The Book of Illumination

Illumination Centers (IC) are a project of the Youth Rescue Initiative (YRI), the New Orleans Public Library Foundation (NOPLF), and the New Orleans Public Library System (NOPLS).

The goal of the Illumination Center Project is to bridge the digital divide that prevents many in low income neighborhoods from taking full advantage of the offerings of modern technology and to provide structured educational programming through the NOPLS.

Each center will have one to two recycled shipping containers that are retrofitted with computer work stations and networked to the New Orleans Public Library. Library staff will monitor each center and guide students to use various educational software for resume building, job search, homework assistance and general research.

The area around each center will be landscaped as a partially shaded park for use by neighborhood residents as well as students.

Is New Orleans the next hot bed of talent and start-ups?

Exploring New Orleans, Startup by Startup

 "New Orleans has always been a hotbed of musical, artistic, and culinary creativity. But the process of rebuilding the city after Katrina and the influx of talent and energy that has stepped up to the challenge has transformed the city into a new kind of hub: for start-ups and social innovation. A new program called NOLAbound is determined to prove that New Orleans is indeed one of the "coolest" places to start a business, as Inc. magazine called it earlier this year."  continue...     -Zak Stone, editor at the Daily Good

Great job! Waggonner & Ball Architects

Their solution is to flood New Orleans in a carefull and controlled manner through sculpted water channels, aqueducts and canals. It is the right approach and a good start.

Comprehensive, Integrated, Sustainable Water Management System for the Greater New Orleans Region / Waggonner & Ball Architects. (image from ArchDaily).