NY Times Institute

May 30th, 2008

New Orleans Officials Advocate ‘Greener’ Path to Rebuilding

By Drew Daniels

There is no question that New Orleans needs help in the rebuilding process.

Buildings are still tagged with orange spray paint, tractors are still digging around pipelines, and homes are being demolished daily. As ground is cleared to make way for new developments, some city residents have a suggestion: Why not rebuild green?

More Americans are becoming concerned with creating a “greener” economy, using processes and materials to reduce society’s impact on the environment and promoting sustainable solutions like the installation of solar panels in windows.

At his State of the City address on Wednesday night, Mayor Ray Nagin emphasized the importance of economic development. “Right now our economy is being driven by construction, tourism, and the oil and gas boom,” he said. Speaking at the Port of New Orleans Cruise Terminal, Nagin said development was critical to creating well-paid jobs and attracting young, educated people to the city.

As part of this effort, some city officials, local organizations and student youth workers are pushing for a greener path toward revitalization.

New Orleans can serve as a model for the rest of the nation, said Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans. “I think green jobs would be a great way to restart the economy,” LaFonta said.

For Ruben Aronin, director of communications for Global Green USA, a national organization whose mission includes combating climate change with greener buildings and greener cities, New Orleans makes an ideal site.

“Prior to Hurricane Katrina, you wouldn’t have heard people talking about green-collar jobs,” Aronin said. But now, he said, is a perfect time for the city to be thinking green.

“Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, our president and staff went to New Orleans to see how we can help rebuild the city and create green jobs for the economy of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area,” he said.
When people hear the term “green job,” Aronin said, they often think of it as exotic and difficult work. But in fact, he said, all it takes is a little training.

For example, the Corps Network, which focuses on community service and conservation, provides courses on how to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings, improve public spaces and restore the natural environment. It has started a project, the Conservation Corps of Greater New Orleans, to rebuild but also to train young people, including those with a criminal history.

Sally Prouty, president of the Corps Network, said her organization is establishing six new workforce projects in New Orleans: Limitless Vistas Inc., LA Green Corps, Kedila Family Learning Center, Recovery School District, City of Hope and Tri-Parish Restoration Corps.

The idea of reducing energy consumption in the country is such a high priority right now, Prouty said, and training people to work in this field could help expand the job market.

Prouty said she expects 800 people around the city, between the ages of 17 and 25, to participate in the project.

“The students will be engaged in working in the community, developing life skills and preparing for future careers,” Prouty said. “By the end of the program, our plan is to see them placed in jobs within the emerging green economy.”

The market for green job skills is growing rapidly, said Reed Dickson, director of the Conservation Corps of Greater New Orleans.

“Because of the market and because of the crunch, all industries will have to go green,” said Dickson, who added that young workers are an ideal group to train for these jobs.

“We know young adults want to be change makers,” he said. “They want to broaden their horizons and resources in their communities.”

He continued: “We want youth to take ownership of the projects in their communities. We want our youth and young adults to be able to tell employers they have built these projects from the ground up.“

After the program, Dickson said he hopes “all of our young people will be seeking green jobs at the closure of our service.”

Darryl Townsend, 19, a Baton Rouge native and a student at Limitless Vistas Inc., said he believes the skills he learns through the program will help him jump-start his career.

After completing the 12-week program at Limitless Vistas, students receive environmental technician certification. Courses are taught by current and former professionals in the students’ prospective fields.

“Most of the people training us are in the field somehow,” Townsend said. “It’s not like someone reading a book, and the instructor saying I really don’t know what this is, but it’s something I think you should know.”

He described the training courses as more interesting than intense. “The courses keep you wanting to know more,” he said. “It hasn’t been a training class they have given and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’m bored, why am I even coming tomorrow?’”

Townsend, who said he heard about the program at a University of New Orleans job fair, said he was excited to get started and was looking forward to a green future.

“It’s not just a regular job where I’m working at McDonald’s or something like that,” he said. “I can go anywhere and use these skills and the certification that they have given me to make a good living for myself.”