H.O.P.E. Fest aims to curb violence and ‘increase the peace’ in Central City

In response to New Orleans’ rising murder and overall crime rates, Hoodstar Entertainment, B.W. Cooper Resident Management Center (RMC) and the Louisiana Community Enhancement Corp­ora­tion have teamed up to bring residents, businesses, community leaders, and elected officials together to help Stop the Violence and instill hope through the creation of the “H.O.P.E.” Festi­val(Helping Others Prosper Eter­nally).

The “H.O.P.E.” Festival will be held Saturday, April 7, 2012, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.in front of the B.W. Cooper offices located at 3402 Earhart Blvd, New Orleans, La. The festival will kick off with a press conference which will include elected officials, the 6th Police District and stakeholders beginning at 12:00 noon. This community event designed for all ages will include speakers, entertainment, food, a basketball tournament, Easter egg hunt, and booster club drive. Local residents who are interested in early voting will also be offered free transportation to and from City Hall between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate.

The impetus for this community event came from former B.W. Cooper Apartment resident and local rapper, Calliope Var. Calliope Var’s background helps him understand firsthand what hopelessness does to a community. ”Everyone must be held accountable and responsible for working together to attack crime and recidivism in our city,” says Var.

The “H.O.P.E.” Festival is designed to show young people that through the sharing of ideas and working together, residents can better their circumstances. It will be a tool used to show youth that there are alternatives to violent behavior and that the community is engaged and wants to offer support to youth.

This article was originally published in the April 2, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper