New Orleans 100 is a list of new creative and innovative projects that emerged after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans.
This collection of projects brought together by a group of professionals interested in social innovation to demonstrate the surge of creative projects undertaken to rebuild the city and its homes, re-establish communities, and re-invent the education system.
Ten of the most successful projects listed are:
The Neighbourhood Story Project - which promotes writers from New Orleans to publish books about their communities. Projects form the same organisation also encourage people from different neighbourhoods to share their stories.
Fotos For Humanity – this is a service which provides copyright free photos to services such as cultural institutions, non profit organisations, health clinics etc..
Dirty Coast – produces T-shirts with slogans aimed at raising awareness and promoting the image of New Orleans around the world, as well as in New Orleans itself.
New Orleans Exchange – this organisation works on the model of the NYSE, and offers privately owned companies quick access to working capital, thus re vamping the economy.
The Idea Village – helps new entrepreneurs with strategy, finding talent, training, mentoring and access to resources.
NOLA 180 – is a non profit organisation that tackles problems relating to the education system by helping to turn around low-quality groups by helping both students and teachers achieve higher standards.
The damage and destruction that has taken place in New Orleans have shown that the people of New Orleans themselves can be the biggest source of, and resource for, advancement, reconstruction and innovation. Katrina has triggered all these new and innovative organisations and initiatives collected in the New Orleans 100 list.