New Orleans Habitat - Operation Home Delivery Blog

NOAHH to Celebrate the Beginning of the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music

NEW ORLEANS (September 12, 2007) — In true musical fashion, Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis kicked off the groundbreaking of the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music with a celebration like none other at the Musicians’ Village in the Upper Ninth Ward on Thursday, September 13.The celebration marked the beginning of construction on the center which includes a community center and performing arts theater. The festivities included performances by Bob French and the Original Tuxedo Band and Shamarr Allen Combo. Connick and Branford sat in with both bands to celebrate the realization of their brainchild – the Musicians’ Village.

“A musical celebration like this is the only way we could get started on the construction of the Center,” stated Jim Pate, Executive Director, New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “These are the types of performances that will happen at the Center and throughout the streets as more and more musicians move in.” The Heart of the center will be a 150-seat performance space equipped with movable chairs a well as state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. In addition, the Center will contain recording studio facilities and teaching space for individual and group instruction as well as offices for technical and administrative staff. The Center will also own five elder-friendly duplexes, to be rented exclusively to musicians, and administer an adjacent toddler park. The Center plans to integrate performance and education in an array of artistic disciplines, with a primary focus on music.

The facilities of the Center will serve as a meeting place as well as a rehearsal and performance space allowing working musicians to improve their studio and internet skills, and to expand the existing networks of creative artists who are committed to preserving and expanding such ongoing traditions association with New Orleans as the marching band, the Second Line parade and the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. The Celebration will be included in an upcoming episode of This Old House which is currently shooting in New Orleans. The Emmy Award-winning television series will dedicate its second project of the 2007-08 season to the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Orleans.

The show's primary project will be working with Holy Cross homeowner Rashida Ferdinand, a recipient of the Historic Building Recovery Grants program. Continuing its focus on salvaging historic neighborhoods, This Old House will begin by tracking the story of the Musicians' Village. In the first episode, host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram will tour the affordable housing development with Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis, while Ellis Marsalis will discuss his vision for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.

Ten brand new episodes featuring the This Old House New Orleans project will premiere nationally on PBS Thursday, January 24, 2008 (check www.thisoldhouse.com/tvschedule or your local listings).

Additionally, to celebrate the community spirit of the Village, Connick spent the week filming the most recent spot in Lincoln’s “Dreams” advertising campaign featuring New Orleans

Musicians and the rebuilding efforts of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. The “Dreams” campaign is designed to celebrate the spirit of giving back and inspire people to experience their dreams. Lincoln selected Connick and the Musician Village for its most recent spot to help shine the spotlight on the energy, drive and accomplishments of this important community project. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Lincoln gave away the car used in the commercial to Peter “Chuck” Badie, a resident musician who’s career spans six-decades and who has performed with Louis Armstrong.

About This Old House

This Old House Ventures nets a total of 50 million impressions per month and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc. The leading consumer publication for home how-to, know-how and inspiration, This Old House magazine has a circulation of 950,000 and an audience of almost six million. This Old House Television is produced by This Old House Productions, Inc. and has a current weekly audience estimated at 8 million viewers. The eminent online destination for home renovation and design, thisoldhouse.com receives over one million unique visitors per month.

About Lincoln and Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information about Lincoln vehicles visit www.lincolnvehicles.com.

About New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a 501©3 non-profit organization. NOAHH builds new houses in partnerships with sponsors, volunteers, communities, and homeowner families to eliminate poverty housing in the New Orleans area while serving as a catalyst to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Since 1983, NOAHH has build over 160 new homes for low-income families. Over the next five years, NOAHH plans to build 1,500 homes in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. For more information, go to www.habitat-nola.org.

Work to begin soon on Ellis Marsalis Center

I am pleased to post this story by Leslie Williams that appeared in yesterday's Times Picayune Newspaper.

Excerpts from the story

"A $5.5 million center that New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity director Jim Pate calls "the beating heart" of the Musicians' Village in the 9th Ward may be completed in January if contractors and donor-supplied "installation teams" adhere to an ambitious construction schedule.

A year ago, the nonprofit group celebrated completion of the first three homes in the post-Katrina village, including residences for singer Fredy Omar and harmonica player and washboard master Jerome Deleno "JD" Hill. Since then, 38 single-family homes and one duplex for the elderly have been constructed in the village, which consists of "core" and "programmatic" areas that are not exclusively for musicians. Construction of 81 single-family homes and four duplexes for the elderly is under way.

