Mayor Ray Nagin gets a lot of well-deserved ribbing
these days about the fate of his recent political endorsements, but he's currently
involved in another campaign that deserves everyone's support -- the city's recently
launched "Time to Care Again" campaign.
Nagin unveiled the campaign in October, fulfilling a promise
he made during his 2002 election campaign. The goal of "Care Again," he says,
is to instill personal pride and promote individual responsibility through volunteerism.
By now you've probably seen the excellent TV ads in support of the effort, featuring
local performers admonishing everyone to overcome three persistent roadblocks
to local progress -- apathy, complacency and cynicism.
"We hope to reverse those negative ideas --
apathy, complacency and cynicism -- that are so destructive to our city," says
Nagin. "The Care Again campaign encourages everyone to claim a personal stake
in our city's revitalization."
The campaign is multi-faceted. There are concerts
featuring the city's interracial gospel choir, Shades of Praise. There's also
a Web site that functions as a clearinghouse for volunteerism (www.NewNewOrleans.net).
Volunteers can also call 598-CARE to sign on with any of the nearly 50 volunteer
organizations (public, private and faith-based) that have joined the effort.
"With a few questions, people can identify
the organizations they are most interested in, and have information immediately
forwarded to them," said Matt Konigsmark, director of marketing for the city
and one of the architects of the campaign. "In turn, that person's information
will be forwarded to those organizations." Other creators of the campaign include
Bright Moments Inc. and Zehnder Communications -- a 50-50 partnership of minority
and majority firms, which reflects one of Care Again's major aspirations.
I attended the first Care Again concert last
Tuesday at the Ashé Cultural Center on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in
Central City. It was co-hosted by another participant in the Care Again campaign,
the city's Human Relations Commission. In addition to a moving musical experience,
the choir facilitates public dialogue -- one on one among audience members --
on race, harmony and diversity.
While I work with one organization headquartered
in that area (KIDsmART), I must confess that I hadn't spent enough time there
to appreciate how much the neighborhood has bounced back in recent years. From
the infectious energy of the Ashé center to Café Reconcile across
the street to the refurbished storefronts one block in either direction, the
old Dryades corridor shows a lot of life these days. It was a perfect place
to launch a movement whose aim is to bring back a city that has every reason
to care ... again.
At least four additional concerts are planned
-- one in each Council district. The discussions of race and diversity are enabling,
not threatening, and kids are more than welcome. The next concert will be Thursday
(Dec. 11) at 7 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 6227 St. Charles Ave., and another will
be next Monday (Dec. 15) at 7 p.m. on the Dillard University campus.
Even if you can't make the concerts, check
out the Web site and get involved. The perfect place to start, Nagin says, is
right in front of your house -- clean the sidewalks and catch basins, pick up
litter on the neutral ground, and report criminal activity to police.
I can't think of a better season -- or reason
-- for this kind of campaign. This is the real campaign for New Orleans, and
we can't afford for it to fail.
FAREWELL TO A FRIEND
My old friend and neighbor, Joe Knecht, former president of the Greater New
Orleans AFL-CIO and past president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, died last week after a brave battle against cancer. As a labor leader,
Joe was fearless, tough and honest. As a friend, he was loyal and true. He enjoyed
the company of friends, and he could always be counted on to lend more than
his share of humor and political insight. Among his many public contributions
was chairing the New Orleans Aviation Board, which he led with integrity and
grit -- before it became fashionable. I join his many friends in saying I will
miss him.
