New Orleans Creative Response Establishes an Emergency Relief Fund to Support Local Creators
Antenna, Ashe Cultural Arts Center, Junebug Productions, and The Weavers Fellowship have established a collaborative emergency relief fund as part of a broader initiative called Creative Response, to support local creators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supported by a network of art and social justice-based organizations, Creative Response will provide emergency grants to local creators, distribute art and activity kits to New Orleans youth, and is currently serving as a resource hub of information, opportunities, advocacy, and professional development support for creators and organizations. With support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for the Platforms Fund, the Creative Response Relief Fund will provide $2,000 in individual emergency grants to local creators that meet grant qualifications.
To qualify, creators must:
• Be a practicing artist of any discipline (culture bearer, filmmaker, painter, performer, photographer, sculptor, writer, etc.) with a demonstrated body of work and creative practice.
• Have lived and worked in the greater New Orleans metro area for at least 12 months
• Have been impacted as a result of the pandemic and need funds to cover necessary living expenses such as food, housing, utilities, medical costs, or family care.
To provide opportunities for creators, Creative Response is commissioning New Orleans artists, writers, and designers to create activities, coloring pages, sticker sheets, and creative prompts for the activity kits, alongside contributions by many local arts education organizations.
To learn more, apply for a relief grant, contribute an activity, or to make a donation, visit www.creativeresponse.works.
United Healthcare Donates 450 Masks for New Orleans Public School’s Grab-N-Go Meals Program
UnitedHealthcare Community & State recently donated 450 masks to Councilman Jared Brossett for the cause of his choice; and he chose the Citywide Grab-N-Go Meals Program, which helps hundreds of local families of school-aged children to help ensure that individuals performing critical services during COVID-19 have sufficient personal protective equipment.
“At this exigent time in our nation and community, UnitedHealthcare felt it was imperative to protect our children and their families to keep them safe and fed,” said UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julie Morial. “We’re so proud to be able to partner with Councilman Brossett to provide this much-needed support for all those putting themselves at risk to help their neighbors in need.” For more information, or to view the latest Citywide Feeding Program schedule, click here.
Launched on March 18 by NOLA-PS in collaboration with the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD), local non-profit organizations, faith-based partners and private businesses, the Citywide Feeding Program consists of 45 Community Feeding Distribution sites across New Orleans that provide easily-accessible breakfast and lunch during this prolonged school closure. Students over 18 that are enrolled in public K-12 schools, including students with disabilities through age 22, are also eligible for free meals at open sites.
“New Orleans and the world are going through a tough time right now, and we all need to stick together. Today’s donation of personal protective equipment to help protect the workers at the Citywide Food Distribution sites is a good example of how members of the community can support those individuals on the frontlines determined to feed our students and families,” said OPSB Board President Ethan Ashley. “I would like to thank the generous donor who made this gift possible as well as Councilman Jared Brossett for helping make this donation a reality.”
RTA Suspends Overnight Service
Earlier this month, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority suspended overnight service on most bus and streetcar routes between 10 p.m.to 4 a.m.in response to the COVID-19pandemic. The service hour reductions are being implemented as the agency experiences a decrease in ridership overnight and as a continued effort to minimize risks of exposure toriders and operators.
Routes that normally begin service before 4 a.m. will be adjusted to start later at approximately 4 a.m. and run until approximately 10 p.m. Routes that normally begin service later than 4 a.m., will keep their traditional start time and service will run until approximately 10 p.m.
Ferry service hours remain unchanged for both the Algiers Point – Canal Street ferry and the Chalmette – Lower Algiers ferry.
The Algiers Point – Canal St. Ferry will continue to operate Sunday through Saturday from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. The daily Chalmette ferry schedule maintains operations from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. The RTA will continue to monitor ridership and essential travel needs and may make additional adjustments as needed.
Riders should contact the Rideline at 504.248.3900 for point-to-point route information for essential travel destinations.
For the latest information and route schedules, visit RTA’s website at www.RTAforward.org.
