Now in its 6th year, Building Resilience Workshop held a day of panel discussions on Saturday, March 28, 2015. For the second year in a row, Grasshopper Mendoza and Steve Picou served as MCs and welcomed participants. Held in the Arlene Meraux River Observation Center at Docville Farm in St. Bernard Parish, BRW Vl gathered experts from across the country to discuss pressing issues across a wide range of timely and challenges facing the region and world. 

Grasshopper moderated a panel titled How Will Our Plans Work Together? The state's Coastal Master Plan, City of New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, St. Bernard Parish Master Plan, and the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan are powerful drivers of spending, planning and development, but can they be better integrated and made even more effective? Architect (and GNO Urban Water Plan team leader) David Waggonner, Keven Lovetro of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Director of the City of New Orleans Planning Commission Bob Rivers, and Assistant Director of Community Development in St. Bernard Parish Dale Thayer described their roles and the myriad agencies with which they interact. Grasshopper led a lively discussion, and challenged the panel to find ways they could more effectively collaborate and integrate across plans and agencies.

NOLAVibe partners Grasshopper Mendoza and Steve Picou were awarded the inaugural Water Challenge Champion award at the 2015 Water Challenge during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. The award, jointly presented by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, The Idea Village, and Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation was presented by GNOF President/CEO Albert Ruesga during the morning session. 

The award reads: "This award is in recognition of your extensive contributions to building the pipeline of water awareness through supporting entrepreneurship and strengthening visibility for critical water issues in our region. Thank you for your work connecting important stakeholders, grassroots organizations, and policy makers to build a movement of caring about water. You are true champions of the water cause and the individuals working to solve the problem."

We were truly taken by surprise and humbled to receive this award, and pledge to continue to do our part to help Louisiana achieve a better quality of life.