NENA assists the rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward by providing
services and programs in community outreach, case management, design, construction,
home, school rebuilding, and economic redevelopment. NENA is run by 17 staff
members within the subcategories of Outreach, Case Management, Economic
Development, Volunteer Services, and Design Studio. All members of the Board of
Directors have direct relationship with the Lower Ninth Ward as employees, residents, or
religious attendees. NENA spans outside the community with partnerships with Loyola
School of Law, Tulane University, Crescent City Alliance Recovery Effort, Lower 9th
Ward Stakeholder Coalition, and Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership.
Over all Problem
NENA is one of many non profit organizations that started in response to the slow
disaster recovery rate in the lower 9th ward. The lower 9th ward predominantly housed
low income African American families. When the levee system aligning the
neighborhood broke, waters from the industrial canal flooded the Lower Ninth Ward. A
couple families like Mr. and Mrs. Banks (NENA clients) fled to neighboring states of
Alabama and Arkansas. Many less fortunate low income families without adequate
transportation vehicles were stranded and left behind in the floods.
Last summer, 2008, was my first visit to the vacant ghost town of the lower 9th ward as a
NENA volunteer. All that remained amongst the overgrown plots of fields were cement
steps, the entrance of a home. Many survivors fighting their way back to the lower 9th
face difficulties in receiving aid provided by disaster relief federal programs due to
policy, financial and educational limitations. When I questioned Clifford (NENA
contracting staff) why do the people not voice their demands for to the city? Clifford
points to the window, "Do you see anybody living here? What voice is there to be
heard?"
The Lower Ninth Ward stands today as an open playing field with many organizations,
local and regional, trying to develop the new face of the neighborhood alongside the
original residents (NENA, Make it Right, Common Ground, Road Home, Global Green,
ACT). One major distinction between NENA and the other Katrina Recovery
organizations is its strategy in aiding the victims. As following suite their name:
Neighborhood Empowerment, NENA works towards provided assistance, the tools for
the community to get themselves back on their feet. Wanda (NENA's economic
development representative) hopes that eventually many more original 9th ward residents
will return, bringing back the “9th ward flavor”. According to Ken (NENA's Architect)
Hurricane Katrina only "revealed inadequate services to the low income amongst social
consciousness." NENA serves as a link between the, "Repressed, disenfranchised and
left behind"(Wanda, NENA) to Katrina assistance programs such as: homestead
exemptions, Road Home and primary residency tax credits.
Program Goal:
To provide case managing, building and technical assistance to low income disaster
victims of Hurricane Katrina for a more empowered Lower Ninth Ward community.