Now over 500 organizations, group aims to help NOPD, invest $15m in local youth support services
NEW ORLEANS – Today, The NOLA Coalition, a diverse group of over 500 nonprofits, civic organizations, and businesses, provided an update to the public on the first 180 days of progress. The event featured a status review of coalition membership, an 180-Day Progress Update on Public Safety, an 180-Day Progress Update on Investment in Youth, comments from the youth services perspective, and 2023 NOLA Coalition priorities.
“The NOLA Coalition represents the best kind of community action,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of GNO, Inc. “The over 500 member organizations of the Coalition have committed their time, money, and energy for the sake of our city, our children, and our future. The NOLA Coalition is a cause for optimism.”
The first of the two concurrent NOLA Coalition tracks is Public Safety, and is focused on near-term actions to reduce violence, and save lives. These tactics include:
- NOPD Recruitment & Retention – Improve outcomes via clear objectives, better processes and enhanced working conditions
- NOPD Pay & Benefits – Implement pay raises and benefits to help restore NOPD
- Technology – Facing prolonged manpower shortages, use constitutional technology to enhance effectiveness
- Accountability for the Entire Criminal Justice System – Approach criminal justice as a system that must work together, and ensure no “revolving door”
- Violence Prevention – Implement tactics to stop violence before it happens, rangning from de-escalation, to youth support, to mental health services; also use data analytics for constitutional, pro-active policing
- Resource Optimization – Rethink resource strategies to adjust for lower NOPD numbers; implement “civilianization” where possible
- Community & Social Support – Increase the availability and impact of social and counseling programs
“As our city and community face an unprecedented and critical juncture in our public safety efforts, I am proud of the continued work of the NOLA coalition- a diverse group of business and community leaders working together to address the most pressing issue facing our city today – violent crime,” said Richard Cortizas, Partner and Chief Diversity Officer at Jones Walker. “It is my hope and prayer that, within the next one to three years, New Orleans has an adequate police force and a handle on public safety such that citizens and visitors feel safe. I want us to be a model for public safety reform that other cities will emulate. New Orleans is worth saving.”
“The Nola Coalition demonstrates the very best of our city,” said Greg Rusovich, CEO of Transoceanic Development. “A diverse, multiracial citizenry joining together in support of NOPD, holding violent criminals accountable, and providing robust assistance to critical youth programs. All working together, we will make our city safer for all citizens.”
With the advocacy and support of the NOLA Coalition, and the partnership of the Adminsitraion, City Council, DA, and multiple business and civic grounps, signficant progress has been made, including:
- Millions for Pay, Bonuses & Retention –
- Urged by the NOLA Coalition, the Council approved a Mayoral plan for three consecutive 5% pay increases for NOPD officers
- A further plan for was approved, which will deliver $30 million towards recruitment and retention for the NOPD, including up to $30,000 as a recruitment incentive
- New Equipment for NOPD – Further, $46M will be invested in Vehicles, Equipment, and Technology, including:
- $30M on a Criminal Justice IT System Overhaul
- $8.5M on City IT System Overhaul, and
- $7.5M on Public Safety Equipment
- Reintroduction of Constitutional Technology – Recognizing that we have a depleted force, the Council passed Ordinance 33,808, which reintroduces the use of constitutional technology, like facial recognition, with appropriate guardrails. The Council further passed Ordinance 33,809, requiring data collection to ensure greater transparency and oversight
- Redeployment & Civilianization – NOPD redeployed 75 commissioned officers to begin patrol duty, increasing the number of officers on-duty in all districts. While it is taking a bit longer than it should, civilians are currently being interviewed to fill these desk positions
- New Accountability Dashboards – District Attorney Jason Williams has started to post a new set of accountability dashboards for the DA’s office, which compliment those now available by the MCC, NOPD, and City Council. All of these dashboards are available together, on the NOLA Coalition website – increasing accountability and transparency for the public
- Commitment to a National Search for NOPD Superintendent – The Administration and Council made a joint commitment to work with the International Association of Chiefs of Police to do a national search for the next NOPD Superintendent. This search is important not only to find the very best person for this critically important job, but also because a best-practice, inclusive, and transparent process is important to secure the confidence of the NOPD and the public in the new Chief
“There is nothing more important at this time than for the entire New Orleans community, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic or political differences, to come together, as we did in rebuilding our beloved city after Katrina, to address the issue of crime, and to build a city where our youth have a chance to grow and prosper,” said Kim Boyle, Partner at Phelps Dunbar.
