Let the Good Conversations Roll
Diana Lind | Tue, Jul 22nd, 2008 | Category: NAC News | Tags: new orleans, nola yurp
I’m heading down to New Orleans tomorrow to participate in NOLA YURP’s Next Urban Summit. The two-day conference is sure to be an exciting opportunity to talk with some of the other young people who are out there working to improve cities...I’m really really excited, but I’ll also be spending an extra day in NOLA and am trying to think of a new place in town that I haven’t been to. I went back to New Orleans in January 2006, and it was a sobering experience to see the city so soon after Katrina. In the two and a half year since, I’ve chronicled some of the city’s changes from afar. Given that I’ll be discussing rebuilding NOLA and other struggling US cities all day Thursday and Friday, I think Saturday should be spent doing something a tad more relaxing, or at least not so emotionally exhausting. The thought of shopping antiques on Magazine St. just isn’t that appealing. Lazing in Audabon Zoo—done that. Anyone have any off-the-beaten-track places that I should go to?
Diana Lind is editor in chief of Next American City magazine.
Jeffrey Hill in Washington, D.C.
Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:43am
This summit seems almost identical to the one held in March, however, as this seems to be the general mission of NOLA YURP, I suggest they dive more into detail about making the city affordable for college grads by tackling the issues of creating job centers - technology, design and other professional industries. Maybe the city should pick one particular industry and make it unique to New Orleans. Example - Dirty Coast talked about the potential for Internet-driven small businesses in NOLA. That sounds great! So let’s establish a few blocks where these industries create an economic community. This is what attracts young professionals to a particular area - a scene, so to speak. Also, petition to rebuild and reorganize the mass transit grid so that young people can actually afford to get to work and maneuver through town.