Work Nola

Join worknola.com- new job finding website will launch March 1st

YURP Profiles: Westley Bayas

By Isaac Arnsdorf

When Westley Bayas, who grew up in New Orleans, left for college, he said he never planned to come back. He fully expected to live somewhere else. But today he is the director of community outreach for Phoenix of New Orleans, a rebuilding non-profit named after the mythical bird that is reborn from ashes.

Asked what changed his mind, he answered immediately, “Katrina.”

He was a student at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge at the time. The gym was converted into a makeshift triage center, and Westley volunteered to help. “I realized I had to go back home,” he said. “I wanted to play whatever part I could to make it into the New Orleans I remembered.”

He remembers the look and the feel, the neighbors shooting the breeze on their porches. But after Katrina, he saw overgrown grass, and blocks and blocks of emptiness. He wants to help bring the old New Orleans back.

Hopefully a little better, he added. At Phoenix, he helps displaced homeowners get back into their homes. Now he expects to stay for the foreseeable future. “I need to stay,” he said. “I’m taking part in a lot of things to improve the city and push it in the direction that I want.”

As New Orleans rebuilds, it has opportunities for young people to get jobs for which they would not otherwise be qualified, to start businesses or to “blaze their own path,” Westley said. “New Orleans is a place where young people can come and prove themselves.”

VP Debate Party

Watch clips from the Debate Party on WWLTV

Here are a few photos from the debate at nola.com

Rebirth at Maple Leaf

Hello. Things have been a little calmer in my daily life, so things I feel are interesting enough to parlay, have decreased, but last night I had a pretty amazing experience seeing Rebirth at the Maple Leaf.

The night didn’t start well. The red sox blew a lead in the ninth to the devil rays and dropped to 1.5 games back in the A.L. east, on top of that I discovered there was a cover of $12 at the door to Maple Leaf. Having not heard the band yet, I was irrationally annoyed with having to spend money to get a stamp that is a reminder to everyone today that 1. I went out last night and 2. I didn’t bathe since then. But I digress.



The bar is surprisingly big with a cast of characters to match. This woman was posing in front of the fan, almost daring me to take her picture. As you can see I didn’t have a problem with that.



Rebirth took the stage and the sound was instant. It filled the room and my head with a force that didn’t allow for any other reaction then to listen and dance.



I won’t try and describe it anymore, but I strongly suggest if you haven’t seen them (Nate is telling me everyone has) see them.



This guy was cooking outside, I didn’t catch his name, but I think he calls the operation, “Meat For Your Mouth”, at least that’s what it said on the back of his shirt.



He puts all late night sausage stands to shame, to SHAME. An open grill filled with quality sausages, chicken, hamburgers, pork chops and turkey legs have people from surrounding bars congregating and shelling out beer money for the stuff. I had a spicy sausage and it was amazing. I was surprised these weren’t dotting the city, the price was comparable to other late night portable setups but the quality was far superior. The owner informed me he had been doing this for 12 years, and he didn’t feel comfortable putting that hard work and reputation behind someone that wasn’t him. I can’t argue with his conviction, but for the sake of drunk people everywhere I hope he changes his mind and sends these things to Los Angeles while he’s at it.




Currently I’m at yurp headquarters doing some flyer designs for upcoming events. Hope to see you there.

Maybe the Uptown version of Mimi's

Everyone loves Mimi's on Saturday Night with Dj Soul Sister, now you can have it on Friday night too

"soul sister presents

ENJOY

a NEW PARTY ~ the uptown get down with resident dj soul sister & special guests

kicks off this Friday, August 8 @ a new spot, the awesome upstairs space at Takumi sushi lounge. (2800 Magazine St. at Washington Ave, across from Starbucks)

10pm-1am and then some

no cover

dancefloor classics, spirits and japan-nola fusion tapas served late. ladies always drink free sake.

come ready to party on a FRIDAY!

another right on party situation: djsoulsister.com"

New Orleans Brain Gain

*The blogging community continues to comment on the New Orleans Brain Gain. Read Kenneth Cole's Awearness Blog

*Add your ideas to the New Orleans 100

*Nominate Curious Tribe for The 2008 Black Weblog Awards

* Join us tonight at Ogden After Hours

48 Film Project, Fotos for Humanity, SENO

48 Hour Film Project Winners Announced Tonight!

What: Award Soiree during Purplesaurus Rex Indie Dance Party
Where: Hostel New Orleans
When Tonight @ 10:30pm
Cover: Free


NOLA YURP member Devin Meyers, who contributed photography to our original website, is part of the ideablob.com ideas contest. Check out his photography and vote for him!




The website for the Social Entrepreneurs of New Orleans is live! Check it out, here

Rebuilding and Drinking Together

Everyone did their job ( ordering drinks) and we were able to raise over 400 dollars for Rebuilding Together. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Cause for Drinks Tonight

*We will be at Hookah Cafe at 7pm today to support Rebuilding Together. One of the reasons we picked Rebuilding Together is because we have gotten such great feedback from people who have volunteered with them. They are organized and know how to manage volunteers, which is easier said than done. 2 dollars from every drink will go back to Rebuilding Together.

*If you are in another city, check the All Day Buffet website to see if you can drink for a cause tonight

* The New Orleans Institute website is now alive. Check it out!

NOLA YURP gets vetoed

The Downtown Development District wrote a blurb about our upcoming Urban Next Summit

We were one of the 258 vetoes the Governor did yesterday. The most vetoes ever! We had asked for money to build a better job board that would have helped a lot more people have access to job openings.

Our friends at Next American City are accepting applicants for their New Urban Leaders Fellowship Program. Here is the information

Call for Applications for Next American City’s New Urban Leaders
Fellowship Program

We are thrilled to announce a call for applications for our new Urban
Leaders Fellowship Program. The fellowship, designed to support emerging
journalists, leaders and thinkers, is a unique opportunity to write about
the development and future of our nation’s cities. The 9-month fellowship
comes with a $10,000 stipend.

Through substantial contribution to our print magazine and website, as
well as a presence in other media outlets throughout the country, fellows
will conduct new research and in-depth reportage on the issues at the
forefront of urban change. In addition to diversifying and expanding the
editorial content of our publications, the Urban Leaders Fellowship
Program will help fellows have a sustained, positive impact on the cities
and urban communities they will cover.

We are looking for candidates with related published writing, as well as
passionate urban thinkers, activists and professionals working in
city-related professions – law, urban planning, social work, real estate
development, education, and others. Candidates must have a demonstrated
area of interest or expertise that they would like to further develop
through writing and advocacy opportunities made available by the Urban
Leaders Fellowship.

For more information about this program including a full program outline
and application form, visit americancity.org/fellows. Email questions to
fellows@americancity.org.

AmeriCorps Positions with the Neighborhood Partnership Network

Community Technology Coordinator – Americorps Volunteer

Neighborhoods Partnership Network (NPN)'s mission is to improve our quality of life by engaging New Orleanians in neighborhood revitalization and the civic process. NPN is looking for a Community Technology Coordinator (CTC). The CTC is a full-time Americorps position for 11 months (August 15 - July 15) and serves to connect the NPN network using our communication tools, most specifically our upcoming social network website. The Community Technology Coordinator will have the opportunity to develop unique web content, lead trainings and create lasting partnerships to help revitalize New Orleans' neighborhoods. They will work closely with the Americorps Trumpet Editor.

The CTC with the Neighborhoods Partnership Network will:
- Develop and coordinate website trainings for volunteers, residents and member organizations.
- Assist with workshops and information distribution.
- Improving and developing website content for the NPN "Faces of Recovery" social network.
- Write the weekly E-Newsletter read by over 2,500 people every week.
- Serve as technology liaison to the community through public speaking and presentations.
- Work with NPN volunteer coordinator on digital storytelling initiative.
- Press Releases and other PR communications.

11 Month Positions - Starting August 26th 2008
Please send cover letter, resume and writing samples to jobs@npnnola.com

Experience or Skills of Interest:
- Comfortable with Websites and internet applications.
- Initiative and ability to anticipate needs of clients (neighborhoods and non-profits).
- Flexible and able to multi-task efficiently.
- Writing Skills, Video Editing and other media communications experience.
- Knowledge of programming (css, xhtml, etc) is a big plus.

Benefits:
• Monthly Stipend - $860 approx
• Education Award - $4,725
• Health Care
• Exposure to many businesses, universities and government agencies

The Trumpet Editor Position: Americorps Volunteer

NPN is looking for the magazine’s next Editor-in-Chief. This is a great opportunity to lead an authentic, growing community publication as part of the recovery of New Orleans. The position is a full-time Americorps commitment for 11 months (August 26 - July 26).

The Trumpet Editor-in-Chief, with the Neighborhoods Partnership Network, will:
- Reach out to community residents, students and non-profits and work with them on submissions, as well as write articles and editorials.
- Help set the thematic arc of the Trumpet by finding topics and neighborhoods to spotlight with each issue.
- Ensure the magazine’s sustainability by researching potential underwriters.
- Collaborate with established leaders in non-profit, community organizing, and government sectors.
- Design and layout issues (as experience allows) and determine the magazine’s visual direction.
-Proofread and edit submissions to ensure that they meet NPN’s standard of quality.

11 Month Position - Starting August 26th 2008
Please send cover letter, resume, writing and design samples to: jobs@npnnola.com.

Experience or Skills of Interest:
- Previous outreach or organizing work.
- Previous experience as editor or manager of publication.
- Knowledge of InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop a necessity
- Organized and able to meet deadlines.

Benefits:
• Monthly Stipend - $860 approx
• Education Award - $4,725
• Health Care
• Exposure to many local and national non-profits, universities and government agencies


Learn more at http://www.npnnola.com

NOLA 100

Our friends at All Day Buffet are asking for people to contribute to the list they are compiling of the 100 most interesting ideas/organizations/ businesses (really anything) in New Orleans. Please take the time to add your thoughts. You can read more about it, here

Tonight NOLA YURP will be at the Summer Swirl, then catching a glimpse of Sam's Funky Nation as they perform for VH1 at Blue Nile, followed by DJ Damion Yancy at Lephare for the Good Life

The Times-Picayune had a front page article about David Simon's new pilot "Treme" set in New Orleans. We are very excited about the prospect of Simon coming down south to dig around and expose what makes New Orleans great, and what needs to be improved. Read the article here

Wednesday is Survey Day

It seems like New Orleans is all about surveys today- including us

If you are going to choose one to complete, we prefer if it is our new membership survey, but if not, here are some others to choose from

LSU/NOLA YURP Membership Survey

Resident of Greater New Orleans- Click here

If you do not live in Greater New Orleans- Click here

Downtown Mobility and Parking Study

Click here if you want to vent about your frustrations for parking tickets downtown

Curious Tribe survey

Click here if you want to add your input


A study by University New Orleans came out today (because they already did a survey) about people's thoughts on the recovery process. Read about the findings, here

New Job Postings on the NOLA YURP website

Here are some of the latest job postings from the NOLA YURP website...

Catholic Charities (New Orleans) Job Openings

ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES................

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans is one of the largest health and human service providers in the Gulf South. We are a not-for-profit agency made up of over 52 programs and serve the poor and vulnerable population of our community, regardless of religion, race, color, or economic status.

Catholic Charities serves the physical area of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which is made up of the civil parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Washington Parish.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans has the following openings:

Driver
Social Worker
Case Manager Supervisor
Court Advocate
Credentialed Substance Abuse Counselor
Youth Build Construction Trainer
Certified Nursing Assistant
Registered Nurse
*Many more positions within their organization*

You can view the complete listing of jobs and more information about these job posting from Catholic Charities by visiting the NOLA YURP website!

You can also apply online www.ccano.org or email resume to ccanohr@archdiocese-no.org.

Volunteer in the Arts, Purplesaurus

Different events going on around town led by...NOLA YURP members

Volunteer in the Arts Summer Kickoff Meeting
Columns Hotel
6pm

This a project of the Young Leadership Council that seeks to promote volunteering in the New Orleans arts comunity

For more information, contact Semmes Walmsley at semmes.walmsley@gmail.com or Julie Willoz at jcwilloz@yahoo.com


Tonight at Hostel
10:30pm
Purplesaurus Rex Dance Party
Dj Kemistry and DJ Damion Yancy

Summer Swirl

Thought there was nothing to do in New Orleans during the summer? Join Puentes, Common Good, New Orleans Young Lawyers Association, Urban League Young Professional movement, Young Leadership Council and NOLA YURP for a little summer fun with DJ Damion Yancy, food and drinks on July 10th at Ray's on the River.