The second area of focus of the coalition is business, philanthropic, and other investment in proven community youth support service organizations, to help them grow their impact and drive generational change. The Coalition has committed to $15M ($5M per year over three years) from the private and philanthropic sectors for youth support services in New Orleans.
“As a member of the NOLA Coalition and the Executive Director of Hotel Hope, I believe investing in youth services provides a tremendous opportunity for the youth and families,” said Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director of Hotel Hope. “Young people are looking for a chance to learn and grow. Supporting nonprofits that provide a variety of activities and learnings for young people is only a win-win for the New Orleans Community.”
Nearly $5.4M of the 3-year, $15M, fundraising goal has already been secured over the past six months, which will support dozens of high-impact youth service organizations. Of this, over $3.8M is part of the $5M goal for year one. The Coalition has already issued grants to 30 Orleans Parish youth-serving program providers, including:
- 100 Black Men of Metro New Orleans
- Art Camp 504
- A’s & Aces
- Black Man Rising Movement, Inc.
- Café Hope
- Community Sailing New Orleans
- Dancing Grounds
- Empower Your Cents
- Grow Dat Youth Farm
- H.O.P.E. – Helping Other People Endure
- Jesus Project Ministries
- Liberty’s Kitchen
- Louisiana Green Corps
- Mental and Behavioral Health Collaborative
- New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC)
- NOTEP Trade School
- Operation Restoration
- P.O.S.H. Push Nonprofit
- Reconcile New Orleans
- Second Line Arts Collective
- SilenceIsViolence
- Son of a Saint
- Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR)
- STEM NOLA
- The 1881 Institute
- The 18th Ward
- The First 72+
- unCommon Construction
- Whole Village Art Therapy
- Youth Empowerment Project
“Supporting the community in tandem with the NOLA Coalition is a natural fit for us,” said Wesley J. Palmisano, Founder and CEO of construction company Impetus and the Palmisano Foundation, one of the leading Coalition donors to-date. “With the organizing focus of the Coalition, and their ongoing support to the program providers, we feel extremely confident that our $750,000 of committed investment will help generate real, actionable change across Orleans.”
The NOLA Coalition has a set of specific priorities for 2023:
- National NOPD Search – Completing national NOPD Chief search, featuring a competitive salary for the position
- Improving Recruitment & Retention – Radically improving recruiting and retention of New Orleans Police Department personnel
- Violence Prevention – Focusing on comprehensive violence prevention, using a public health approach, complimented by data analysts in each district, and enhanced constitutional proactive policing
- System Accountability – Ensuring the criminal justice system works as a whole, with fairness and accountability for all, including the District Attorney office implementing its Violent Offenders unit
- Tools for Citizens – Developing tools for citizens and first responders to report non-life threatening emergencies and deploy resources into the community
- Investing in Youth – Reaching the $5M year-one goal, and investing millions of more dollars into youth service programs
“The future of our city includes a healthy, safe & prosperous environment for the youth,” said Otis Tucker, Jr., CEO of Trucking Innovations. “Our young people will shape a better tomorrow here and globally.”
The nonprofit, civic, and business community has an acute interest in helping to address crime and quality of life, for reasons of both life and livelihood. The over 500 organizations in The NOLA Colaition are small and large, with diverse membership, from across the city and region, and represent tens of thousands of employees from New Orleans and the region: (list as of January 31, 2023; list updated online):
Non-Profit & Civic Organizations
“HOPE” Help Other People Endure
ABC New Orleans / Bayou Chapter
Abundant Life Tabernacle
Algiers Economic Development Foundation
Algiers Neighborhood Presidents Council
All Citizens Together
American Heart Association
Anna’s Place NOLA
Arin’s Nesting Place
Asian Chamber of Louisiana
ATU Local 1560 Women’s Caucus Women of Action
Audubon Area Zoning Association
Audubon Blvd. Parkway Association
Ballerinas of the Bayou / JFDU
Baptist Community Ministries
Bastion Community of Resilience
BBB serving Southeast Louisiana
Beacon Light International Baptist Cathedral
Benpaul Housing Iniatives
Black Man Rising Movement
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana
Brother Martin
Brothers At Peace
Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association
Business Council of New Orleans
Carrollton Area Network
Carrollton Boosters
Change NOLA
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
City of Love Full Gospel Church
City of New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy
City Year New Orleans
Climana Neighborhood Association
Coastal Communities Consulting
Common Good
Communities In Schools of the Gulf South
Community Sailing New Orleans, Inc.
