The Impact of Community Partnerships

The Impact of Community Partnerships

March 2017

Serving communities requires a commitment to collaboration. Central City is a community in New Orleans that Christ Church Cathedral and Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative focuses its service. Like many communities, Central City is home to a diverse population, so we consider an equally diverse set of needs. Central City has historically been a group of neighborhoods comprised of mostly low income working families and renters.

This year Christ Church Cathedral received a Community Mission Appeal (CMA) grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana to be used for Jericho Road’s work in Central City.

Through this funding, Jericho Road was able to bring together many non-profits, corporations, and volunteers from Christ Church Cathedral.

In March of this year, Jericho Road facilitated a volunteer event – Bling Your Block – in conjunction with Marriott Hotels’ Spirit to Serve service project, bringing over 3,000 volunteers to New Orleans.

With the assistance of 100 volunteers, Jericho Road organized:

  • Minor home improvements and beautification to homes throughout Central City
  • Implemented vacant land management strategies on vacant lots to enhance value and aesthetic; and
  • Created and installed large scale art on the perimeter of a vacant brownfield

The financial resources provided by the CMA grant were instrumental in making this all happen, giving Jericho Road a foundation for these efforts. We were able to attract other non-profits and local businesses to contribute goods and services. We also had TREMENDOUS support from Cathedral parishioners who showed up and volunteered as part of our team to ensure our project went off without a hitch. Cathedral parishioners not only volunteered, but donated financial and in-kind support for the event.

As a result of all efforts leading up to and on the day of our Bling Your Block project we heard a resounding and uniform “Thank you!” from the residents we served. The service project improved the quality of life for many by:

  • Providing access to resources needed for repairs and home maintenance
  • Beautifying an abandoned, fenced-in Brownfield through the installation of public art
  • Providing remediation to neighboring vacant lots through the planting of fragrant groundcover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is imperative to our work that external support continues in order to create positive improvement and providing opportunities to families who deserve the benefits of a healthy, inclusive neighborhood. Jericho Road cannot do this work without the investment of community partners like the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

We are SO grateful!