Ashleigh Gardere

The City of New Orleans has made a commitment to improving economic opportunity for all residents, with a specific focus on equity and closing the income and employment gaps for struggling populations. To achieve this goal, multiple partners, including government, philanthropy, education, and industry, have come together to create a multipronged strategy for addressing systemic barriers to economic advancement. In this session, local leaders from The Network for Economic Opportunity, Delgado… Show more

The City of New Orleans has made a commitment to improving economic opportunity for all residents, with a specific focus on equity and closing the income and employment gaps for struggling populations. To achieve this goal, multiple partners, including government, philanthropy, education, and industry, have come together to create a multipronged strategy for addressing systemic barriers to economic advancement. In this session, local leaders from The Network for Economic Opportunity, Delgado Community College, The Cowen Institute, and Café Reconcile will talk more about the challenges facing the city and how they are collaborating to deliver innovative solutions. Show less

For the first time-ever, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) hosted an interactive Civic Innovation Summit alongside the City of New Orleans, Propeller, Civic Consulting USA, the National Resource Network, and GNO Inc.  Leaders from across public, private and nonprofit sectors came together to accelerate the momentum of civic innovation in advance of the City’s 300th anniversary in 2018.

Participants heard from Mayor Landrieu and learned more about the City’s commitment to addressing… Show more

For the first time-ever, New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) hosted an interactive Civic Innovation Summit alongside the City of New Orleans, Propeller, Civic Consulting USA, the National Resource Network, and GNO Inc.  Leaders from across public, private and nonprofit sectors came together to accelerate the momentum of civic innovation in advance of the City’s 300th anniversary in 2018.

Participants heard from Mayor Landrieu and learned more about the City’s commitment to addressing specific challenges, especially through the framework of Resilient NOLA, a set of strategic actions to shape our future city. Additionally, Entrepreneurs learned about how to work with the public sector and establish a strong foundation for civic innovation in the years to come. Show less

A major priority of the East Baltimore Revitalization Initiative was to increase economic opportunity through job creation and contract opportunities for local, minority and women-owned businesses. In a webinar this week, Victor Rubin of PolicyLink, Cheryl Washington of East Baltimore Development Inc. and Ashleigh Gardere of the City of New Orleans shared the project’s efforts and achievements to that end, as well as similar endeavors underway in New Orleans. This webinar is the third… Show more

A major priority of the East Baltimore Revitalization Initiative was to increase economic opportunity through job creation and contract opportunities for local, minority and women-owned businesses. In a webinar this week, Victor Rubin of PolicyLink, Cheryl Washington of East Baltimore Development Inc. and Ashleigh Gardere of the City of New Orleans shared the project’s efforts and achievements to that end, as well as similar endeavors underway in New Orleans. This webinar is the third installment in our Community Matters series, which explores the complex issues surrounding community change — and the lessons we and others have learned from our work in communities throughout the country. Show less

Fulfilling the Promise: Charting the Path Beyond Katrina at 10 will convene local and national philanthropic, policy, and community leaders to reflect on the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the question: How will New Orleans emerge as the model of a just and resilient city?  The Greater New Orleans Funders Network is a coalition of local, regional and national grant-makers committed to equity and justice in the Greater New Orleans region.

Income inequality and lack of economic mobility has been recognized as a problem the world over, due to its possible damaging side effects of health, social, and political problems, and threat to economic stability and long-term prosperity. What is the role of the economic developer to create an environment that supports economic mobility? This facilitated group discussion will explore what you can do in terms of education, transportation, and jobs to help close the income gap and promote… Show more

Income inequality and lack of economic mobility has been recognized as a problem the world over, due to its possible damaging side effects of health, social, and political problems, and threat to economic stability and long-term prosperity. What is the role of the economic developer to create an environment that supports economic mobility? This facilitated group discussion will explore what you can do in terms of education, transportation, and jobs to help close the income gap and promote economic mobility.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,500 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities, by creating, retaining and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. Show less

Fifty-two percent of African-American men in the city are not works. The City's Economic Opportunity Strategy seeks to connect disadvantaged job seekers and businesses to new opportunities through new partnerships with local training providers, social service agencies, and community advocates.  Hear from those who are driving this program and ensuring that it will be successful now and in the future.

During times of economic turmoil, American garages become hotbeds for innovation. Faced with fewer community development eligible loans and investments, it’s a good time to get creative. So head to the Colloquium “garage” with a hundred of your closest friends and figure out a new ways to tackle community development. Examine options that are out there under the many and varied economic recovery programs. Participate in a brainstorming session to create some best practices around community… Show more

During times of economic turmoil, American garages become hotbeds for innovation. Faced with fewer community development eligible loans and investments, it’s a good time to get creative. So head to the Colloquium “garage” with a hundred of your closest friends and figure out a new ways to tackle community development. Examine options that are out there under the many and varied economic recovery programs. Participate in a brainstorming session to create some best practices around community lending. The requirements are not going away, and there is no ETA for economic recovery. A collaborative brainstorming session with your peers has the potential to yield inspired and creative strategies for weathering the storm. (All this and you didn’t even have to clean your garage!) Show less

The 2009 Annual Conference theme "Stepping Up: Creating a New Social Compact" reflected the growing call for a new era of partnership between government, nonprofits and the American public. With the close of a decidedly anti-government administration and talk of creating a "New, New Deal," many asked what is the proper role of the public sector and how can philanthropy play a positive part?

The conference explored how philanthropy can support and expand vibrant civic engagement through… Show more

The 2009 Annual Conference theme "Stepping Up: Creating a New Social Compact" reflected the growing call for a new era of partnership between government, nonprofits and the American public. With the close of a decidedly anti-government administration and talk of creating a "New, New Deal," many asked what is the proper role of the public sector and how can philanthropy play a positive part?

The conference explored how philanthropy can support and expand vibrant civic engagement through partnerships between government, philanthropy and communities. It also investigated ways to help low- and moderate-income urban and rural communities recover from years of neglect. The panel highlighted many of the successful philanthropic partnerships and programs that have arisen along the Gulf Coast and across the country. Conference participants saw grassroots efforts to rebuild communities, restore economic stability, and renew citizen participation and ownership. Show less