HEALTHY COMMUNITY SERVICES (PRC Oral Storytelling Project)

In this episode, listeners will hear from the Executive Director of Healthy Communities Services, Dr. Angela Chalk, and the Greater Treme Consortium Executive Director, Cheryl Austin.

In New Orleans, LA, many areas in the 7th Ward, 9th Ward, and Treme sit below sea level and have experienced many rain events that have led to water run-off and increased flooding impacts. In an example of community-based response, three community-based organizations partnered to address water run-off issues in the Treme, 7th Ward, and Upper 9th Ward. Healthy Community Services, Greater Treme Consortium, and Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association, with the support of Water Wise Gulf South, have created the Water Wise Neighborhood Champions (WWNC). WWNC is a program open to residents, business owners, and churchgoers who live in the impacted areas to learn about green infrastructure projects that increase resilience to climate change impacts through a three-step training program. Each area already has a WWNC completed green infrastructure vision plan: Treme (2017), 7th Ward (2018), and Upper 9th Ward (2019). At the end of the WWNC program, participants prioritize project implementation from each visioning session. WWNC uplifts resident priorities in planning to increase adaptability and resilience to climate impacts. Each neighborhood has one prioritized project pending implementation in partnership with the state of Louisiana, with the opportunity for community input during the design phase. Each stormwater management project will reduce flooding in vulnerable areas, including historically Black and Creole neighborhoods.