Our Opinions/ Editorials
(Tuesday, June 18, 1996)

All-American and Proud of It

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The Mardi Gras beads were the most popular souvenir, the gumbo and pralines were big hits and the youth choir had people from all over the country clapping and swaying. But those colorful trappings aren't what earned New Orleans the designation "All-America City and Community" from the National Civic League.

Rather, judges for the contest, held this past weekend in Forth Worth, Texas, were impressed by efforts area residents and organizations have made to improve their community and overcome adversity, from the School-To-Work initiative that seeks to reduce the dropout rate to ERACE, a 600-member organization that addresses racial divisions.

New Orleans‚ participation in the 47-year-old contest was itself a study in cooperation and teamwork. The first step was an exhaustive 11-page application. Kim Sport, a volunteer with The Chamber/New Orleans & the River Region, and Linetta Gilbert, program officer with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, co-chaired that effort, with the help of Tara Kebodeaux of the Chamber and a host of civic and community organizations that helped provide the needed information.

The application included frank appraisals of how our area measures up in areas such as citizen participation, community leadership and government performance, and gave detailed accounts of three projects to demonstrate how the community responds to a challenge.

The written application earned New Orleans a spot among 30 finalists from 105 entrants. The finalists each had 20 minutes to convince a panel of judges at the weekend event that their cities or communities deserved to be one of the 10 that would take home the coveted title.

 

  

 


 

The New Orleans delegation pulled out all the stops to showcase our city, using video, the choir and articulate representatives to answer the panel's questions. They also touted New Orleans at a civic fair, passing out beads and serving gumbo.

"I think we've won already when you think about all the pride they're going to take back home with them," Chamber of Commerce President James Monroe said of the delegates.

But the delegates also bring home recognition from the National Civic League, and that's something that the entire community can view with pride.

"It is time to let the world know about the new New Orleans," said jubilant Ms. Sport. Another delegate, Steve Schulkens of the Audobon Institute, called the award "a morale booster." Mayor Marc Morial had told delegates that winning would represent "a significant turnaround" for the city. New Orleans had won the award before, but that was in 1950, and a 1980 bid for the honor failed.

The title may add some luster to New Orleans‚ reputation, but if it builds pride at home and encourages further efforts to work together, that will be the more lasting reward.

After the New Orleans delegation made its winning presentation, Ms. Gilbert led them in a prayer that they continue to work together after returning home. That deserves a hearty amen, along with the heartfelt congratulations for a job well done.