Testing Testing 124: March 2012

New Orleans

 I had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans for my job! The retreat was fantastic. We received a tour of the city, looked at the work Capital One has been doing through various nonprofits in the city and experienced wonderful food and fun nightlife! The best part of the trip was doing a deep dive into Charter Schools in New Orleans (including Capital One's interaction model with them) and the amazing work our team has done with the Bayou District Foundation creating Columbia Parc (President Obama has even toured it...even if you don't like him, it's still pretty cool!).

Here is the story of the creation of the Bayou District Foundation:

In the Fall of 2005, in the months after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating hit on the Gulf Coast, a group of civic-minded New Orleans residents formed the Bayou District Foundation. Their vision was to assist in the rebirth of the City of New Orleans by helping to restore the areas in and around New Orleans City Park. Today that vision is a reality. Bayou District Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose members include highly engaged community leaders within both the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.

Bayou District Foundation is constructing a mixed income residential community on the site of the former St. Bernard Public Housing Development and in surrounding neighborhoods. Bayou District Foundation is building a world class 0-5 early education center for 150 low income children and is working with New Schools for New Orleans to introduce a K-8 charter to the Pilotland neighborhood. To complete this 'cradle to college' pipeline; BDF is partnering with the Orleans Parish School Board and the Recovery School District to bring a world class college prep high school to the Bayou District. The Bayou District Foundation effort also includes the restoration of New Orleans City Park’s golf facilities.

 Pictures are on this website of the community that we were able to tour: Columbia Parc

Trip Highlights: Parkway Bakery & Tavern for Po-boys in Mid-City, Breakfast at Ruby Slipper (I had an omelet filled with shrimp), Meeting with the Bayou District Foundation, Tour of Columbia Parc (the place-based initiative Capital One has been working on to restore a post-Katrina neighborhood), Tour of Gentilly and Lower Ninth Ward, Lunch-n-Learn on Charter Schools with New Schools for New Orleans, Dinner at Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Karaoke Bar on Bourbon Street, Blue Dot Donuts and Lunch @ Emeril’s!

Bourbon Street, View from my hotel (Loew's), Street in New Orleans, and yummy dessert!

The awesome welcome kit our New Orleans team provided - all New Orleans-themed!

Columbia Parc

9th Ward - very cool eco-friendly homes....very expensive. Brad Pitt has a home in this area.

My first "chicken 'n' waffles" experience...it was good!

9th Ward - very cool eco-friendly homes....very expensive. Brad Pitt has a home in this area.

One of the new apartments in Columbia Parc (nice, huh?).

Columbia Parc

New York

 Richard had a busy time in NYC! He met with a broker Monday - Wednesday searching for an apartment...they looked at over 30 apartments! He said he was sore from all the walking. We are so happy that our #1 pick (based on location, price, dog-friendly area, square footage) is the apartment we got! It will for sure be a different atmosphere than we are used to, but we are SO excited ! On Thursday and Friday, Richard worked from the NYC Office and had dinner with his new team. He had the opportunity to try a variety of food each night and swears he lost 4 lbs from all the walking he did! He also saw dauchshunds everywhere he went. :)