Local News

Black women hampered by gender and race post-Katrina In 2005, women made up slightly more than half of the New Orleans labor force (52.4%), and despite the obstacles to employment following Hurricane Katrina, women continued to be approximately half of all workers with nearly 55 percent of women over 16 years of age employed in 2008. The most significant decline in women workers was among African- Americans, echoing the greater loss of African-American women in the population of the city. Although there was a significant decline in unemploy ment following the storm, Black women continued to carry a disproportional share of the burden of unemployment.  Read More ... Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:10 pm

Coca-Cola donates $25,000 to La. Outdoor Program for Youth On Aug. 24, Coca-Cola donated a $25,000 grant to America’s State Park Foundation to support outdoor recreational activities offered through the Louisiana Outdoor Outreach Program’s (LOOP) flagship project at New Orleans City Park.  The funding is earmarked for students attending Title 1 (high poverty) schools in New Orleans and provides for participation in LOOP activities such as water safety, canoeing, wilderness travel, camping, and back packing as well as academic and soft skills building. Students will also participate in team-building activities at City Park’s newly erected ropes course.  Read More ... Nayita Wilson, Contributing Writer - Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:10 pm

Fortune 500 lacking women, minorities, according to newstudy WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chair­man of the Senate Democratic Task Force and the lone Hispanic Senator, today unveiled the results of his survey on women and minority representation among the senior management of Fortune 500 companies, as well as their use of minority and women-owned businesses in the contracting and procurement process.  Read More ... Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 1:47 pm

New Orleans educator reacts to 'Black males in public education' report All children can learn is the statement the Schott Foundation for Public Education is standing by; sharing various solutions of proven successful efforts in traditional public schools. The 2010 50 State Report on Black Males in Public Education shows that success stories of New Jersey and Maryland schools are still the exception and not the norm.  Read More ... Kelly Parker, Contributing Writer - Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:10 pm

Former principal of Xavier Preparatory dies from cancer Sr. Eileen Catherine Sullivan, SBS; who, as an instructor and administrator, helped shape the lives of many local African-American young women, died of cancer early last Sunday at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. She was 65. Her wake will be held on Tuesday, August 17 at the St. Elizabeth’s chapel in Bensalem. The Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10:30 am, on Wednesday August 18, followed by the burial in the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament cemetery.  Read More ... Kelly Parker, Contributing Writer - Posted: Monday, August 16, 2010 1:07 pm

Classic New Orleans traditions continue and fade away "We're just trying to keep the music going and on the street," says Fred Johnson of the upcoming Black Men of Labor Social Aid & Pleasure Club's 17th annual parade that rolls at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 5, 2010. In anticipation, Sweet Lorraine's, which stands as the organization's home base, already dons decorations displaying this year's colors of purple, lavender, yellow and gold.  Read More ... Geraldine Wyckoff, Contributing Writer - Posted: Monday, August 30, 2010 12:10 pm

‘If God is Willing…’ Five years after the levees broke Theater at last week's premiere of director Spike Lee's documentary, 'If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise' sharply contrasted with the mood that prevailed for the showing of its Katrina-related predecessor, 'When the Levees Broke.' When the huge audience viewed that work at the New Orleans Arena on August 16, 2006, its deep pain, sorrow, frustration and anger were still very fresh. Just a stones throw away, the Superdome loomed not as a place where the Saints would reign victorious, but as a symbol of misery and despair. There was no red carpet or  cocktails and hors d'oeuvers that night. Nonetheless, viewing the new documentary, which airs on HBO on August 23 and 24, with a gathering of fellow New Orleans citizens produced a similar - though not as powerful - communal emotional experience.  Read More ... Geraldine Wyckoff, Contributing Writer - Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 1:47 pm