Our grocery store

The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center (GNOCDC) have released a new set of data and maps capturing the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the city, and tracking the recovery effort so far. Some of the new topics, as described in their press release:

• What was the extent of the flooding?

• How many citizens are returning and to what parts of town?

• Where are the zip code boundaries?

• Where did we all go? Where have former New Orleans residents evacuated?

• What’s the elevation of different neighborhoods?

• Where are there concentrations of historic housing outside the protection of federal historic districts?

• What neighborhoods had the highest percent of households without cars to evacuate in?

• What progress is being made in rebuilding New Orleans?

We’ve posted announcements about GNOCDC data before: they provide a fascinating view of New Orleans demographics in multiple formats including graphic maps. The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center is a product of Nonprofit Knowledge Works and is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Opportunities Program. They provide a wonderful source of information for grant-seeking area nonprofits.

An article on the Utne Reader describes a new series of maps highlighting “earth-friendly resources in cities around the world.”

Green Maps allow local communities to share their knowledge of their own communities:

Green Maps are locally created maps that chart the natural and cultural environment. Using adaptable tools and a shared visual language of Green Map Icons to highlight green living resources, Green Maps cultivate citizen participation and community sustainability.

Green Maps are a work in progress, and are available for many, but not all, major areas. A Green Map of New Orleans is under development.

In a recent article, Ralph Nader laments the government’s focus on large corporate builders in reconstructing New Orleans, and calls for the community to assert itself via cooperative economy.

New Orleans, the largest city devastated by two Hurricanes, lies in ruins. The reconstruction plans are forming and the usual commercial interests are in the forefront to receive large subsidies, federal overpayments and special immunities from having to meet labor, environmental and other normal legal safeguards for the people. The corporate looting of New Orleans is underway.

The full article outlines the nature of cooperatives and includes a number of interesting resources. Nader is both realistic about the obstacles NOFC and other efforts face, but seems optimistic about the opportunity:

It will not be easy for cooperatives, large and small, to pull together for the renaissance of New Orleans and other neighboring towns in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. But, oh, how important a contribution it could become for our entire economy, so gouged, so controlled by absentee multinationals, so inimical to community economics and control, to succeed in the wake of these Hurricanes.

The Business and Science Division of the Greater New Orleans Library will offer two grant-writing workshops in September and October. Quoting from their announcement:

On Saturday, September 10 the Business and Science Division of the Main Library will offer a workshop in prospect research for non-profit organizations. The class will be held from 10:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. in the third floor auditorium of the Main Library, 219 Loyola.

On Saturday, October 8 the Business and Science Division of the Main Library will offer a workshop to develop basic grant writing skill for non-profit organizations, taught by staff of the Greater New Orleans Nonprofit Knowledge Works (formerly The Center for Nonprofit Resources). The workshop will be from 10:15a.m. until 4:00p.m. in the third floor auditorium of the Main Library, 219 Loyola. Light refreshment will be provided, however, attendees are asked to bring a brown bag lunch.

Both programs will be free and open to the public, however, because space is limited the library is asking for RSVP’s, which can be made to the Business and Science Division at 504/596-2580.

Thanks to Daniel Winkert for passing this information on!

The Whole Foods Corporation presented a sort of choice to the Mid-City community this week: the finalists for taking over the Mid-City location are Matassa’s Grocery and Lakeview Fine Foods. There does seem to be some cynicism surrounding the issue as Robert of Fair Grinds (an open-minded and fair fellow as many would agree) writes:

Moving on from the disappointing way Whole Foods handled the “community review” aspect of the Esplanade store sale, I am hoping to focus on more constructive community building activities than the one we just participated in so disappointingly. As everyone seems to say around here, at least we’re getting a grocery!

One last attempt to be in control of our own voice in this decision is to complete yet another survey, this one a “vote” of sorts for a particular store and a take on some aspects of how it should run. Look for it in e-mail soon, or come by Fair Grinds for a hard copy.

So if you want to voice your opinion and participate in this survey, swing by Fair Grinds and have a look.