Food Security for All! Hundreds Come Shop at Grocery Store For-A-Day.

A little snapshot of the good times we had on Saturday. Thanks to all who came out, and we hope to continue to have your support as we move forward. The vision of the Lower Ninth Ward Food Access Coalition is availability of fresh, quality food that is convenient and affordable to everyone in the Lower Ninth Ward.

- -Number of people who attended = approximately 300

- Number of community organizations participating = 20

- Number of volunteers = 50+

- Amount of food distributed = A LOT

- Funds raised = over $2700

- Pulling off the first grocery store in the Lower 9th Ward in DECADES (and the first pop-up grocery store EVER), inspiring hope and motivation in our community, and getting the media and our elected officials on board = PRICELESS

Submitted by Jenga Mwendo, CSED Food Security Coordinator

http://www.abc26.com/news/newswithatwist/wgno-pop-up-grocery-store-provides-temporary-relief-to-residents-of-the-lower-9th-ward-20121017,0,3438773.story

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/10/lower_9th_ward_residents_annou.html#cmpid=nwsltrhead

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/10/12/lower-ninth-ward-to-get-grocery-store-for-a-day

http://wwno.org/post/grocery-store-day

http://www.nola.com/nolavie/index.ssf/2012/10/makin_groceries_in_the_lower_n.html#incart_flyout_living

Anticipation Builds for Tomorrow's Grocery Store For-A-Day!

Some great advance coverage of the much-anticipated Grocery Store For-A-Day event tomorrow at All Souls Church, 5500 St. Claude, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Will we see you there?

Community Conversations on Coastal Restoration

Join the National Wildlife Federation on Tuesday June, 19th at the New Orleans Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Avenue. Free food will be provided and it is sure to be a laid back atmosphere with lively conversation! Join us!

Join Us Today! Learn more about the Lower Ninth Ward Waterfront Project: 6 p.m. at L9 Center for the Arts

Recognizing a Great Partnership Between Lower 9th Ward CSED and Sierra Club

Tracy Nelson, Executive Director of CSED and Robin Mann, Sierra Club President on the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle Platform (Caffin & Florida)

What a thrill it was for CSED to be recognized by an organization as well known and well respected as the Sierra Club. And it was an honor and delight to not only meet Michael Brune and Robin Mann but the board members of both the Sierra Club and the Sierra Club Foundation as well. The highlight for me was receiving the award out on the Bayou Bienvenue Triangle Platform where so many events, press conferences and influential people have gathered. This platform, built from the desire of the community to be reconnected to the water, shows how great collaborations can bring a project to fruition in situations where very little progress was originally anticipated. In partnership with the Sierra Club, the University of Wisconsin biology students, University of Colorado at Denver design students, Common Ground volunteers, CSED staff, residents and local carpenters, this platform has become a symbol of the ‘can-do attitude’ of one small community. Used daily by residents and visitors alike, the platform is a vital link for our community to the wetlands that border our neighborhood.

If you have not been to this special site within the Lower 9th Ward, it is located at the end of Caffin and Florida Avenue. If you come early in the morning you may, by chance, run into local resident John (Swamp Red) Taylor. John not only maintains the site for CSED but he is an endless wealth of knowledge about the wetlands and how it used to be when he was a coming up.

Left: John Taylor with young gator at site
Right: Bayou Bienvenue Triangle Platform

Sierra Club's National Director to Honor CSED's Bayou Work

Tomorrow, Friday February 24th, at 1:30pm at the Bayou Bienvenue Platform (located at Caffin and Florida ave.), National Executive Director of The Sierra Club Michael Brune and Sierra Club Board Chair Robin Mann will honor the CSED for their efforts to create a sustainable recovery for the Lower 9th Ward and CSED's understanding that one can't rebuild the community sustainably without restoring the natural environment too.

Please join us!

Holy Cross Neighborhood Association Celebrates 30 Years and a Significant Lock Victory!

Come celebrate with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association Significant Lock Victory and 30 years of serving the community. RSVP here!

Free Workshop November 3 and 4: Save Money, Protect the Environment

A Nurtured World and the Lower 9 CSED are hosting a FREE event by Nurtured World, called "Save Money and the Planet: More in the Bank, less from the Envrionment." A Nurtured World's award winning training helps individuals and organizations save money, protect the environment, improve resilience and preparedness in the face of an uncertain future. The event has been offered in many venues, including environmental advocacy groups, military installations, high tech and chemical industries, universities and schools and local, state and federal government.

Click here to learn more!