Community Works
Conscious Communications Collective Inc.
CORE New Orleans
Cornerstone United Methodist Church
Courtesy Grows
Creative Alliance of New Orleans
Crescent City Classic
Crimestoppers GNO
Cultivating Youth
Delachaise Neighborhood Association
Dillard University
Do Nothing Club of Greater New Orleans
DUAL Support, Inc.
East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission
Fairgrounds Triangle Neighborhood Association
Fatherhood Roundtable
Faubourg St Roch Improvement Association
First Tee Greater New Orleans
Fix NOLA
Fleur de Que
French Quarter Business Association
French Quarter Management District
Freret-Milan Neighbors United
Friends of Codey’s NOLA
Friends of Joe W. Brown Memorial Park
Friends of the Cabildo, INC
Future Forward Foundation
Garden District Association
Gina Brown Foundation
Gladewaves
GNO, Inc.
GNO, Inc. NextGen Council
Greater Image
Greater New Orleans Business Alliance
Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition (GNODDRC)
Greater New Orleans East Business Alliance
Greater New Orleans Foundation
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association
Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance
Greater St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church Inc.
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church
Healing Minds NOLA
Henderson Condo Association
Hermes Beyond the Parade Foundation
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana
Historic BK House & Gardens
Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Holy Faith Temple
Home Builders Association of GNO
Hope Community Resource Center
Hotel Hope
Huntlee Village Neighborhood Association
Ignite Foundation
Institute for Public Health and Justice at Louisiana State University
Institute of Mental Hygiene
James Carville
Jefferson Business Council
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Jem Thomas Foundation
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans
Jewish Federation
Judge Calvin Johnson
Junior League of New Orleans
Keller Group Neighborhood Association
Krewe of Red Beans
Lake Oaks Civic Association
Lake Vista Property Owners Association
Lakeshore Property Owner’s Association
Lakeview Civic Improvement Association
League of Women Voters
Longue Vue
Louisiana Black Chamber Foundation
Louisiana Council of Resources (LaCOR)
Louisiana Democrats for Education Reform
Louisiana Museum Foundation
Louisiana Restaurant Association
Lower Garden District Association
lowernine.org
Loyola University New Orleans
Make Music NOLA
Maple Area Residents Ince – MARI
Marine & Mt. Moriah Community Church
Meals from the Heart Café
Medical Association of Southeast Louisiana
Methodist Health System Foundation
Metropolitan Crime Commission
Metropolitan Safety Council of the New Orleans Area, Inc.
Mid-City Neighborhood Organization
Millennial Mindset
Mission Rebirth
NAACP New Orleans
National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Greater New Orleans, Inc
National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans Section
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans Inc.
New Orleans & Company
New Orleans ACT-SO
New Orleans Airlift
New Orleans Bar Association
New Orleans BioInnovation Center
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board
New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute
New Orleans East Cultural Hub
New Orleans East Matters Coalition
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans Habitat for Humanity
New Orleans Legacy Association of Bands
New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors
New Orleans Museum of Art
New Orleans Musicians Clinic & Assistance Fdn
New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation
New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce
New Orleans Rotary Club
NextOp Veterans
Nieux Society
Ninth Ward Outreach Corporation
NOCCI
NOHHF
NOLA SHRM
NOLAKEYS
NOLAVATE Black
North Rampart Main Street, Inc.
Northshore Business Council
Office of Black Catholic Ministries
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Old Algiers Main Street Corporation
Operation Spark
Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre
Peter Scharf
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Police Community Advisory Board 1st District
Pontilly Neighborhood Association Incorporated
Pres Kabacoff
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
Project Possible
Pure Hearts Organization
R.E.I.N.V.E.S.T. (Reentry Implementing New Values Enhancing Societal Transitions)
Reconcile New Orleans
Reentry Alliance of Louisiana (REAL)
ResQue
Robert Zetzmann Family Foundation
Rotary Club of New Orleans
S.M.C.L. Foundation & Associates Inc. Adaptive & Disability Sports
Saint Anna’s Episcopal Church
Save Our Youth NOLA
Scale New Orleans
Silence is Violence
Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East
Southern Black Chamber
Southwest Louisiana Area Health and Education Center-Navigators For a Healthy Louisiana
Split Second Foundation
St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce
St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation
St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
Team Gleason Foundation
Tekrema Center for Art and Culture
The 18th Ward
The Artists of Frenchmen Street
The Brylski Company
The Connect Church
The Fatherhood Roundtable
The First 72+
The Greater St. Matthew #2 Church
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The HOPE Initiative
The Loft Non-Profit
The National WWII Museum
The PLEASE Foundation
The Seymore D’Fair Foundation, Inc.
The Therapy Collective
The Third Emanuel Baptist Church
The University of New Orleans TRIO Programs: Upward Bound/Upward Bound Math-Science/McNair
The Way Out Initiative
To Be Friends In Christ Ministry Nonprofit
Total Sentencing Alternatives Program
Touching Jesus Today Ministry
Town of Carrollton Watch
TrainingGrounds
United Way of Southeast Louisiana
United4NOLA
University Neighborhood Association
Upper Hurstville Association
Uptown Triangle Neighborhood Association
Upturn Arts
VIA LINK
Victory Praise Ministries
Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates Inc.
Vintage Church
Voices of the Victims of Crime
VOTE (Voice of the Experienced)
Warehouse District Neighborhood Assoc.
We Lift L.L.C.
Where y’Art Works
Witry Collective
Women of the Storm
World Trade Center of New Orleans
YEAH!YOGA (Youth Empowerment and Healing)
YMCA of Greater New Orleans
Young Leadership Council
Young Starz Nola
Businesses
1st Lake Properties / Favrot & Shane
Active Solutions
Adams and Reese LLP
Addicted to the Lifestyle Consulting
Allan Berger & Associates
Ampirical Solutions, LLC
Angela Herbert White Coaching & Consulting
AOS
Aperture Film Locations LLC
APEX Fitness & Performance
Atmos Energy
Auto-Chlor
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
BAR NONE by DeSign
Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C.
Barrel Proof Properties
Baumer Foods
Bellwether Technology Corporation
Belvedere Development
Ben + Burka
Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald
Body By Ford Personal Training
Boh Brothers
Booth & Booth, APLC
Bourg Marine, Inc.
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.
Brian Gibbs Development
Bryn Leard LLC
Burk Brokerage Real Estate
Burk Construction & Development
C. Richard & Associates, LLC
Cajun Fire Brewing Company
Camellia Beans
Camenzuli Dental Excellence
Canal Barge
Capital One Bank
Captrust
Care Givers of Louisiana
Carver Darden Koretzky Tessier Finn Blossman & Areaux LLC
Chaffe & Associates, Inc.
Chaffe McCall, LLP
Christovich & Kearney, LLP
Circular Consulting
City One Security & Investigative Agency LLC
Clesi Burns
Coldwell Banker TEC
Commander’s Palace
Conscious Communications Collective Inc.
Corcoran & Bernard CPAs
Corporate Realty
CotingaSoft
Cowden & Associates
Cox Communications
Crescent Bank
Crescent Crown Distributing LLC
Crescent Growth Capital, LLC
Crescent HR
CureCo
DCL Mooring & Rigging
DeAnna DuPont & Company
Debra Gould & Associates, Inc.
Deep Fried Advertising
Deutsch Kerrigan
Dickie Brennan & Company
Domino’s – RPM Pizza
Don Randon Real Estate, Inc.
DUAL Support, Inc.
Ducky Recovery
Duncan Moore Wealth Management at Raymond James
Dupuy Group
E D & F Man Liquid Products
E-Claim.com
Edward Jones
El Guapo
Entablature Realty
Entablature, LLC
EskewDumezRipple
Eustis Mortgage
Feel My Payne
Felicity Property Co.
Fidelity Bank
Fisher Phillips
Fishman Haygood LLP
Fleur-de-lis Insurance, LLC
Formwork Development
Fotograffiti Systems
Francher Perrin Group
Frilot LLC
Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier & Warshauer, L.L.C.
Galliano Realty
Gallo Mechanical
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith
Gambel Communications
Geaux Above, LLC
General Informatics
Gibbs Construction
Gieger, Laborde & Laperouse, L.L.C.
