RALLY Foundation

From New Orleans Wiki

Website	http://rally-foundation.org/
Phone	(800) 239-6706
Email	info@rally-foundation.org
Address	6056 Prytania St New Orleans, LA 70112
	Jeff Coates
Title	Project Coordinator
	Maya Matthews
Title	Project Coordinator

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RALLY was created to monitor and evaluate the impact of recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The concept of RALLY is information for action. Types of information collected include demographic change, well-being of residents, and output and input levels of programs. RALLY uses the information to adjust and create programs for residents in affected areas. The results, not only guide RALLY’s programs, but also provide residents with information for empowering the recovery and revitalization of their community. RALLY began conducting neighborhood assessments in New Orleans in early October of 2005 and continues to conduct in-depth interviews with residents in order to facilitate the recovery process.

[edit] Current Work

• World Vision and RALLY have begun collaborating to pilot a disaster recovery project (the Tremé Neighborhood Project) by working with the Tremé community to become better equipped and supported to successfully navigate through immediate crises, restructures and alternative development scenarios.
• RALLY is working with Mercy Corps on the Neighborhood Capacity Collaborative (NC2), which aims to support partner neighborhood associations in building their organizational capacity to effectively serve their mission and achieve progress towards neighborhood revitalization.
• RALLY has been conducting household level needs assessments in three designated neighborhoods for the New Orleans Police Foundation in order to provide primary data to facilitate the implementation of future Weed and Seed programs.

[edit] Past Activities

RALLY first began assembling its members in Baton Rouge immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Initial research activities included monitoring the Louisiana State Emergency Operations Center and the Federal Joint Field Office. In conjunction with Louisiana State University, RALLY also began research on lessons learned from previous catastrophes. As soon as New Orleans opened for the return of residents, RALLY began assembling around the city. In early October, 2005, RALLY began its neighborhood assessment in the neighborhood of Black Pearl. The rapid visual assessment of each house and business in the neighborhood included documenting visual information on the apparent inhabitability/usability of the structure (i.e. evidence of damage from flood, wind, fire, etc.), evidence of return, and evidence of residents/owners inhabiting the house or operating businesses. With increasing student support and availability, RALLY expanded the rapid household assessments to the Treme and Irish Channel neighborhoods. Assessment of the Treme neighborhood revealed the lack of open businesses and need for basic necessities such as food. This led to the collaboration with St. Augustine Church (one of the few operating organizations in the neighborhood) and Second Harvest Food Bank. This partnership opened the Makin’ Groceries in Treme Food Pantry on November 15, 2005. To date, not only have food services been provided, but a sense of community and the building of relationships have also been established through this monitored process.

[edit] Volunteer Opportunities

The RALLY Foundation is looking for anyone interested in participating in data collection in Central City and Treme. It will be house to house surveying. We need 5 to 10 people. There is a stipend we will give them depending upon the amount of work they can do. Please let us know if you know of any people or NGO that might have an supply of volunteers or workers.

The RALLY Foundation has received a grant from several donors to conduct research in Central City and Treme, so they can implement projects in these neighborhoods. We are in the process of putting our data on our webpage as well for the public. The information we gather is for the neighborhood itself and for those donors that are interested in implementing projects.