Save the Date
July 10th
Ray's on the River
6-9pm

After party
LePhare

Support Americorps

Many NOLA YURP members, including myself, are either Americorps alumn or current members. Many non-profits in New Orleans have benefited from having Americorps volunteers and there is now a bill to help make Americorps more attractive to young people across the country. Members of the House of Representatives are leading a bill to end the taxation on the Eli Segal Education Award. This is the money that Americorps volunteers receive to use for education after they complete their term of service. You can support the bill by writing a letter to your representative in support of HR 6407. Here are some talking points

If you are in New York City, you can join NOLA YURP members at

Forever New Orleans: Drinks for Expats
July 2, 2008 :: 7:00 - 9:00 PM
The Redhead
349 East 13th Street (corner of 1st Ave)
RSVP: http://alldaybuffet.pingg.com/ForeverNewOrleans/

Citizen Participation Summit, Small is Beautiful

I went to a meeting yesterday with different New Orleans residents who are interested in thinking about ways to create a local currency to support the New Orleans small business community. If you are interested, you can join the discussion, here.

We also encourage you to participate in the Citizen Participation Summit- more information below


Citizen Participation Summit
To be held
Friday, July 11th and Saturday, July 12th
at the
Pan-American Life Center, 601 Poydras
To be held in the Bayou Room, on the 15th floor


The Summit will begin at 5 pm on Friday, July 11th. Friday will be educational and action-oriented, with different models of citizen participation distributed, studied, and discussed, all while considering the diverse needs of New Orleans' neighborhoods. Participants will take on an active role and define some of the activities, conversation topics, and ideas to be explored on the second day. The evening will also feature a keynote speaker, Judith Mowry. Judith serves as the Effective Engagement Solutions Coordinator in the Office of Neighborhood Involvement in Portland, Oregon. Dinner will be served.

Saturday, July 11th will begin with registration and coffee at 8:30, with the activities beginning at 9 am. The day will focus on the various challenges facing the process, how to engage our communities, and what our action plan and structure of engagement will be following the Summit. We anticipate that the conversation will be diverse, engaging, and interactive, with the identification of concrete solutions and goals, and culminating in the creation of a strategy and structure of involvement. The Summit will end at 3:45, with a celebration following.

We encourage everyone to attend the Summit. Registration is required, but free and open to everyone. To register, please email Breonne DeDecker at breonne@npnnola.com. If you have filled out a registration form, confirmed by phone, or already registered via email, do not worry about registering a second time. Childcare will be provided on site by Agenda for Children. Registration will close on July 3rd.

For more information, please call 267-4665.

NOLA YURP around the blog and podcast world

Hear us talk to Craig Kraemer at New Orleans Podcasting.

The America Forward Coalition mentioned the Urban Next Summit in their blog today! We read it, you can too....

Looking for something to do tonight?

Share your story for the New Orleans Institute

As a reader of our blog, you have been chosen!
We want to hear your story and also give you the opportunity to present it to a national audience. Read the details below



The New Orleans Institute

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

June 20, 2008

Dear New Orleanian:

You are receiving this letter because you have a story worth sharing.

For many months after the levees breached in 2005, we waited for someone to come and help us "recover." Who was that "someone"? FEMA? The federal government? A university? Developers? We were waiting for experts to arrive with answers.

In time we learned that the experts—and the answers—were already here. In the midst of public failures have been countless successes, brought about by willing, able and imaginative individuals drawn together to resurrect their communities.

You are one of those individuals.

Perhaps you have been working to bring back neighbors, or to establish better governance of the public infrastructure, or to restore the environment, or to create well resourced schools. You may be working to restore and grow neighborhood economies, to create new businesses for the new economy, to protect historical housing stock, to provide a mobile health system, to address racist and outdated systems, to encourage neighborhood-friendly development, to nurture precious cultural traditions, or to create a safety net for neighbors and family still struggling since the storm.

On behalf of The New Orleans Institute, an emerging network of organizations and individuals involved in every aspect of community-based recovery in New Orleans, we invite you to submit a proposal to present in New Orleans on Saturday, August 30, 2008. "New Orleans Speaks: We are the Ones We've Been Waiting For" is a forum to tell your story and that of your constituents to a broad audience including members of the media, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, national and local funders, and others. Presentations will be recorded and webcast to have widespread and lasting impact.

If you are interested in presenting, click here to get the application and submit your proposal electronically by July 3, 2008. If you have any questions please contact nolaspeaksconference@gmail.com or call 866 0985.