Programs
Beacon of Hope Resource Center has given birth to programs that build communities and help improve the overall quality of life in Katrina affected neighborhoods. Please read about our various programs below and click on any program for more info.
An outdoor market held on a monthly basis hosts 72 vendors, featuring local resturautns, arts and craft vendors, entertainment for kids, live music and over 3000 attendees, These markets proved to boost the merchants business, promote new businesses to open and boost community moral.
Community Gardens
For twenty-one days following Hurricane Katrina, six to fifteen feet of
salt water stood stagnant, destroying Lakeview's beloved Southern Gardens.
Beacon of Hope saw a creative way to make use of the numerous empty lots
where houses once stood.
Beacon of Hope converted some of these lots into Community Gardens, by
planting organic herbs and vegetables and creating butterfly gardens. These
gardens are accessible to neighbors and maintained by school children
learning about green environments
No Place Like Home Tours
Styled like a Realtor's Tour of Homes, residents were invited to view renovated properties that were devestated by flood waters. This demonstrated the feasibility of returning home.
Lakeview Golden Community Luncheon
Noting that there were no social activities for Lake Area seniors
post-Katrina, Beacon of Hope developed a monthly luncheon for senior
residents, giving them an opportunity to receive information and request services, as well as reconnect with old friends and build new friendships.
If you know a senior citizen who would like to participate, please contact
Jessica Wood at the Shepherd Center, (317) 358-7759 or (504) 658-4113
Barn Raising Program
Historically, "barn raising" is an event in which the community comes together to assemble a barn for one or more of itshouseholds, particularly in 19th and 19th century rural North America. In the past, a barn was often the first, largest, and most costly structure built by a family who settled in a new area.
"Barn raising" is sharing the effort, neighbors helping neighbors. When the barn is raised, the work ends, but the process carries on, as neighbors help the neighbors that helped them in their time of need.
Beacon of Hope Resource Center's Barn Raising Program is about just that - sustainability and neighbors helping neighbors. Eventually, volunteers will slow and it will be up to us to help each other. We hope that this program will instill a strong sense of community in its participants.
We provide funds to each neighborhood to match money spent for "barn raising projects", that is, local volunteers and neighbors assisting neighbors in the completion of rebuilding projects.
"Mapping" Program
Teams survey the property and infrastructure conditions in their neighborhoods. This survey data collected by these Teams is entered into our master database and Geographic Information System (GIS). This web-based mapping system integrates our survey data with other public data layers to produce an interactive, comprehensive conditions map. These maps visually display data, indicating the rebuilding status of every home in the surveyed area. For more information about our mapping program click here.