Now, Pate said, the stage is set for building the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, named after the city's celebrated jazz pianist and educator.

Designed to nurture and preserve New Orleans' musical heritage, the multipurpose center will provide a performance area, classrooms, practice space and access to computers. Neighborhood groups will be able to conduct meetings there.

Leaders of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity hope the center will become a hangout where student-mentor relationships develop between young and old musicians.

"I can imagine (jazz drummer) Bob French and (bassist) Peter Badie rocking gently in a couple of chairs and (drummer) Smokey Johnson in his wheelchair sitting on the long porch of the center and watching parents and toddlers across the street in the pocket park," Pate said. "As they tell stories of their work and travels with the greats of jazz and blues -- Ellington, Basie, Monk, King and Jackson -- and of their lives in the clubs of New Orleans and across the world, younger musicians and students sit nearby and listen, dreaming of their own travels."

Read more of the story here

Jimmy Buffet donates to NOAHH

NOAHH representatives accept a check from Jimmy Buffet

It was hard to tell why they were smiling. It could well be the check. It might have been the presence of music legend Jimmy Buffet who was presenting the check. It could very well have been the swimsuit model, one of the dozens whose signature graced the guitar whose auction brought the money in. Perhaps, it was a combination of all three.

On April 27, 2007, representatives of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) received a check for $21,050 from Jimmy Buffett and Sports Illustrated. The money, which will go to support NOAHH’s Musicians’ Village, was raised by an Ebay auction of a guitar signed by Buffett and 21 Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. The guitar sold for $42,100, half of which goes to the Musicians’ Village , and the other half to the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC).

The models, who also appeared in Buffett’s music video “Getting the Picture,” signed and posed with the guitar in 14 different cities in four different countries. The guitar is the Jimmy Buffett Shellback guitar, the fifth of only 168 guitars in a line designed by C. F. Martin, a renowned designer.

First Duplexe completed at Musicians Village

Congressman William Jefferson (left)addresses the crowd with master musicians Little Freddy King and Bob French.

April 21, 2007, saw one of the five elder musician duplexes completed in the Musicians’ Village . The duplex is located at 1741 Bartholomew. The Master Musicians in Residence Program Sponsored by Shell, is a program that provides opportunities for musicians to live in the Musicians’ Village and work with the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, the centerpiece of the Musicians’ Village.

Attending the dedication ceremony were Congressman William Jefferson, local master musician Little Freddy King and WWOZ DJ Bob French. Shell was represented by Frank Glaviano, the Vice President (Productions) for the Americas.

Shell’s support of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and of the Gulf Coast in general is evident in their generous contributions to volunteer housing in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes; sponsorship of duplexes in the Musicians’ Village and in acquiring equipment for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity

NJMTA Children Performathon raises money for Musicians Village

Over 100 young musicians and 27 teachers from across the state of New Jersey united in the spirit of music and giving to raise over $6,500.00 for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.

The funds were collected as part of a Performathon organized by the New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA). NJMTA, an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), is an organization that supports music study and music making.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita forced many musicians to flee New Orleans. Habitat for Humanity® International and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity® are working to rebuild the homes of musicians so that teachers, students, and the entire community will survive.Each hour of practice, study, lessons, and the final Performathon was dedicated to helping build the home/music buildings for those who lost so much in the Katrina disaster.

On Saturday and Sunday, February 3rd and 4th 2007, NJMTA students and teachers presented 9 different recitals free and open to the public at Bristol Chapel on the campus of Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Donations collected for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity® were brought to the concert by the performers and additional contributions were accepted at each program.

Westminster Choir College of Rider University donated the use of this excellent musical facility and the members of the NJMTA Collegiate Chapter here assisted with programs and recital check in.

The success of the Performathon demonstrates how much people really do care about others. Excellence in teaching, student dedication and talent, and parental support can spread the inspirational experience of music. Music makes a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanityis grateful to Patricia Landy NJMTA Arts Advocacy Chair Performathon Coordinator, the Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA and the students for their generous donation.

"Ride for Humanity' journey ends at Musician's Village

David Loar is received at the musicians village by NOAHH Executive Director Jim Pate

David Loar, a 51-year-old actor from Staunton, VA, finished his 1,000 mile “Ride for Humanity” today in front of the Musicians’ Village in the Upper Ninth Ward. Starting in North Carolina, the journey took three weeks to complete and raised at least $11,500 in contributions.

