Flash Urban Policy Discussion
Overview: The Flash Urban Policy Discussion (“FUPD”) was an initiative to produce policy ideas for a better New Orleans from newly minted Tulane Law Students working under the Student Hurricane Network to brainstorm solutions to the problems New Orleans faces that have been identified by guest speakers and through visits around the city. Beginning with an introduction to the storied history of city of New Orleans, the participants heard from distinguished community members and experts in three critical issue areas, Criminal Justice, Urban Neighborhood Renewal, and emerging Green industry. Solutions emerging from this group entered the larger conversation about the future of New Orleans, and serve as discussion topics for EngageNOLA programming.
Objectives: For one week, students experienced the issues first-hand, by touring critical post-Katrina New Orleans sites, hearing from community experts, and subsequently breaking into “flash mobs” to brainstorm policy solutions, all while gaining important perspective on the bigger picture.
Flash Urban
On August 14, 2009 EngageNOLA participated in the Flash Urban Policy Discussion (“FUPD”) Presentation and Discussion in room 151 of Tulane Law School.
The discussion continued afterwards at Cure (4905 Freret Street) over cocktails.
FUPD heard from distinguished community members and experts in three critical issue areas, Criminal Justice, Urban Neighborhood Renewal, and emerging Green industry, including:
• Karen Gadbois, Squandered Heritage
• Dawn Falgout-Loebig, Executive Director of Old City Building Center
• Johnetta Pressley and Sophia Sarnatakos of Orleans Public Defender
• Brian Bordainick, 9th Ward Field of Dreams, Carver HS
• Lizzy Shephard, Alliance for Affordable Energy
• John Moore, City of New Orleans
• Rick Yelton, Renew Power
• Professor Tania Tetlow, Tulane Law School Domestic Violence Clinic
• Fred Neal, Villavaso and Associates
• Lucas Díaz, Puentes New Orleans
• Morgan Williams, Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center
• Nolan Marshall, Common Good
Participants shared “policy pitches,” based on a combination of their own life experiences outside of New Orleans and the week’s worth of programming and research.
FUPD achieved three goals. First, participants produced novel policy solutions to problems currently plaguing New Orleans, and these solutions integrated into a larger conversation about the future of New Orleans. Second, the program produced important connections between new residents of New Orleans and community leaders and experts. Finally, students involved were inspired to civic participation in their new home beyond the single week of programming, spreading their enthusiasm amongst their classmates and friends and forming a stronger bond between the students and their adopted community.