Together New Orleans hosts discussion on citizen needs
19th July 2021 · 0 Comments
By Meghan Holmes
Contributing Writer
A citywide assembly of congregations and citizen organizations met July 13 at Dillard University as part of one of the largest grassroots organizing efforts in the history of the city: Together New Orleans.
More than 50 groups were represented at the event, including churches, mosques, synagogues, and a variety of civic organizations, with more than 650 in-person participants as well as around 300 watching remotely via zoom.
“We separate ourselves by what we believe…by how much money we have, the agendas we have, but we are here tonight to form a new ‘we,’” said the Reverend Gregory Manning of Broadmoor Community Church, speaking at the event. “This ‘we’ will not be afraid to build relationships, to sit down at the table with each other and look eyeball to eyeball and figure out what we need together holistically, as a body and as a community. As we dismantle systemic racism, as we fight against racism in the criminal justice system, and fight against climate change, we need the new ‘we.’”
Testimonies from New Orleanians made up a major part of the event.
“We have a core organizing concept called house building, which for the last 16 months has been happening on Zoom,” said Evelyn Turner with Level Ground Community Church, who co-chaired the event along with Dr. JC Richardson, a pastor at Cornerstone United Methodist Church. “House building brings together a small group of people sharing stories, not ideas, but stories, narratives. A narrative is a much better tool to connect people than our ideas or ideologies,” she said.
Speakers sharing testimonies included Stephanie Martin, a member of First Grace UMC who also works at the church in administration.
“In 2008, my utilities were cut off,” Martin said. “I had a child in college out of state, and one with me in Louisiana in private school. My income decreased, but the bills continued to come. I was humiliated; l was embarrassed. I had to ask neighbors to borrow electricity to keep fresh food for my family, and I never want to go through that again, or see anyone else go through that. I know that people are though, because I get visitors or phone calls at the church every week where people ask for assistance. Nobody should have to go through the pain of not being able to pay a utility bill.”
As a way to contextualize testimonies, speakers from social justice groups followed up and proposed solutions to some of the issues Together New Orleans plans to address. Following Stephanie Martin’s testimony, Logan Burke with the Alliance for Affordable Energy spoke about how New Orleans is uniquely positioned as the only American city apart from Washington, D.C., with local autonomy to regulate energy costs (typically regulation happens at the state level).
“Together, we can articulate a vision that ensures Ms. Martin’s experience never happens to another one of our neighbors. We can ensure an affordable, efficient and clean future for all of us,” Burke said.
New Orleanians’ testimonies also focused on raising wages and improving rights for workers, ensuring language justice, fighting pollution and climate change, creating affordable housing, and ending gun violence. After the testimonials, representatives from many organizations present at the meeting pledged donations for the following funding year and spoke briefly about why they joined the coalition. Several groups spoke about reducing crime and violence, as well as ending homelessness, and addressing racism and economic disparities in the city. Amounts pledged ranged from $500 to $20,000.
Recently elected Rep. Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) also spoke near the end of the event, emphasizing his commitment to solutions.
“It is so rewarding to see so many people who care,” Carter said. “I am happy to be here and to be a part of this, as your member of Congress, to listen, and to serve you. Every issue that was brought up from various podiums are important, and tonight I come to pledge my support to be a part of the solution. I’m not pledging to have all the answers or have a magic wand, but I will listen, learn and work with you to find solutions that will cure and heal our land.”
Moving forward, Together New Orleans plans to train at least 300 block captains to increase voter registration across the city and encourage citizens to advocate for solutions to the issues that impact them.
“This fall is an opportunity to tell the city council candidates what we want for our city,” said Kahlida Lloyd, a racial healing and equity consultant who spoke about upcoming action strategies at the meeting. “But we can’t do that unless we organize. I believe that if we are organized, New Orleans could carry the state of Louisiana.
This article originally published in the July 19, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
