Position Title: Community Engagement Coordinator

Host Organization: Friends of Lafitte Greenway

Deadline to Apply: June 30, 2019 at ServeLouisiana.org

Service Term: September 1, 2019 - July 31, 2020

Printable Position Description: Download here

Overview:

In partnership with Serve Louisiana, Friends of Lafitte Greenway is recruiting for an AmeriCorps member to serve as our Community Engagement Coordinator. Corps Members serve full time for 11 months starting September 1st.  Benefits include a living allowance of $14,000, an education award of $6,095, health insurance, student loan forbearance, child care reimbursement, in-depth personal and professional development, and valuable networking opportunities. For more information and to apply, visit servelouisiana.org.    

About Serve Louisiana:

Serve Louisiana partners young leaders with nonprofits for a paid year, helping local organizations improve lives and build stronger communities. As Louisiana's longest-running AmeriCorps program, Serve Louisiana offers young leaders 11-month opportunities to work with community-based organizations to improve the health and lives of South Louisiana families and children. Through progressive, hands-on training, coaching and mentoring, we prepare people to address the real needs facing communities -- poverty, mental health and wellness, education, youth development, environmental preservation -- and help to effect true, long-term change.

About the Corps Member Experience:

Corps members serve 40 hours a week from September 1, 2019-July 31, 2020 with a community-based organization (Friends of Lafitte Greenway) providing capacity-building activities such as volunteer coordination, program development, social media/technology coordination, and community outreach.  Through their partner organization site and through Serve Louisiana, corps members enjoy personal and professional development opportunities, workshops, trainings and extensive networking opportunities.  

Dear Greenway Community,

One month ago, we celebrated the inaugural Hike Fest. Our community was still reeling. Three weeks prior, Nellie (our Program Director) and I narrowly survived the horrific crash, biking on Esplanade Avenue, that took two of our dearest friends’ lives. For me, that day at the Hike Fest--under the crisp sunshine, surrounded by dancing, and laughing children--was a crystallization of the goodness of life, and it began to fill a space in my chest that felt hollow.

At the Greenway, we have worked together to build a community and a place that connects us. Nellie and I have shared our awe: we never anticipated that we would personally need to draw so heavily upon it, and yet this Greenway community stepped in with a thousand acts of goodness to support our healing, to produce the Hike Fest, and to carry us through.

This inaugural fest was a success beyond our goals. Attended by 2,500 community members,

The City of New Orleans announced public meetings for Moving New Orleans: Bikes, an iniative to develop a citywide bikeway network. At the Greenway, we know how important it is to have safe, connected, and protected bikeways in New Orleans. Join us at these public meetings to give your input. 

The first round of public meetings begins the second week of April and the City is asking everyone to help identify specific areas with transportation challenges, desired biking and walking destinations, and potential bike routes. Your voice is crucial to creating a strong collective vision for increasing safe and equitable transportation options. 

We are saddened to report that staff of Friends of Lafitte Greenway were involved in the senseless and violent incident Saturday night after the Endymion parade. Executive Director Sophie Harris Vorhoff sustained multiple injuries and is in intensive care at a local hospital. Program Director Nellie Catzen was released from the hospital on Sunday. Sophie and Nellie were with four others – including Sophie’s husband – who were on bikes on their way from an Endymion party to a downtown parade.

“The board and staff of Friends of Lafitte Greenway along with their extended community of friends and family are reeling,” said board President Kevin Centanni. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of David Hynes and Sharree Walls along with the others who were injured.”

Sharree Walls and David Hynes were friends and allies of Friends of Lafitte Greenway and our efforts. The loss of them strikes at everything we stand for.

Safety on our streets requires a deep commitment and collective effort at all levels of our community. From envisioning and investing in safe dedicated infrastructure for people on foot and on bikes, to individual and community accountability to prevent drunk driving; we all have a role to play in building a safer community. Friends of Lafitte Greenway is committed to building a safer future with the support of our allies at the City; bike, pedestrian, and transit advocates; and our friends, supporters, and neighbors. 

