Travel Professionals Connect New Orleans Nonprofits To The Travel Industry To Benefit Communities

 

NEW ORLEANS — Tourism Cares completes its year-long Uniting for Resilient Destinations program on Friday. The last of two in this series, Tourism Cares for New Orleans unites 200 travel professionals with local partners to support the vibrant communities that give life to New Orleans tourism.

“Investing time and labor in neighborhoods and with local organizations,” says Tourism Cares CEO Paula Vlamings, “is the immediate impact and it’s important. The lasting impact is the power of our collective industry: professionals from all sectors coming together to create social change through the tourism economy to support healthy, safe, and beautiful destinations through their businesses.”

- Sponsors -

In addition to volunteering, the program educates travel professionals about opportunities to incorporate social enterprises into their business, using the purchasing power of tourism to create positive change. Participants will experience Café Reconcile and New Orleans Jazz Market, two organizations Tourism Cares is supporting by investing in their services and connecting them to travel businesses who can direct additional visitors to them. The program also raises awareness of the environmental factors that affect the people and places of New Orleans.

Participants will split into groups to volunteer at—and learn about—the following six sites that serve the community and environment: 

Apex Youth Community Center provides a safe space for teens and focuses on positive social interactions to resolve conflicts and create lasting relationships. The center is dedicated to helping youth succeed and inspiring them to view the world in a different way.
Audubon Nature Institute is dedicated to preserving and educating visitors on the beauty of the natural Louisianan environment and its wildlife.

- Partner Content -

Sunni LeBeouf

Black History Month Spotlight This Black History Month, Cox Communications is proud to recognize Sunni LeBeouf for her prolific record of professional achievement, civic philanthropy,...

Groundwork New Orleans is dedicated to changing the way the city interacts with nature through programs like rain gardens and an Earth Lab with green architecture. They believe that the city’s architecture should work with, instead of against, the environment.

Jericho Road is a community organization focused on transforming the city landscape one block at a time by building and providing affordable homes—as well as education and support even after the resident is in their new home.

Recirculating Farms Coalition focuses on eco-friendly community farms that use clean recycled water to grow local and accessible foods.
Woodlands Conservancy preserves and restores Louisiana’s remaining wetland forests while providing public opportunities for recreation, ecotourism and education in a natural and historic setting.

- Sponsors -

"By working with APEX, in the heart of Central City, New Orleans, Tourism Cares ensures that our culture bearers can remain strong and lead our community into a bright future,” said Founder of APEX Youth Center Lisa Fitzpatrick. “Supporting what brings tourism to our unique city ensures that our rich heritage and culture is not just a history lesson but remains alive and vibrant for generations to come."

Tourism Cares for New Orleans will contribute more than $50,000 through investments in the community and volunteer labor value.

Tourism Cares focused on resilient destinations in 2018 as climate change and natural disasters continue to impact people and places in our industry. This is the second and final event in the Uniting for Resilient Destinations series which began in May with Tourism Cares for South Florida.

The organization’s next program will be Tourism Cares for Puerto Rico from May 8-10, 2019. Visit tourismcares.org/puertorico for more.

Digital Sponsors / Become a Sponsor

Follow the issues, companies and people that matter most to business in New Orleans.

Email Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter