[Dialogue] Friends of New Orleans

[cjfnola at bellsouth.net]

Dear Colleagues,

On June 23rd, an exciting new organization, Friends of New Orleans, made its official entrance into cyber space, connecting Louisiana to the world.

Its purpose is to link the resources and passions of individuals and organizations from across the globe to the needs of the communities devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year, as well as to build a force of a million people to advocate for rebuilding our wetlands and levees, getting our deserved oil revenues and dealing with ongoing advocacy issues.

Here are two examples of connections already underway:
• A Vietnamese community in Virginia has been linked to our New Orleans community of 6,000 Vietnamese to help them purchase a tract of land to expand their gardens and further economic development.  
• A woman in Australia has connected her local Botanical Gardens Association with the Botanical Gardens in New Orleans, which were inundated with flood waters for 2 weeks.  

There are endless opportunities.  Data about neighborhood and organizational needs are being entered daily onto the website.

Please visit the website, www.friendsofneworleans.org .  Become one of our million colleagues and pass the opportunity on to your mailing list of People Who Care.  This effort is very much a virtual Human Development Project, linking global resources and talents to empower local communities!

Thanks from Carol Fleischman, 
New Orleans Colleague.