Inspired by the peaceful protests of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his family’s previous work with Habitat for Humanity, Loar decided a bike ride would be an appropriate way to show his support and raise awareness for the ongoing efforts in New Orleans, a project he had been considering for a long time after a brief stint helping in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. In addition to the ride, he will also be aiding in the construction of the Musicians’ Village during his stay here.

Due to the generous assistance of David Smail, Loar’s support driver, all of the money raised by the ride will go directly to New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Smail provided for all of Loar’s expenses on the trip so that Loar’s efforts would not be spent on food and sleeping accommodations before he got here.

The 'Early Show' visits Musicians' Village

The 'Early Show' on CBS visited the Musicians Village on Fat Tuesday(02/20/2007) and reported on the project's progress as well as meeting with homeowners. Excerpts from the story

"Alot of tourists come for the music. And one of the few signs of recovery in the 18 months since Hurricane Katrina is that many musicians have come back home, thanks in large part to a housing program designed to keep and attract them".

The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith described the project as 'a neighborhood that shows what's working in New Orleans".

Jim Pate , New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity(NOAHH) Executive Director, pointed out that NOAHH is "the biggest home builder in New Orleans post-Katrina, which is pretty stunning."

eBay Auction to benefit Musicians' Village

Sports Illustrated has teamed up with Jimmy Buffet to auction a guitar to benefit New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity Musicians’ Village. The guitar, signed by Jimmy and 20 swimsuit models, is currently being auctioned on eBay

Here is the link to the The eBay auction

HARRY CONNICK JR,“MY NEW ORLEANS TOUR” TO BENEFIT MUSICIANS VILLAGE

Harry Connick Jr. will present a live concert on March 8th 2007 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. This concert includes a bountiful Program of original compositions and classics associated with the city of New Orleans and celebrates the cornucopia of musical styles that represent Connick's home town. Connick will donate royalties to New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village. Tickets for the March 8th concert go on sale at 10 am on Friday, Feb. 2nd 2007. You can get tickets at Ticketmaster any Ticketmaster outlet or the Von Braun Box Office. Call 1-800-277-1700 to order by phone.

FIRST TEXAS ROADHOUSE "HOMES IN-A-BOX” GOES UP IN MUSICIANS VILLAGE

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity’s Homes-in-a-Box Program Benefits Partner Families Displaced by Hurricane Katrina

Contacts:
Aleis Tusa
New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity
504-861-2077

Juli Hart
Texas Roadhouse
502-435-1079

(Louisville, KY. – Jan. 23, 2007) – The first Texas Roadhouse Homes-in-a-Box goes up Tuesday, January 23 – after being framed Monday on the home site. The first home, built by restaurant associates in Wilmington, N.C., is the first of three completed homes to be built this week for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity’s “Musician’s Village” in the city’s Upper Ninth Ward. Next, the walls will “go up” on the Homes in a Box built in Tulsa, OK., and Indianapolis, IN.

The Musicians’ Village , conceived by Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. will consist of homes constructed by Habitat in partnership with displaced New Orleans musicians and other qualifying homeowner families. Currently, the 8.1 acre village has 34 homes complete or near completion.

The Homes-in-Box program, an initiative between Texas Roadhouse and the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity , unites Texas Roadhouse employees with community volunteers to fund, frame, outfit and ship 1,300-square-foot homes to the Gulf Coast.

“Texas Roadhouse is committed to helping rebuild New Orleans,” says G.J. Hart, President and CEO. “Part of our mission is to help communities in times of need so this partnership is a natural fit. Our goal is to build at least fund and raise goods for 100 homes in our restaurant communities around the country and ship them to the Musician’s Village.”

To build a home, restaurants are required to raise at least $25,000 then solicit supply donations from area businesses. Roadhouse teams from about twelve other states are currently working to complete their home-in-a-box for the Musician’s Village.

Based in Louisville, Ky., Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 13 years, the company has grown to more than 250 locations in 43 states. In 2006, readers of Consumer Reports magazine voted Texas Roadhouse as the top concept in the Pub/Grill category, and Forbes magazine ranked the company as one of the 200 Best Small Companies. For more information, visit Texas Roadhouse website