Advertiser specials

Sponsored: Join us in celebration of Women’s History Month hosted by Chelsey Richard Napoleon, Clerk of Civil District Court

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In continuation of our virtual exhibits, we invite you to join us in celebration of Women’s History Month. Our March blog will explore a sampling of historical records relating to free women of color as property owners in our collection. Visit orleanscivilclerk.com to view the blogs. Visit us at the Research Center, where exhibits can be viewed in person from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday. For more information, please contact the Research Center at 504.407.0106 or civilclerkresearchctr@orleanscdc.com.

arts, books and music

Sponsored: Engage your kids in creative play and promote development

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‘Take Me Down to the Second Line’
Young Audiences of Louisiana’s Artsplay! at Home has returned. Mardi Gras Season may be over, but the spirit is alive year-round in New Orleans, as YALA’s latest workshop series reminds us. Crafted by Young Audiences of Louisiana and Louisiana Wolf Trap Teaching Artist Janese Brooks-Galathe, “Take Me Down to the Second Line” is based on the traditional indigenous culture of New Orleans Second Line and Black Masking Indians. Each New Orleans-themed session is designed to promote childhood development and expand caregiver knowledge—all to the tune of play.

real estate

NOLA real estate by the numbers: A time to invest?

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Whether you’re selling, buying, or staying put, here are the current real estate trends you need to know. The New Orleans real estate market continued its upward trend in February, setting new highs for volume and prices, and seeing further reductions in availability. With interest rates and housing supply still hovering near or at historic lows, there’s a lot to unpack this month. We’ll take a look at the market statistics as a whole, but first let’s speculate a bit on the commercial side of things. It should come as no surprise that commercial property has been hit by the pandemic.

social action

Amistad Research Center, Hancock Whitney partner to ‘use history to uplift’

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New this month is a virtual exhibit that shows how New Orleans has benefited from Black leadership and engagement since the 19th century. Hancock Whitney and the Amistad Research Center at Tulane have partnered to present this curated collection, entitled “The Things We Do for Ourselves: African American Leadership in New Orleans.”

The exhibit uses Google Cultural Institute’s platform to create a virtual expansion of a past physical exhibition at the center. The virtual collection went live in celebration of Black History Month, though it was created as a free, permanent and accessible way to give back to the communities the organizations serve. Christopher Harter, deputy director of the Amistad Research Center, said it is important for the local community to see how African American civic leadership helped shape New Orleans. The purpose of this collection, he said, is “to educate the public about not only the historical materials that are housed in Amistad’s collections, but how these materials are relevant to the questions and issues that we’re facing today.”

coronavirus

Viewpoint: Staying fit and safe during COVID-19

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All across our great city—from the beautiful Bywater to the oak trees adorning our Uptown streets—thousands of us are limiting our social activities, reminiscing about festivals gone by, and working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic. As we look positively towards the future with hopes of getting “back to normal,” many of our daily routines remain restricted, and social distancing, self-quarantining, and the closure of many gyms have made it harder to exercise. While it’s always important to stay active, regular physical exercise is emerging as one of the most vital parts of preserving our health and productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many, you may be missing the camaraderie of the gym, the relaxation of swimming laps at your local fitness facility, or the social connection of a spin class with a group of friends. The good news is, the beautiful parks that make our city so unique are the perfect playground to stay fit—and stay safe.

schools

Hoffman Early Learning Center awarded $400,000 grant from The Kellogg Foundation

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The Kellogg Foundation awarded Hoffman Early Learning Center (Hoffman) a two-year grant for $400,000. “These funds will help the center achieve sustainability and to achieve its mission to provide a high-quality, affordable early education to children from a diverse set of socio-economic background,” said Joel Castro, CEO of New Orleans College Prep which operates Hoffman. “We know there is a need for our services, and the support from the Kellogg Foundation will greatly help us further our mission,” said Castro, citing research showing that there are nearly 12,000 low-income families with children ages 0-4 without access to affordable, quality early childcare programs in New Orleans. “Our job is to close the learning gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers,” he said. “We are doing that,” said Hoffman Executive Director Zerlander Ragas.

city government

Street Renaming Commission to host meeting for recommendations, public feedback

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General Ogden, Palmer, Leonidas, and Calhoun are a few Uptown streets that may have new names soon. The City Council Street Renaming Commission — established to make recommendations for renaming streets, parks and places that honor members of the Confederacy and active proponents of segregation — will host a public meeting this Wednesday (Dec. 16) to discuss the findings and recommendations listed in its initial report. Here, the community can give additional feedback before the commission delivers its final report to the council in the coming weeks. The virtual public meeting will start around 4 p.m., immediately following the commission’s meeting that begins at 3 p.m. The meeting will be accessible via livestream on the council’s YouTube channel here  and on the council’s website.

Advertiser specials

Sponsored: Learn all about successions with The Links, Inc.

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The Crescent City (LA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated presents the first in a series of chapter-hosted webinars. The first webinar, What You Need To Know About Successions, takes place via Zoom this Wednesday, December 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Our presenter will be retired Judge Carolyn W. Gill-Jefferson, former Chief Judge for the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Media pro Camille Whitworth will moderate the webinar. We encourage you to join us for information that will include understanding the importance of successions:

What is a succession? What is an estate?

business

Yo Joe: A Realtor’s Q&A with New Orleans interior designer Maureen Stevens

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I’m Joe Gerrity, local businessman, investor and Real Estate Broker. For my Yo Joe! column, I’ll be answering your real estate questions and providing market information special to New Orleans. Part of being in real estate and offering superior, across-the-board services comes with making connections in the housing industry – for us, that includes everything from construction workers to interior designers. Today, we met with our new friend, Maureen Stevens, owner of Maureen Stevens Design.