Vendor applications are now closed!

If you would like to be notified next year, please email camly@lafittegreenway.org

Hike Fest Vendor Applications are now open! The Greenway Fest  on Saturday, March 21, 2020 will bring together the very best of the Greenway and the communities it connects for a full day of live local music, food and drink, kids activities, Greenway tours, and more.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway invites any interested restaurants, catering companies, pop-ups, food trucks, artists, artisans, and community organizations to join us and connect with thousands of Greenway neighbors and supporters at the Greenway's very first festival. Applications are due by Wednesday, February 5th.

Find out more and apply by clicking on the buttons below!

The Connect the Crescent three-month demonstration project wrapped up last week and New Orleans streets are back to their previous configurations. 

We hope you had a chance to ride, walk, and enjoy the connected network of over 3.5 miles of low-stress bike-ways, pedestrian safety measures, and improved transit-stop access in the downtown area. 

Make your voice be heard and take the Transportation Choices survey or submit public comment here.

Bike and pedestrian trail lighting on the Lafitte Greenway between N. Broad Street and Jefferson Davis Parkway has sustained damage due to copper wire theft. Department of Public Works crews are scheduled to begin lighting restoration work today (December 17th). Restoration is expected to be completed by December 31st, weather permitting.

Safety of trail users and the New Orleans community is our utmost priority. Until the lighting is restored, the City has increased security patrols on the Lafitte Greenway in partnership with NOPD.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Work's RoadWork hotline. Roadwork@nola.gov and 658-ROAD.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway joined the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance's Put Housing First Rally & March on November 03, 2018. We walked the streets of the Treme/Tulane/Downtown area to spread awareness and increase community involvement regarding the lack of affordable housing in New Orleans. Gathered on the Greenway, Friends read and officially released a statement on housing affordability prepared in collaboration with our Housing Affordability Subcommittee. 

Help ensure that the Greenway is a safe, vibrant, and active community asset.

Call for board members: 2019-2022 Term | Printable Version

To apply for a board member position: Please submit a letter-of-interest and resume or equivalent to Friends of Lafitte Greenway’s Nominating Committee at apply@lafittegreenway.org by Thursday, December 20^th, 2018.

About Friends of Lafitte Greenway:

Friends of Lafitte Greenway was formed in early 2006 by New Orleans community members who saw an opportunity to rethink the city's landscape to enhance livability, environmental sustainability, open space equity, and health. The organization built a network of diverse constituents who shared its vision of preserving the continuous open space in the former Lafitte rail corridor, and developing a Greenway that encourages active living, facilitates economic development, and links adjacent neighborhoods, cultural features, historic sites, retail areas, and public spaces.

The Lafitte Greenway opened in November 2015 as a 2.6 mile pedestrian and bike path and linear park, connecting neighborhoods from Armstrong Park to City Park. The backbone of New Orleans bike network, the Greenway is now used by 300,000 people annually.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway (Friends) is the City of New Orleans’ official partner, working together to program, develop, and steward the Greenway. Friends is a community-driven organization, guided by a Board of Directors, members, volunteers, and staff.

Mission: To build, program, and promote the Lafitte Greenway as a great public space.

Vision: A healthy and vibrant public space that connects people to nature, their destinations, and each other.

During your 3-year tenure the organization has big plans to implement our newly adopted Strategic Plan including:

• Strengthen community engagement and communications.
• Increase individual giving and corporate support.
• Grow our partnership with the City of New Orleans.
• Implement policies, programs, and projects to ensure that:
  • The Greenway is a community-oriented and highly used public space.
  • The Greenway serves as a transportation connector, safely linking neighborhoods and destinations.
  • Nature on the Greenway is beautiful and functional.

Would you like to stay up-to-date with Friends of Lafitte Greenway? Sign up for our Greenway Gazette! Here's a look at our October edition.