Global Commerce and Services
Gordon, Arata, Montgomery, Barnett, McCollam, Duplantis & Eagan, LLC
Gottsegen Orthodontics
Gulf Coast Bank
Gulf Wind Technology
Happy Guest Promotions
Hartwig Moss Insurance Agency
Haunted History Tours
Henley Ion
Herman Herman & Katz, LLC
Hertz Investment Group
High Voltage Software
Home Health Agents
Hotel Maison DeVille
HUB International
IFV Law
ILSI Engineering
Impetus
IMTT
Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC
Jackson Lewis
James Carter, Esq.
Johnson, Yacoubian and Paysse
Jones Walker
Just Kids Dental
Kean Miller LLP
Kim Barnett
Krebs Farley & Dry, PLC
Krewe of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
La Petite Grocery
Laborde Marine Management, LLC
Laitram
Lambeth House
Landis Construction
LaPorte, CPAs & Business Advisors
Latter & Blum
Latter & Blum Francher Perrin Group
Latter & Blum Insurance Services
LCMC Health
LEMOINE
Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC
Lifted Cares
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
Litify
Longue Vue House & Gardens
LookFar
Lott Renovations
Louisiana Pain Specialists
Lowe Stein
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
M S Benbow and Associates
MAPP
Matthews Construction & Renovation LLC
Mayer Building Company, LLC
McCrainie Sistrunk Anzelmo Hardy McDaniel & Welch LLC
McEnery Residential
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC
Melchiode Marks King LLC
Methodist Health System Foundation
Metropolitan Safety Council of the New Orleans Area, Inc.
Mike’s Hardware & Supply
Mitey AV LLC
Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett, LLC
Mountain Lion Ventures, LLC
Musgrave, McLachlan & Penn, L.L.C.
NANO LLC
New Orleans A La Carde
New Orleans paddlewheel inc
New Orleans School of Cooking
NFP
Nieux Society
NOLA Boards
NOLA DMC, LLC
NOLA Motorcars
NOLA Outdoor Kitchens
NOT LLC
Ochsner Health
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, PC
One Stop Staffing Agency
OUTFRONT
Pam Bissell
PAM Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital of New Orleans
Pan American Life Insurance Group
Pat O’Brien’s Bar and Courtyard Restaurant
Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre
Peachey Mobility
Pelican Playgrounds
Peopleburg
Peychauds
Phelps Dunbar LLP
Pierre G. Walker, III, Attorney at Law
Pipes, Miles, Beckman
Pivotal Engineering, LLC
PJs Coffee of New Orleans
Plauché Maselli Parkerson LLP
PMG Leasing, L.L.C.
Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson
PPQ Development, LLC
Prytania Properties
Pugh Accardo LLC
Quixotic LLC
Rare insight. LLC
rasa.io
Red River Bank
Regions Bank
REI Promotions
Reiss LeMieux, LLC
Renaissance Publishing
Revelry
Ryan Companies
Salley, Hite, Mercer & Resor, LLC
Sazerac
Schonekas, Evans, McGoey & McEachin, L.L.C.
Service Corporation International/Dignity Memorial
Shell Offshore
Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
Sheraton New Orleans
Sherman Law Firm
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP
Simple Diamond Solutions, LLC
Singer Kitchens
Soirée
Solomon Group
Spera Law Group, LLC
SSE Steel Fabrication
Starlight Studios
Start Corporation
Steeg Law Firm LLC
Stirling Properties
Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C.
Sugar Journal
Sun Custom Restoration
Surgical Specialists of Louisiana
Susco
Swanson & Associates, Inc
T. Parker Host
Talisea
Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, LLC
The Berger Company
The Bernard Group
The Beta Group
The Box Studios
The Brylski Company
The Connor Group, LLC
The Domain Companies
The Law Office of Jon G. Bethune
The Loftin Group LLC
The McDonnel Group Construction Services
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
ThirtyNorth Investments, LLC.
Three Fold Consultants, LLC
TI Contracting
TMG Consulting
Toledano Properties
Toxicology & Drug Analysis Laboratory
Transdev Services
Transoceanic Shipping Company
Treme Realty
Trepwise
Trumpet Advertising
Universal Data Incorporated
Val Grubb & Associates, Ltd.
VERIZON
VIP City Tours
Waldemar S. Nelson and Company
Windsor Court Hotel
Wolfram and Hart